Dr. Joy E. Hecht


consultant
traveler
writer
photographer

My professional life is devoted to work on environmental issues in the developing world. I am something of a data geek, and derive great pleasure from analyzing tangled problems through the application of logic and numbers. I've had a chance to do that in many contexts and many parts of the world, and I usually even get paid for it, so I consider myself quite lucky.

My life as a consultant gives me considerable freedom, which I've taken great advantage of over the past few years. In 2004 I moved into an old VW vanagon named Matilda, which has for the most part been my home since then. You can read about my travels with Matilda on this site, by clicking on the links to the left.

I've always been a graphic designer "on the side," dating back to the days of x-acto knives, rubylith, and transfer type. Since I bought my first digital camera, I've also done a lot of photography, some of which will soon (or maybe someday?) be up on the "photos" section of this site.

For more information, please feel free to
contact me. Chances are, I'll even reply!

Latest publication...

My first venture into the popular press - in April, 2008 Africa Geographic published an article about my work on Mount Mulanje, in Malawi. Read it here.

... and other updates

In late 2007 I returned to life on the road. Since then I've spent a lot of time overseas, mostly working in Jordan and Madagascar. You can see some of the results in the professional portions of this website.

Now, summer 2008, I'm on my way back to Newfoundland. After spending three weeks there in 2006, and most of the the summer in 2007, I may actually want to settle there. So I'm going back to give it more of a chance, and to see if I enjoy it as much once the weather gets colder! I'm also working on some other writing projects, so for the present I'm not updating the travel portions of this website. Stay posted for occasional updates, though.