Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity, notably Protestant history and churches. She joined Britannica in 2009 and oversees a team of editors covering visual arts, film and television, sports, and technology.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Ecological Society of America
• Entomological Society of America
• National Association of Science Writers
• Florida Native Plant Society
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
• Board of Directors: St. Kateri Conservation Center (2022–2025)
EDUCATION
M.S. Plant Biology and Conservation | Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Her thesis examined plant-pollinator interactions in a Penstemon population in Zion National Park, UT.
B.S. Biological Science; minor Biblical Studies | Biola University, La Mirada, CA.
IN MELISSSA’S OWN WORDS
At Britannica I am responsible for many of the overlooked and underappreciated branches of the tree of life. I love showcasing the beauty, diversity, and importance of these groups with visual storytelling. A lifelong learner myself, nothing gives me more joy at work than discovering new and incredible facts about these organisms and their biology, and then getting to convey that knowledge to a curious public. If I can make someone slow down and ponder the beauty of a spider, or marvel at the mindblowing biochemistry of photosynthesis, I’ve done my job well. Science can feel intimidating to many people, and I find it immensely rewarding to try to distill dense or seemingly boring concepts into accessible pieces for a range of audiences.
Comprehension Quiz: Water Scarcity
A Is for Animal Quiz
Types of Chemical Reactions
Biodiversity Loss
Latin American Authors
English Romantic Poets
Pope Quiz
Columbian Exchange: New World or Old World?
Nut or Not?
Botany Basics: Fact or Fiction?
Grains and Pseudograins
Ecosystems
Tasty Taxonomy
Plants with Religious Meaning
Oh My Gourd
What Is It? Fruits and Veggies Edition
Animal Group Names
Plants and Booze
Scientific Names of Edible Plants
(Not) All in the Family
This or That? Annual vs. Perennial
Climate Change: Fact or Fiction?
Climate Change