Leslie Paul Thiele is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida, where he also serves as Director of the Sustainability Studies program and the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics and Science (UF CAIRES). His interdisciplinary research bridges moral and political theory with sustainability and technology governance. Current Role: Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Florida Leadership: Director, Sustainability Studies program; Director, UF CAIRES Thiele's research focuses span sustainability ethics, climate engineering governance, and the intersection of political theory with emerging technologies. His recent work examines the Anthropocene's moral challenges and the implications of geoengineering for human rights. His publications reflect a strong focus on environmental ethics and technology governance, with recent articles addressing solar radiation management, post-sovereign power dynamics, and ecological human rights. The majority of his peer-reviewed articles (7/8) were published between 2019-2020. Awards: Distinguished Professor, University of Florida
Frank Keutsch is the Stonington Professor of Engineering and Atmospheric Science in the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. He holds a joint appointment in both departments and is also a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS), where he collaborates with Prof. Jia Chen on air pollution and climate research since 2021. Dr. Keutsch received his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of California Berkeley and his Diplom in Chemistry from TU Munich. His academic journey bridges European and American institutions, reflecting his international research perspective and expertise in both fundamental chemistry and applied environmental science. Professor Keutsch's research focuses on understanding atmospheric chemical processes, particularly those related to air quality and climate change. His work combines laboratory experiments, field observations, and modeling to investigate fundamental mechanisms of anthropogenic influence on atmospheric composition. He specializes in photochemical oxidation processes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA), which affect human health and climate. His research spans from urban areas to remote tropical forests, from tropical oceans to polar regions, addressing critical environmental challenges across diverse spatial and temporal scales. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on air pollution monitoring, climate intervention strategies, and the development of novel measurement techniques. The research shows an increasing integration of machine learning approaches with traditional atmospheric science methods, as well as a growing emphasis on global applications of pollution monitoring technologies and the health impacts of atmospheric pollutants. 2015, LFUI Guest Professorship 2014, Vilas Mid-Career Investigator Award 2013, Vilas Associate Award 2012, Honored Instructor Award 2006, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Award Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry 2005, Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award Hans Fischer Senior Fellowship (2021) As an active mentor, Professor Keutsch is accepting graduate students into his research group. His laboratory develops cutting-edge instrumentation for atmospheric measurements, including the FILIF (Formaldehyde Instrument using Laser-Induced Fluorescence), CHOCHO LIP (Laser-Induced Phosphorescence), EDB-MS (Electrodynamic Balance Mass Spectrometry), and DPOPS systems. These instruments have been deployed in numerous field campaigns across diverse environments worldwide, from forests in Michigan and Colorado to the Amazon rainforest and even Antarctica. His group's work on stratospheric aerosols, particularly related to climate intervention strategies, has gained significant attention in the scientific community.
Götz Gresser is a Professor at the Institute for Textile and Fiber Technologies (ITFT) , affiliated with the University of Stuttgart . He serves as Principal Investigator in the Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC) cluster and Director of the German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) . His work spans technical textiles, fiber-reinforced composites, and adaptive architectural systems. Experience in textile value chain research Focus on coreless filament winding and bio-inspired compliant mechanisms Developed adaptive façades with integrated photovoltaics (FlectoSol, Flexafold) Contributed to planetary sunshade concepts for climate mitigation Research Trends : His recent publications emphasize coreless filament winding for lightweight structures pneumatically actuated adaptive systems integration of sensors and feedback in composite manufacturing space-based applications of fiber composites digital fabrication workflows sustainable material systems
Professor Matt McDonald is a leading scholar in International Relations at the School of Political Science and International Studies , The University of Queensland (UQ). Formerly holding positions at the University of New South Wales, University of Birmingham (UK), and University of Warwick (UK), he specializes in the intersection of climate change and security , critical security studies , and Australian foreign policy . His work bridges theoretical innovation with policy engagement, including an ongoing ARC Discovery Project on national climate-security approaches and leadership of UQ's Climate Politics and Policy network. His research spans Ecological Security Climate-Conflict Nexus Geoengineering Ethics Climate Diplomacy Posthuman Security Environmental Justice Recent publications analyze climate security institutions , UN Security Council dynamics , and solar geoengineering debates , reflecting a trend toward interdisciplinary engagement with environmental science and policy. He has consulted for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Defence, and the UN Climate Security Mechanism , while contributing to public discourse via The Conversation , ABC News , and other media outlets. He supervises PhD projects on Climate-human mobility linkages Ontological security in military contexts Climate diplomacy Indonesian middle-power strategies McDonald earned a PhD from UQ (2003) after completing a Master's degree in International Studies (UQ, 2000) and Bachelor's degree in Arts (UQ, 1998). He has presented at institutions including Harvard, Oxford, and the United Nations University, and his policy work informs Australian and international climate-security frameworks.
James W. Hurrell is a Professor and Scott Presidential Chair in Environmental Science and Engineering at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science (since 2018). Previously, he served as Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR, 2013–2018), and held senior roles including Senior Scientist at NCAR's Climate and Global Dynamics Lab. His research focuses on climate variability, predictability, and anthropogenic climate change impacts, with emphasis on decadal-scale natural variability and geoengineering. He has authored/co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and actively contributes to global climate initiatives like WCRP/CLIVAR. Education: Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, Purdue University (1990) M.S. in Atmospheric Science, Purdue University (1986) B.S. in Earth and Space Science & Mathematics, University of Indianapolis (1984) Research Interests: Global climate change mechanisms, seasonal-to-decadal climate predictability, solar climate intervention (SCI), and the interplay between natural variability and anthropogenic forcing. He uses model simulations to assess SCI's potential benefits/risks and advises policymakers on climate science. Awards: 2016: University of Indianapolis Distinguished Alumni Award 2011: Fridtjof Nansen Medal 2010: AGU Fellow 2006: AMS Fellow Grants & Leadership: Funded by NSF and NOAA. Served on IPCC assessment panels, U.S. Senate/House briefings, and led international programs like CLIVAR. Former Director of NCAR Earth System Laboratory and Chief Scientist of the Community Earth System Model (CESM). Current Activities: Leads the Hurrell Group at CSU, investigating climate intervention strategies and decadal climate predictability. Collaborates globally on model-based climate analysis.
Mark Edward Borsuk is the James L. and Elizabeth M. Vincent Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. He leads the Borsuk Lab, which specializes in interdisciplinary modeling of coupled social, environmental, and technical systems. His research spans climate change, ecosystem services, water resources, land use, and environmental health, using advanced methods such as Bayesian networks, agent-based modeling, game theory, and risk analysis. He co-directs the Center on Risk within Duke’s Science & Society Initiative and is an Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. B.S.E. in Civil Engineering and Operations Research, Princeton University, 1995 M.S. in Statistics and Decision Sciences, Duke University, 2001 Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy, Duke University, 2001 Postdoctoral Training, EAWAG (Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology), Systems Analysis, Integrated Assessment, and Modelling (SIAM) Dr. Borsuk’s research focuses on integrating scientific data across disciplines to support decision-making under uncertainty. He is a leading expert in Bayesian network modeling applied to environmental and human health regulation. His work combines risk analysis, game theory, and agent-based modeling to assess climate change and environmental policy. He has developed novel frameworks for valuing ecosystem services, modeling landowner behavior, and assessing geoengineering risks. His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and quantitative decision support. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward integrating machine learning, causal inference, and spatial modeling into environmental assessment. Topics include solar radiation modification governance, land-use policy forecasting, invasive species impacts, and urban green space valuation. His work increasingly leverages big data (e.g., Zillow, remote sensing) and probabilistic programming to enhance model transparency and predictive accuracy. Chauncey Starr Distinguished Young Risk Analyst Award, Society for Risk Analysis, 2013 Early Career Research Excellence Award, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, 2008 Earl I. Brown Outstanding Civil Engineering Faculty Award, Duke University, 2018 Best Paper, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Journal, 2012 Excellence in Mentoring Award, Dartmouth College Postdoctoral Association, 2010 Best Paper in Integrated Modelling, Environmental Modelling & Software Journal, 2008 Dr. Borsuk has been a principal investigator on grants from NSF, EPA, NIH, NIEHS, and USFS. He mentors a diverse group of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including Kim Bourne, Jon Holt, Chris Krapu, and Ryan Calder. He teaches courses such as Risk and Resilience Engineering, Engineering Economics, and Independent Study in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is actively involved in advising and curriculum development through the Bass Connections Energy & Environment Research Team. He leads the Borsuk Lab, a dynamic research group focused on systems, risk, and decision analysis. The lab is a key contributor to the Bridge Collaborative—a partnership between Duke, The Nature Conservancy, IFPRI, and PATH—where it develops quantitative models to support cross-sectoral decision-making. The lab also investigates landowner decision-making in New England forests and the governance of solar geoengineering, using agent-based and deliberative modeling approaches.
Henning Franke is a Researcher (Postdoc) at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology's Department of Climate Physics, focusing on the Climate Surface Interaction group. His research leverages km-scale general circulation models to explore atmospheric circulation systems, from thunderstorms to global wind patterns. He investigates processes like gravity waves and their role in phenomena like the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), while advancing model development to address climate change impacts. Education PhD in Earth System Sciences (2020–2024): Max Planck Institute for Meteorology M.Sc. Meteorology (2017–2020): University of Hamburg B.Sc. Meteorology (2014–2018): University of Hamburg Research Focus His work emphasizes understanding climate dynamics through high-resolution modeling, particularly the QBO's behavior under global warming and interactions between ocean mesoscale structures and tropical convection. He explores model dependencies and aerosol effects on atmospheric circulation. Publications Recent studies highlight advancements in QBO simulation accuracy, effects of global warming on gravity waves, and stratospheric aerosol modeling during volcanic eruptions. His work bridges theoretical insights with computational innovations, such as GPU-based climate modeling frameworks. Labs/Teams He contributes to the Climate Surface Interaction group and collaborates on projects like the ICON model development and RV SONNE ocean-atmosphere measurement campaigns.
Professor Iwona Cieślak, affiliated with the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and the Faculty of Geoengineering , specializes in socio-economic geography and spatial management. Her work focuses on geospatial analyses, urbanization dynamics, landscape transformations, and spatial conflict identification. Scientific Interests : Geospatial databases, urban sprawl, land use conflicts, sustainable development Infrastructure : Access to GIS tools and geographic databases Her recent research emphasizes GIS-driven urban planning, land cover analysis, and sustainable development strategies. Key trends include the application of fuzzy set theory to spatial modeling, the use of CORINE Land Cover data for urbanization studies, and the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in socio-economic geography. She actively supervises doctoral projects and has access to funding and laboratory infrastructure.
Anthony Wiskich is a Visiting Professor at the Australian National University's (ANU) Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, part of the Crawford School of Public Policy. He holds a PhD from ANU (2021) and has professional experience as a postdoctoral fellow at CSIRO, economist at the IMF, and IT consultant. His research focuses on climate policy design, decarbonisation pathways for synthetic biology and deep-sea shipping, optimal carbon pricing under climate tipping risks, and electricity market transitions. He also examines financing constraints for clean technologies and policy effectiveness evaluation. Research interests include: Decarbonisation opportunities in synthetic biology and shipping sectors Optimal carbon pricing mechanisms under climate uncertainty Clean-energy policy mix optimization Substitutability analysis between renewable and fossil fuel energy sources Financing barriers for green innovation Comparative effectiveness of climate policy instruments His recent work emphasizes: Quantifying methane vs. carbon dioxide climate impacts Evaluating ammonia fertilizer production innovations Analyzing wind/solar substitution dynamics Comparing carbon taxes vs. subsidy approaches Game-theoretic climate policy coordination Labs/Teams: Active contributor to ANU's Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis research programs. Previously affiliated with CSIRO's postdoctoral program and IMF policy teams.
Professor Thomas Stocker is a leading international expert in climate and environmental physics at the University of Bern's Physics Institute, where he heads the Climate and Environmental Physics division. His work focuses on ice core analysis (reconstructing CO₂ levels over 800,000 years) and climate modeling, particularly reduced-complexity models for long-term climate projections. Stocker's career included postdoctoral research at University College London, McGill University, and Columbia University under Wally Broecker. He co-chaired the IPCC's Working Group I for the 2013 Fifth Assessment Report, which underpinned the Paris Agreement. His research emphasizes understanding glacial cycles, carbon cycle dynamics, and abrupt climate transitions. His team's Beyond EPICA project seeks 1.5-million-year-old Antarctic ice cores to study precession-dominated climate cycles. Notable contributions include disproving the 'global warming pause' myth and analyzing AMOC stability under climate change. Education: ETH Zurich (PhD in Physics) Postdoctoral fellowships at UCL, McGill, and Columbia Research Themes: Ice core greenhouse gas reconstructions Climate modeling of millennial-scale variability Anthropogenic climate change impacts Policy-relevant climate science communication His 2025 articles highlight advancements in ice core drilling (Beyond EPICA), climate intervention studies, and projections for 2050. Recent work addresses tipping points, Antarctic ice sheet stability, and solar radiation management risks. Awards: Swiss Science Prize Marcel Benoist (2017) AGU Fellow (2016) Dr. Honoris Causa degrees from ETH Zurich (2012) and Versailles (2006) Stocker advocates for global climate partnerships, emphasizing the need for decarbonization as a 'fourth industrial revolution.' His lab develops the Bern3D Earth system model and advances drilling technologies like RADIX to access deep Antarctic ice cores.
Stephen M. Gardiner is Professor of Philosophy and Ben Rabinowitz Endowed Professor of the Human Dimensions of the Environment at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he is also Director of the Program on Ethics within the Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a leading scholar in environmental ethics, climate change, and intergenerational justice. His research centers on the ethical dimensions of global environmental problems, with a focus on climate change, virtue ethics, and justice for future generations. Key themes include the moral failure of global climate inaction, the challenges of intergenerational equity, and the ethical implications of geoengineering technologies. The 15 most recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with climate ethics, intergenerational justice, and virtue theory, spanning topics from solar geoengineering governance to the philosophical foundations of sustainability. His work integrates classical ethical frameworks with contemporary policy challenges, emphasizing moral responsibility, global justice, and long-term environmental planning. Scientific Awards: Academy Lecture for Humanities and Social Sciences, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (2021) Alan Saunders Lecture in Public Ethics, Australasian Association for Philosophy (2021) Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, Gardiner’s leadership in major research projects and editorial roles suggests significant mentorship. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Leverhulme Trust (UK), and the Australian Research Council, reflecting broad recognition and funding for his interdisciplinary research in climate ethics. Labs and Teams: Gardiner leads the Program on Ethics at the University of Washington and has collaborated internationally through visiting fellowships at Oxford, Princeton, and institutions in Australia and New Zealand. His research often involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on climate policy, geoengineering ethics, and global environmental governance.
Joseph Aldy is the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of the Practice of Environmental Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He serves as Faculty Chair for the Regulatory Policy Program at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. Aldy is also a University Fellow at Resources for the Future, Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. PhD in economics, Harvard University Master of Environmental Management, Nicholas School of the Environment BA, Duke University His research focuses on climate change policy , energy policy , and regulatory policy . Key areas include carbon pricing, clean air regulations, solar geoengineering, and competitiveness impacts of climate mitigation. Recent work emphasizes cost-effectiveness of carbon tax mechanisms and consumer responses to energy efficiency incentives. Fellow at Resources for the Future (2005-2008) Faculty Research Fellow at NBER Aldy has advised on U.S. climate policy, including as Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Environment (2009-2010). He leads sponsored projects funded by entities like the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, focusing on carbon pricing and climate risk management. Professional activities include roles with BP, Environmental Law Institute, and Lazard Climate Center.
John Moore is a Research Professor at the Arctic Centre Global Change Research, University of Lapland. His work focuses on glaciology, climate research, and geoengineering, particularly studying glaciers in Tibet, Svalbard, and Antarctica. He employs ice core analysis, Earth System Models, and mathematical modeling to understand climate impacts and glacier behavior. Moore has led or contributed to major projects like ICEMAP (Antarctica modeling), Co-CREATE (solar radiation research), and Cool Place (indigenous knowledge integration). His research interests include geoengineering solutions, climate intervention strategies, and the socio-environmental implications of Arctic changes. Key awards include the China Friendship Medal (2014) and election to the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (2016). He actively collaborates internationally, contributing to climate policy discussions and Arctic science initiatives. Moore's recent publications emphasize glacial retreat mechanisms, climate model datasets for geoengineering studies, and Arctic conservation strategies. His work has been featured in media, highlighting innovative approaches to mitigating climate impacts in polar regions.
Martin Janssens is an Assistant Professor in Meteorology at Wageningen University & Research . His research focuses on atmospheric boundary layer dynamics, mesoscale cloud organization, and climate modeling. He has contributed to projects like CloudRoots-Amazon22, exploring cloud-photosynthesis interactions in tropical regions, and investigates the impact of trade cumulus self-organization on radiation budgets. Janssens co-supervises PhD candidates in areas such as shallow convective clouds and forest fire plume dynamics. His work emphasizes bridging scales in Earth system modeling, including digital twin frameworks for climate projections. He has published extensively on topics like mesoscale circulations, cloud dynamics, and large-eddy simulations. Notable collaborations include work on carbon dioxide exchange in tropical tropospheres and the governance of solar geoengineering experiments. Key Projects : Unravelling mesoscale organization of shallow convective clouds for climate projections Evaluating atmospheric models for the Copernicus Monitoring Service Fluid dynamics of forest fire plumes Dynamical systems analysis of cloud patterns (PhD project 2019–2023) Research Themes : Trade wind cumulus dynamics and self-organization Amazon rainforest-atmosphere interactions Numerical modeling of boundary layer processes Advising & Grants : Co-promoter of three active PhD projects focusing on cloud dynamics, atmospheric modeling, and fire plumes. His research has been featured in high-impact journals like Geophysical Research Letters and Communications Earth & Environment .
Chris Koski is Daniel B. Greenberg Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Reed College. His research investigates policy process dynamics, environmental governance, and energy policy design, with emphasis on climate adaptation, state-level regulatory innovation, and budgetary politics. Scholarship employs theoretical frameworks including punctuated equilibrium and social construction to analyze net metering policies, target population receptivity, and executive influence on fiscal decisions. Recent work explores geoengineering attitudes and policy responsiveness in subnational contexts. Recognized with the 2024 Theodore Lowi Award, he has authored influential texts on executive-interest group policy interactions and documentary approaches to American politics. Leads initiatives bridging political science and environmental studies pedagogy.
