Christopher Wanjek
Encyclopedia
Christopher Wanjek is a health and science journalist and author based in the United States
. He received his bachelor's degree
in journalism
from Temple University
and his master's degree
from the Harvard School of Public Health
.
He is the author of Bad Medicine: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O (Wiley & Sons, 2003) and of Food At Work: Workplace Solutions for Malnutrition, Obesity and Chronic Diseases (ILO, 2005). Bad Medicine was translated into Korean by Park Eun-young in 2006. Food at Work, written for the International Labour Organization
, has since been translated into Spanish and presented in numerous countries, largely in South America. The concept for the "Food at Work" as well as the final product has been lauded by unions and nutritionists, with emeritus professor of nutrition A. Stewart Truswell of University of Sydney describing it as "a beautifully designed, written and printed book [that] would have to be consulted by anyone advising on food at work anywhere in the world." The project has inspired government legislation to improve worker feeding programs in Mexico, Lithuania, Uruguay and elsewhere in South America.
As as astronomy writer, Wanjek worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, Maryland
until 2007 and freelanced for astronomy magazines such Sky & Telescope
and Astronomy. He currently is the "Armchair Astrophysics" columnist for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
's Mercury
Magazine.
As a health writer, Wanjek wrote many stories for CBS Healthwatch and the Washington Post health section between 1999 and 2004. Since 2006 he has written a weekly column for LiveScience called Bad Medicine. His LiveScience column has criticized scientifically discredited statements by Pope Benedict XVI which claimed that condoms increase AIDS prevalence, among other controversial topics.
While a student at Temple University, Wanjek was part of the Philadelphia comedy scene that produced comic Paul F. Tompkins
and writer-director Adam McKay
, his former housemate, among others. Wanjek has written for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno since 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
.
He is the author of Bad Medicine: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O (Wiley & Sons, 2003) and of Food At Work: Workplace Solutions for Malnutrition, Obesity and Chronic Diseases (ILO, 2005). Bad Medicine was translated into Korean by Park Eun-young in 2006. Food at Work, written for the International Labour Organization
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
, has since been translated into Spanish and presented in numerous countries, largely in South America. The concept for the "Food at Work" as well as the final product has been lauded by unions and nutritionists, with emeritus professor of nutrition A. Stewart Truswell of University of Sydney describing it as "a beautifully designed, written and printed book [that] would have to be consulted by anyone advising on food at work anywhere in the world." The project has inspired government legislation to improve worker feeding programs in Mexico, Lithuania, Uruguay and elsewhere in South America.
As as astronomy writer, Wanjek worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
in Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
until 2007 and freelanced for astronomy magazines such Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including the following:*current events in astronomy and space exploration;*events in the amateur astronomy community;...
and Astronomy. He currently is the "Armchair Astrophysics" columnist for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
's Mercury
Mercury (magazine)
Mercury is a science magazine that features articles and columns about astronomy for a general audience. It is the bi-monthly magazine of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and was first published in 1972....
Magazine.
As a health writer, Wanjek wrote many stories for CBS Healthwatch and the Washington Post health section between 1999 and 2004. Since 2006 he has written a weekly column for LiveScience called Bad Medicine. His LiveScience column has criticized scientifically discredited statements by Pope Benedict XVI which claimed that condoms increase AIDS prevalence, among other controversial topics.
While a student at Temple University, Wanjek was part of the Philadelphia comedy scene that produced comic Paul F. Tompkins
Paul F. Tompkins
Paul Francis Tompkins , best known as Paul F. Tompkins, is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Tompkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a receptionist mother and railway worker father. He started out in stand-up comedy in 1986 at The Comedy Works, Philadelphia, PA, where he...
and writer-director Adam McKay
Adam McKay
Adam McKay is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys....
, his former housemate, among others. Wanjek has written for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno since 1998.