2006 Honorary Member
As a journalist, educator and lecturer, Claudia Dreifus is widely recognized for her abilities in interviewing scientists and communicating the complexities of their work to the public. Before coming to the "Science Times" section of The New York Times, Dreifus was known for her incisive interviews with international political figures and cultural icons. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Playboy, Ms., The Progressive, and Modern Maturity. In her book, Scientific Conversations: Interviews on Science from The New York Times, she delves into the thoughts and lives of some of the most intriguing minds in science. From Nobel laureates to virtually unknown innovators, across a multitude of scientific disciplines, she introduces and explains the personalities behind the great accomplishments. The book was partially funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Dreifus has been a pioneering and original force in making science more accessible. She is an adjunct assistant professor at the Columbia University School of International and Public Policy and has contributed to many textbooks and anthologies. She is also a senior fellow at the World Policy Institute of the New School for Social Research. Her many honors include an Outstanding Magazine Article Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Dreifus lives in New York City with her domestic partner, political scientist Andrew Hacker. They are currently writing a book together on American higher education.