Vanessa Gregory’s account of firefly hunters enchants readers, editors
An article by Vanessa Gregory, associate professor of journalism at the University of Mississippi, has been chosen for inclusion in the 2023 edition of “The Best American Science and Nature Writing” (HarperCollins).
This prestigious anthology is a collection of top science articles published in the United States, and Gregory’s submission, “Bright Flight,” was chosen over hundreds of other pieces.
First published in the March 2022 edition of Harper’s Magazine, “Bright Flight” is a long-form article about a group of physicists’ quest to understand firefly synchrony, when thousands of male fireflies flash in unison as part of a mating display. Gregory narrates the precision and patience of the researchers as they adventure through Congaree National Park in South Carolina in search of a specific synchronous species.
“The experience was fantastic,” she said. “Every once in a while as a journalist, you get to do fun things that you don’t usually get to do. We were in these deep woods where there were thousands and thousands of fireflies.”
Throughout the article, Gregory weaves together historical context and scientific research, providing readers with a deeper understanding of firefly synchrony and similar behavior exhibited by other species across the animal kingdom. Her attention to detail creates an immersive reading experience, allowing readers to feel as if they are right alongside the researchers, eagerly awaiting the magical moment.
“It was a very intimidating article to write,” she said. “It was hard, but if you’re not an expert in the field, you are a better stand-in for the reader.”
Gregory’s vivid imagery caught the attention of Carl Zimmer, editor of “The Best American Science and Nature Writing.”
“In her story, Gregory performed a magical balancing act of conveying the real work of scientists and the astonishing implications to be found in the flash of a firefly,” Zimmer said.
The acknowledgment came as a surprise.
“I didn’t think I would be selected,” Gregory said. “I submitted my work and didn’t think about it again. To have Carl Zimmer acknowledge something that I wrote is very meaningful.”
A member of the Ole Miss faculty since 2010, Gregory has contributed to several publications including Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and Orion. She was also awarded a Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism in 2010 and is a two-time recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission‘s Fellowship in Literary Nonfiction.
By Jaylin Smith and Maggie Miller
