I'm Merritt, a scientist-mom who helps northern govt & communities respond to changing climate, permafrost & fires. #actuallivingscientist

My response to the patriarchy. Keep grinding. Get stronger. Support women getting stronger in whatever capacity that means to them.

For my bog and peat lovers!  My upcoming book #Boglands is available to pre-order from Waterstones now at 25% off RRP! To redeem the offer, simple enter ‘FEB26’ at the checkout between now and 23:59 on Friday 20th Feb. Pre-order #Boglands here: waterstones.com/book/bogland…

Please share. Calling all bog lovers and peat aficionados - please drop a thumbs up or comment on this talk, and show TEDx why bogs are the best. My great hope is that we can drum up more bog champions in this world. With love and appreciation. m.youtube.com/watch?v=mWt9IU…

Excited to be a speaker at TEDx Boulder Dreams and Reality this Sunday. My dream is to live in a world that embraces boglands as sacred places. The reality is we live in a world intent on destroying them. But we can fight back and become bog champions. tedxboulder.com/speakers/dre…

New science paper alert! While simple climate projections expect northern forests to become more productive with warming and take up more carbon, we show why this may not happen. Reminder that permafrost is the backbone of the Arctic. @forestecogrp pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.24…

Visual demonstration of a climate feedback. Methane bubbling up through flooded soils in an area impacted by permafrost thaw. Warming leads to thaw, triggering hotspots of carbon emissions, repeat cycle. Video credit: @ArcticWebb @Sphagnum_P_Eye

Please send suggestions for rage women music. I am stuck on chinchilla. Thank you.

Like many of you, I’m oscillating between shock, grief, and determination to keep moving forward. The latter is a tiny seed but can be nurtured and grown. I will continue to use my privilege to speak up for under-resourced communities and underdog ecosystems. Not backing down.

I understand the panic and trauma. DM me if you need support.

Wetland language and politics should not mix. Please share a photo of your favorite wetland scene, moss, or other aquatic plant to show everyone that “draining the swamp” is a hard no. Instead we all need to get mired together. Healthy wetlands healthy society. Pass it on.

A bog analogy for this election. Choice A - Sphagnum. Effective as a community. Boundary spanner. Pulls serious climate protection weight. Choice B- A peat monster. Operates out of fear. Smoke and mirrors. Can’t share a sandbox with anyone. Vote.

Individual Sphagnum mosses lack structure and are prone to stress and desiccation. As a community and intertwined they fight off massive wildfires and protect the world’s largest soil carbon stock. Learn from Sphagnum. Be the Sphagnum. Let’s go.