Neeta Satam

Neeta Satam is an Indian photojournalist, educator, and National Geographic Explorer based in Boulder, CO, and Mumbai. She is a  Ted Scripps fellow at the Center for Environmental Journalism in Colorado-Boulder. She transitioned to a career in journalism following an eight-year stint as an environmental scientist in the United States. Her photojournalistic work explores the themes of race, gender, capitalism, colonization, and cultural assimilation. Through long-form photographic narratives, she documents the multifaceted impacts of complex environmental problems on individuals, communities, and the natural world. As a photojournalist and educator, she strives to evoke critical reflection, foster empathy, and inspire action on some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Her personal history and cultural identity inform her practice and guide her storytelling.

Neeta is an Associate Fellow at the International League of Conservation Photographers and serves on its Advisory Board. She has also served on the advisory board of Ocean Visuals, an Initiative of Climate Visuals. Neeta earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. She has delivered talks on environmental justice and climate change to national and international audiences. A passionate advocate of photojournalism ethics, she has spoken and written about the topic. She has served as a jury member of the 81^st Picture of the Year International. She is a Pulitzer Center, The International Women's Media Foundation, and the National Geographic Society grantee. In addition to English, she speaks Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, and Gujarati with native fluency. She is available for assignments, speaking engagements, panel participation, and collaborations.

Select Editorial Clients: The New York Times, The Audubon Magazine, Nature Magazine, Popular Mechanics Magazine, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, NPR, Bloomberg Businessweek, ProPublica, ESPN, The Undefeated, ACLU

Select Jury, Panels, Advisory Board, and Speaking Engagements:
Jury | Pictures of the Year International | Science & Environment and Issue Reporting Division | 2024
Advisory Board Member | The International League of Conservation Photographers | 2023 - 2025
Advisory Board Member | Ocean Visuals, an initiative of Climate Visuals | 2022 - 2023
Panelist | Focus on the Story Festival | Women in Conservation Photography on Creating Powerful Storytelling | 2021
Speaker | International Photography Hall of Fame | Lecture on Documentary Photography | 2020
Panelist | Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources | Environmental Racism and Media Bias | 2020
Speaker | Photojournalism Hub, UK | Lecture on Environmental Storytelling | 2020

Educational Outreach Work:   
Educational outreach effort on wetland conservation through the Pulitzer Center's Educational Outreach Program | 2017- Ongoing
Photovoice Project in collaboration with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Funded by National Institute of Health | 2020 - 2021

Grants and Fellowships:
Pulitzer Center Reporting Grant
The National Geographic Explorers Grant 
International Women’s Media Fund Reproductive Rights Grant 
Smith/Patterson Science Reporting Grant, Pulitzer Center
O. O. McIntyre Fellowship, Missouri School of Journalism
Correspondents' Reporting Grant, Missouri School of Journalism
Duffy Reporting Grant, Missouri School of Journalism
Illinois Academy of Sciences Research Grant
Great Rivers Land Trust Research Grant 

Select Participant :
The Kalish Picture Editing Workshop
The New York Times Portfolio Review  
Eddie Adams Workshop | Barnstorm XXVI
63^rd Missouri Photo Workshop | Troy, MO 

Safety Training: HEFAT Training, 40 Hr OSHA Health and Safety Training, and CPR & First Aid Training

Professional Affiliations:
International League of Conservation Photographers
Society of Environmental Journalists
The Uproot Project
Women Photograph
Diversify Photo