MEET THE TEAM

Joanna Campe

Executive Director

As the founder and Executive Director of RTE, Joanna Campe raises public awareness of the crucial role of soil remineralization with finely ground rock dust, sea minerals and other natural means to regenerate soils, forests and stabilize the climate. She promotes partnerships with foundations and educational institutions, government agencies, international development agencies, the private sector, and NGOs. She has decades of related conference participation, project organization, media development, authorship, public speaking, professional networking, policy advocacy, and public awareness building. She has co-authored several research papers and is the co-editor of Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase.

In the early 1980s, Joanna read the book The Survival of Civilization by John Hamaker and Don Weaver and what had for her previously been “dirt” under her feet became a vast micro-universe that is the basis of all life. She recognized the tremendous importance of John’s work and joined together with him, Don Weaver and others to get the message out.

Don Weaver

Co-Author of The Survival of Civilization

Don has for 37 years been an ecologist, researcher, writer and organic grower concerned with the health and survival of humanity and the Biosphere. Humanity must quickly transform into the wisely generous species on Earth, if the growing momentum of eco-climatic and health degeneration is to be reversed. He began working with John Hamaker in 1978. John’s early writings inspired an understanding of how local and global soil remineralization with natural gravel (mixed rock) dust can enable us to perpetually grow high-quality crops and trees, the natural foundation for regenerating the socio-ecosphere. John and Don subsequently collaborated to author The Survival of Civilization, produce 11 issues of Solar Age or Ice Age? Bulletin, and numerous articles for the magazines Remineralize the Earth Magazine (1991-1997), Acres USA, Living Nutrition and more. His email contact is: earthdon@yahoo.com

Since John Hamaker died in 1994, Don has continued sharing these crucial insights. From 1997-2002, he researched and wrote To Love And Regenerate the Earth: Further Perspectives on The Survival of Civilization, which includes additional Hamaker writings in its 540 pages. Both Hamaker-Weaver books remain free at www.soilandhealth.org.

Don’s ebook Regenerate the Earth! was published in 2011 and is available here.

Veronika Miranda Chase

Previous Director of the Research Database and Translations

Miranda is an Environmental Policy Researcher, with a BA in International Relations and MSc in Integrated Water Management. She is a PhD candidate for the UMass program on Global Governance and Human Security, and is a research fellow from the IGERT program of the National Science Foundation. Her research mainly concerns sustainable development in rural communities of the Amazon basin. As a coordinator for RTE, her goal is to provide a state-of-art database with reliable information about remineralization as a sustainable, effective and affordable solution to agriculture worldwide. This knowledge can assist scientists and policy makers, farmers and gardeners, and the general public in making better environmental decisions.

Benjamin T. Rancourt

Science Editor and Writer

Benjamin T. Rancourt received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016. His continuing philosophical research focuses on understanding, knowledge, and science, among other topics. This research ties into his wider goal of encouraging deeper understanding of ourselves, our strengths, and our limitations. He hopes that greater understanding will help us use the resources available to us to preserve what is good and address what is wrong. Walking is his primary mode of transportation. He appreciates the natural world. He lives in North Carolina with his wife Julia, where he is a Teaching Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University and William Peace University.

Zu Dienle Tan

Science Writer

Zu Dienle Tan is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a Master’s degree in natural resources and environment. She is passionate about biodiversity conservation, agroecosystems and sustainable development. Zu has experience working in various environment-related projects across the world and enjoys traveling to learn about new cultures and ecosystems. To this end, she traveled to Mexico to study small mammal diversity in coffee agroecosystems for her thesis project. Zu hopes to use her knowledge and interests in writing to help RTE grow.

Shu Li

Science Writer

Shu Li recently received her Ph.D. degree of Plant Biology at the Pennsylvania State University. Her dissertation research specializes at a reproductive barrier mechanism in flowering plants termed as self-incompatibility, from which she has developed an interest in genetics of reproduction and speciation. Besides basic research, Shu also has a passion of science communication and science writing. Currently she is serving as editorial board members for several journals and involved in many outreaching activities as a member of GWIS (Graduate Women in Science). In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, and working on her first novel.

Emily Schaefer

Science Writer

Emily graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2017 with a B.S. in Biology and a secondary major in English. As an undergraduate, she performed research on seastar fertilization in a marine ecology lab. Her passion for biological studies and writing has led her to pursue science communication. Ultimately, she wants to use storytelling to make science accessible to as many people as possible. She believes science education allows us to appreciate our role in the environment and inspires us to positively impact our world. She is excited to be working toward a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future with Remineralize the Earth.

Winnie S. Wong

Science Writer

Winnie S. Wong is a 6th year Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering (BME) at Boston University. She received her M.S. in BME from BU in 2016 and her B.S. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley in 2012. For her Ph.D. thesis, she is developing a point-of-care diagnostic for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) strains 16 and 18 to diagnose cervical cancer in low-resource settings. Whether through innovative technology or effective writing, she seeks to increase accessibility to science for a broader audience. She is motivated by the intersection of technology, food, and the environment, and looks forward to exploring these themes as a science writer for Remineralize the Earth.

Shelby Nilsen

Science Writer

Shelby is a science writer who specializes in articulating complex information to the layperson in a communicative and engaging manner. With her educational background in psychology and an avid belief in the power and need for science education, Shelby advocates for science and sustainability through the written word. She is especially passionate about the fields of biomedical and environmental sciences, and as such is excited to be working with Remineralize the Earth to support their research and advocacy for climate stability. Shelby lives in Seattle with her other half and their little dog too, and she spends her free time reading science fiction and getting lost wherever she travels (occasionally even on purpose).

Katherine Robayo Vanegas

Spanish Language Correspondent

Katherine Robayo Vanegas graduated from University Catholic of Pereira in Colombia with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business. She has a certificate on Children and Climate Change and Project Management. She has also followed courses in Politics and Human Rights at Smith College. Since 2017, she has been working as a volunteer with the Circle of Care that helps refugee families in Northampton, Massachusetts. She believes we all can do something to make the world a better place to live and wants to be an inspiration to positively impact other people’s lives. She is very happy to be working at RTE assisting the director as the Spanish Correspondent and hopes to use her knowledge and efforts on communicating and raising awareness of sustainable development issues.

Babatunde Ajao

RTE Resource Directory and Project Consultant

Babatunde holds a Masters Degree in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont an a B.S. in Mathematics from Randolph College, Virginia. He is very passionate about solving common human problems through simple and innovative ways. He is continuing his research on understanding how the society as a whole can meet their needs while at the same time sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend. With a strong connection to the Earth, RTE provides a place for him to use his knowledge for the continued preservation of the Earth. He enjoys reading and playing soccer in his spare-time.

Diana Chaplin

Digital Content Creator

Diana Chaplin is a freelance copywriter, content strategist, and brand consultant. She’s had a passion for creative communication in diverse forms since childhood and has worked in the realms of publishing, marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and content management since graduating with a B.A. in Communications in 2004. Diana is also passionate about wellness and sustainability and uses her digital media skills to help RTE create content and share messages that speak to the importance of these issues. You can learn more about Diana and connect with her personally at Dianachaplin.com

Angelina Knežević

Grant Writer

Angelina graduated with a B.A in Anthropology and Liberal Studies. Her academic background has cultivated strong research and writing skills that are being utilized as a grant writer for the RTE team. She hopes to support the sustainable initiatives RTE is making toward a healthier environment.

Sabrina Dengler

Grant Writer

Sabrina graduated from Hampshire College in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Studies. She is passionate about challenging the idea of nature as separate and distant from society and works to promote intersectional environmentalism using science and sociology. Her background in writing and organic agriculture lead her to work with RTE and she is excited to share her skills in research while learning about the nonprofit sector.

Carter Haydu

Grant Writer

Carter is a journalist and professional writer with more than 13 years of experience. Since 2012, he has written primarily on the Alberta energy sector for a Calgary-based trade publication. Much of his work has dealt with environmental issues facing the upstream oil and gas industry. In 2018, Carter attained a technical writing certificate from a reputable Canadian university. He hopes his skillset can support RTE’s sustainable initiatives.

David Pierotti

Grant Writer

David has been preparing grants, proposals and outreach material for almost seven years for several types of organizations, including a for-profit start-up, non-profit, academic and institutional. He has participated on teams that have won several millions of grant dollars from private and public sources. He has also discovered and vetted potential funding opportunities to grow and diversify an organization’s donor base. He is now focused on assisting RTE develop its funding base to expand its projects, programming and outreach.

Orlando Leach

Assistant to the Executive Director and Science and Policy Writer

Orlando Leach Jr. is currently a DIV II Hampshire College working towards a profession in psychology. His passion for environmental awareness stems from his high school experiences in AP Environmental Science and Human Geography. The need to promote sustainable change and allow for mutual coexistence of both humans and their environment has always been a personal drive of his. During his leisure he’s a pianist and composer of his own music. Through canvassing ideas as a student advisor to optimize performance in academics, working collaboratively as a material library manager in an architecture firm, and being a role model for campers in multiple YMCAs, he’s already established himself as a leader of change. He’s currently taking courses in Psychoanalysis, Bioethics and Inequality, Philosophy and Black Psychology and will incorporate each field in nurturing his experiences within psychology. Joining RTE will provide him with the environmental exposure needed to gain a stronger conceptual grasp on organic culture.

Hannah Vogel

Social Media Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Director

Hannah Vogel is a rising sophomore studying English at Smith College. She interned at Remineralize the Earth the summer of 2018 as a social media and office assistant, and is excited to continue combining her love of language and literature with environmentalism. As communication is integral in networking and communication, she is thrilled to have an opportunity to learn more about the science of remineralization through an English lens. Besides English she loves to be outdoors and especially enjoys walking on the path beside Paradise Pond at Smith College.

Carissa Vuong

Assistant to the Executive Director

Carissa has received her B.S. in Biology from University of Massachusetts: Boston and is currently continuing her studies at Elms College. RTE conjoins her interests for sustainability by proposing remineralization. As an assistant to executive director, Joanna, she is learning more about the benefits of the persisting changes made unto the Earth everyday and the measures she can take as her civic duty to minimize the effects.

Laura Manno

Accountant

Laura has her B.S. and an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University. Laura volunteered with RTEand Joanna because of her commitment to make the earth a better place. Living in Lake Tahoe she has seen first had climate change with the reduction in clarity of the lake as well as algae proliferation. In light of the current political environment this spurred her even stronger to help in reducing our carbon footprint as well as remineralizing this earth we continually take from.