A correspondent with Science magazine, Mara contributes articles from around Asia and the world. She is particularly interested in the social sciences, having written extensively about demography, sociology, and education. She has also covered fields ranging from epidemiology to astronomy. In addition to weekly magazine articles, Mara writes short news updates and posts for Science’s website. Those are available online at ScienceNOW (see examples here and here ) and at ScienceInsider (here).
“1.3 Billion Divided by 6.5 Million, and Watch That Floating Decimal,” October 22, 2010.
How do you take an accurate census in the world’s most populous country when much of the population is on the move? China tries out a new approach.
“Has China Outgrown The One-Child Policy?,” September 17, 2010.
After thirty years of birth targets, a group of dissenting Chinese demographers and former government officials pressure Beijing to scrap the one-child policy—from within.
“China’s Push to Add by Subtracting Fertilizer,” February 12, 2010.
Chinese farmers use over one-third of the world’s fertilizer, polluting soil and water and adding to greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists show that reining in the chemicals can actually increase crop yield.
“Radio Astronomers Go for High Gain With Mammoth Telescope,” June 19, 2009.
China begins construction on the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, an instrument so huge it is supported by mountains. Think of Puerto Rico’s Arecibo—the telescope that explodes in the James Bond flick GoldenEye—and nearly double it.
“Making Every Baby Girl Count,” February 27, 2009.
Inside a Chinese program to reverse the nation’s skewed sex ratio at birth. Measures include encouraging men to move in with their wives’ families, cracking down on sex-selective abortion, and paying couples to have girls.
