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Jennifer Ackerman

ジェニファー・アッカーマン

Jennifer Ackerman

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1959-01-01 （Omaha, Nebraska, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Lewes, Delaware, United States → Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Career

Occupations
Writer, Author, Science writer
Active Years
1980-

Education

Yale University
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1976-1980
Year of Graduation: 1980
Country: United States
Graduated cum laude

Awards

Established Artist Fellowship (Delaware Arts Council)
1995
Organization: Delaware Arts Council
Result: 受賞
Bunting Institute Fellowship (Radcliffe Institute)
1997
Organization: Bunting Institute (Radcliffe Institute)
Result: フェローシップ
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant
1998
Organization: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Result: 助成
Fellowship at Brown College, University of Virginia
2001
Organization: Brown College, University of Virginia
Result: フェローシップ
National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (Nonfiction)
2004
Category: 非フィクション
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: フェローシップ（受給）
Silver Medal Award for Nature Writing (International Regional Magazine Association)
2005
Category: 自然書き物
Organization: International Regional Magazine Association
Result: 受賞
Tisch College Fellowship (Tufts University)
2007
Organization: Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University
Result: フェローシップ（2007-2010）
Whitley Award for Behavioural Zoology
2021
Category: 行動動物学
Organization: Whitley Awards (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales)
Result: 受賞
National Outdoor Book Award (Outdoor Literature)
2023
Work: What an Owl Knows
Category: Outdoor Literature
Organization: National Outdoor Book Award
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Curious Naturalist

1998 Nature writing

A collection of observations and essays on natural history and coastal ecosystems.

natural observationcoastal ecosystems

Chance in the House of Fate: a natural history of heredity

2001 Popular science / Natural history

An exploration of heredity from a natural-history perspective.

hereditynatural history

Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: a day in the life of your body

2007 Health / Popular science

Uses the framework of a single day to discuss various processes occurring in the body.

daily bodily rhythmshealth

Ah-Choo: the uncommon life of the common cold

2010 Popular science

Examines the biology and cultural aspects of the common cold.

infectious diseasepublic health

Strong Women's Guide to Total Health

2010 Health guide

A comprehensive health guide for women, coauthored with Miriam Nelson.

women's healthlifestyle

The Genius of Birds

2016 Natural science / Ornithology

Argues that contrary to the 'bird-brained' metaphor, birds are intelligent and think in complex ways. A New York Times bestseller in 2017.

bird intelligencecognitive ethology

Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast

2019 Nature observation / Coastal ecology

Observations and reflections on coastal life and the birds inhabiting the Atlantic coast.

coastal ecologyfield observation

The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think

2020 Ornithology / Behavioral biology

Combines personal observation and a literature review of recent research to discuss how birds communicate, behave, and live.

behavioral ecologycommunication

What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds

2023 Ornithology / Popular science

Presents new science about owls, exploring their ecology and intelligence.

owlssensory biology and behavior

Bibliography

  • Curious Naturalist (1998)
  • Chance in the House of Fate: a natural history of heredity (2001)
  • Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: a day in the life of your body (2007)
  • Ah-Choo: the uncommon life of the common cold (2010)
  • Strong Women's Guide to Total Health (with Miriam Nelson) (2010)
  • The Genius of Birds (2016)
  • Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast (2019)
  • The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think (2020)
  • What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds (2023)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible, evidence-based nonfictionCombines personal observation with literature review
Recurring Motifs
bird intelligence and behaviorcoastal ecosystems and natural observation

Legacy

Jennifer Ackerman is known for making ornithology and natural history accessible to general readers, gaining international attention with The Genius of Birds. Her blend of science journalism and field observation has helped broaden public understanding.

Quotes

  • Birds are actually quite intelligent and think in complex ways.
    Source: Claim from The Genius of Birds; paraphrased in reviews (e.g., The Guardian) (2016)

Trivia

  • Her books have been published in more than 20 languages.
  • Worked at National Geographic for nine years editing The Curious Naturalist.
  • The Genius of Birds was a New York Times bestseller in 2017.