Anna Kusmer
Reporter/Producer
The WorldAnna Kusmer is a reporter and producer at the World focusing on the environment.
Anna Kusmer is a reporter and producer at The World focusing on the environment. She creates The Big Fix, The World's weekly look at climate change solutions around the globe. Anna is fascinated by people's complex relationships with nature and is inspired by the diverse solutions for a more just and sustainable world.
Before working at The World, Anna worked as a local news reporter at WGBH in Boston and KQED in San Francisco.
Anna has an MSc in environmental science from McGill University. Outside of work, Anna enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and meeting her neighbors. Anna believes stories can change the world.
Do you have a question about a climate change solution you want to hear answered on air? Email Anna: climate@theworld.org
An attack at Africa's oldest synagogue leaves Jews on a pilgrimage in Tunisia concerned
The Ghriba synagogue is the oldest in Africa and is the destination for an annual Jewish pilgrimage on the island of Djerba. The World's Marco Werman spoke with Daniel Lee, a historian of the Jews of France and North Africa at Queen Mary University of London, about the ancient house of worship and an attack there on Tuesday.
Ireland’s Mary Robinson says being an 'Elder' is about teaching the next generation, but also listening to them
Biologists describe a new owl species on Príncipe Island — and hope they can save it before it disappears
New memoir speaks to the trauma of migration and the potential for healing
'We're done': A new generation of Iranians are using this app to track the country's morality police
'Wherever the work is, we're all going': Graphic novelist on working in Alberta's tar sands
"Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands," a graphic novel by Kate Beaton, from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, tells the story of leaving home and joining thousands of others to work in the oil sands of Alberta, Canada. Beaton joined The World's host Marco Werman to talk about her experience.
Poland prepares to accept thousands of refugees from Ukraine
Agnieszka Kosowicz, president and founder of the Polish Migration Forum, spoke to The World's host Marco Werman from Warsaw about the influx of refugees from neighboring Ukraine amid the Russian invasion there.
This UK activist is pushing to end single-use plastics in menstrual products
This past week, UK environmental activist Ella Daish traveled to Switzerland and marched a giant tampon — which is a striped, blue and green tampon sculpture that stands more than 6 feet tall — to Procter & Gamble’s European headquarters in Geneva. She said she wanted to “return” the plastic applicators to the company.
Henrietta Lacks’ biographer: ‘So much of science started with her cells’
Rebecca Skloot, author of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," spoke to The World's host Marco Werman about her legacy on the 70th anniversary of her death.
This film professor says Melvin Van Peebles taught her that 'when Hollywood is closing the door, you find your own way'
Racquel Gates, a professor of film at Columbia University, and the consulting producer and editor for the Melvin Van Peebles Box Set — being released by The Criterion Collection next week — discussed his work, life and legacy with The World's host Marco Werman.
Diving into infinity with South Africa’s 'Black Mermaid'
Zandile Ndhlovu is the first Black free-diving instructor in South Africa and the founder of the Black Mermaid Foundation, which aims to change the story of who belongs in the water by spreading awareness online and teaching school kids about the ocean.
NYU chaplain calls for a 'true pursuit of empathy' to heal from 9/11 aftermath
Two decades after the attacks of Sept. 11, Muslim Americans revisit their lives in a post-9/11 world. Executive director and chaplain at New York University, Khalid Latif, discusses his experiences with The World's host Marco Werman.
‘Drought has severely impacted livestock keepers’ in Afghanistan, head of UN food agency says
Nearly one-third of people in Afghanistan don't know if they will have a meal each day. Droughts and an approaching winter are worsening the food shortage there. Kaustubh Devale, head of the Food and Agriculture Organization's emergency and resilience program in Afghanistan, discusses the situation with The World's host Marco Werman.
US Climate Envoy John Kerry heads to China with a 'clean energy revolution' message, adviser says
For insight into Kerry's brand of climate diplomacy and the outcome of the talks, The World's host Carol Hills spoke with David Wade, who served as Kerry's chief of staff when the diplomat was secretary of state.
With global warming, Emperor penguins will 'have no place to breed' says researcher
A new study says if global warming continues at its current rate, more than 80% of Emperor penguin colonies will be gone in the next 80 years. Phil Trathan, who co-authored the study, joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the plight of penguins.