In April 2021, during the not-so-fun days of the pandemic, I took a two-day trip to the Santa Cruz Islands off the coast of Southern California. After I put some serious miles between me and base camp, my journey through this majestic landscape (including a close encounter with its de facto mascot, the Island Scrub Jay) forever changed my life and career.

While watching the sun set on this island chain at the end of the world, I felt in awe of the many other incredible ecosystems, just like this one, that were under threat from climate change.

I decided to change course from my tech-reporting background and instead use my decade of experience in online and magazine journalism to tell stories about these natural spaces. My work highlights the amazing creatures that roam our world, the conservationists who’ve dedicated their lives to protecting these magical wonders, and the scientists whose discoveries will help us solve the climate challenges of today and tomorrow.

Now I live in Portland, Oregon, and write on topics spanning energy, physics, space, and conservation. I’m always looking for that next inspiring story that showcases why our world is worth protecting.

Also I like cats.

Drop me a line at darren.orf@gmail.com