Diana Pabst Parsell is a writer of journalism, essays, memoir and travel articles. Her work has appeared on the websites of National Geographic and Smithsonian and in a wide range of publications, such as The Washington Post, Washingtonian (forthcoming), Science News, The Indonesian Observer, Humanities, The New Physician, Ford Foundation Report and Potomac Review.

A versatile freelancer, she has written on topics as diverse as Maya archaeological discoveries, elephant communication, medical care in Cape Town's squatter camps, autism research, human rights interests of Indonesia’s Muslim women, ancient textiles, a new pyramid-building theory, land-use practices and the travels of Somerset Maugham.

For more than two decades she has worked as a writer and editor for several major publications and scientific organizations. Much of that work has entailed interpreting research findings and other complex topics for non-specialists. Since 1999 she has traveled regularly to Southeast Asia as a writer and editorial consultant to international development-oriented research centers in Indonesia and Malaysia.

She and her husband live in suburban Washington, D.C.