Meet Mark Lannaman | Journalist & Scientist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Lannaman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, is there something you believe many others might not?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. I understand the sentiment behind it, but technically speaking, a “miss” means you were aiming for something and fell short. If I don’t take the shot… by definition, it can’t be a miss. But technicalities aside, I think the saying is well-intentioned in the spirit of: Go for it! It’s guaranteed that you won’t get what you desire if you don’t try. In many instances, this is true, and I’m all for encouraging people to take chances. However I think this saying can be matched with another one of my favorite sayings: the greatest risk of all is to do nothing. Usually, people use it in the same stroke as the first quote, i.e., you’re taking a risk by not going for what you want. I interpret it slightly differently than someI think. I acknowledge the validity in the greatest risk of all is to do nothing, and in the spirit of encouraging people to take risks I also believe that the “do nothing” risk can be a valid one. In short, it’s okay — sometimes — to not take that shot and instead take the risk of inaction. Although this is probably not the most popular opinion for anyone that is a “go for it!” type of person, I think at times we can try to force things into happening, maybe at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Sometimes, especially if you can differentiate a gut feeling from just general nerves trying to psych you out, I think it’s wise to simply take the gamble of not going for something, and trust that things will work out. Whether that trust is in fate, God, the universe itself, or even oneself — that’s up to you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work sits at the nexus of sustainability which encompasses a broad number of fields. I’ve interned or worked for so many places in Atlanta: Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Climate Project, RCE Greater Atlanta, AgLanta, Southface, WABE 90.1 via the Atlanta Press Club, Saporta Report, Atlanta Story Partners, Southface, etc. I’ve gotten to direct a documentary that was Southeast-Emmy nominated about urban development in Atlanta. So I feel super blessed to have gotten great experiences that span all of my university studies, and I feel well positioned to both highlight and tackle sustainability problems from multiple angles, which is crucial for multi disciplinary problems in their nature. I think that I won’t necessarily have a clear-cut career path, and I try to embrace that, and show that you can pursue multiple paths or have a multidisciplinary approach. I’m 23 now, and I’m not always sure what the future will hold, but I’d like to think I’ll wear multiple hats in my career — and I hope I get to have one that reflects all of my interests.

I started college at Georgia State and got my degree in Journalism. I then went to Georgia Tech and got my master’s in Global Media and Cultures, followed that with a masters in Sustainable Energy & Environmental Management, and am now finishing a masters in Environmental Engineering. So, I’ve had a lot of school. I get asked pretty often where the connection between journalism and science lies (i.e., what am I doing?). I usually tell people that at the most fundamental level, both journalism and science start with asking really good questions, then searching for answers. So I like to think my studies in both compliment each other rather than divulge into separate paths.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Eat: I’m going to gatekeep and not say the exact name,, but one of my Jamaican spots in Stone Mountain. For some Atlanta specific food, J.R. Crickets. Honorable mentions: Amalfi’s in Downtown and Apres Diem in Midtown, and Jia Szechuan Food and Bar in Ponce City Market. Also shoutout to Rodney’s in Smyrna and La Carreta in Marietta

Drink: We’d have to make a trip to Jojo’s Beloved. Maybe McCray’s in Midtown. Non-alcoholic… I’ll be honest, McDonalds has some good milkshakes and all my friends know I love McDonalds so I gotta stand on that. We’re going to McDonalds.
Study/work: I also feel like mostly gatekeeping this one since I love my study spots… but one that I’ll mention is the James Room on the Beltline.

Visit: I’m a museum guy, so I’m going to go with Fernbank, along with the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Martin Luther King Jr. birth home and the whole King district, and finally The High. Would also stop by Little Five Points and the Beltline, of course.

Have fun: 100% Cascade Skating Rink during adult night — great vibes and music with some crazy talented skaters & dancers. Where else… Six Flags, definitely. Stone Mountain too. I’d also hope there was a Paint N Sit ATL coming up, or I’d see if we can catch an ATL Bachata Tuesday bi-weekly night. Depending on the person visiting, I might take them to volunteer at Metro Atlanta Urban Food Forest (nation’s largest), or a sports game Downtown. For nightlife I’d go with Revery VR Bar or Habitat.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s a thousand people I could shout out, and of course I always have to thank God. I’ll say two in particular, though: my family — especially my parents, and my fourth grade teacher. My family, to start, has been so supportive and loving, and I don’t take that for granted at all. They’ve definitely instilled great values in me and of course, push me towards good decisions (or let me know if I’m making dumb ones). We don’t always agree, but I’ll never have to wonder if they have my back. And this is true for my immediate and extended family, blood or not. So that’s an awesome feeling. As for my fourth grade teacher, Mr. G, he used to make us write three things we were grateful for each day in notebooks; later on, when I was in high school, I had a teacher do the same practice but expanded it to five. Since then, I’ve been writing (with some missed days, I’m not perfect) five things each day, along with a positive affirmation. I want to give that teacher in high school credit as well for re-introducing the practice to me, but I definitely think the reason I stuck with it the second time is because I remembered how good it made me feel doing it back in elementary school. Even though it’s a small habit, it helps me stay grounded and remember all the blessings in my life I should be grateful for, and I like to think that shaped me as a person and thus shaped my story, at least in part.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lannaman-177551184/