Chris Forest

Chris Forest is a Professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on climate dynamics, uncertainty quantification in climate predictions, and the application of climate information for risk assessment. He is affiliated with the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) and contributes to interdisciplinary research on climate adaptation and sustainability.

Research Interests: His work spans climate modeling, Earth system modeling, climate sensitivity, sea-level rise, extreme precipitation, and climate risk. He investigates how climate variability and change impact natural and human systems, with a focus on reducing uncertainties in projections and improving decision-making under climate risk.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in climate risk management, coastal adaptation, and uncertainty analysis in coupled human-Earth systems. His research integrates modeling, observational data, and policy-relevant analysis, particularly in urban and coastal contexts. Topics include sea-level rise, storm surge, flood risk, and socio-climate interactions.

Scientific Awards:

• Project Drawdown Senior Fellow (2019)

Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, Chris Forest collaborates with numerous researchers and advises interdisciplinary teams. He has secured significant funding, including a $2 million grant for climate-adaptive infrastructure design and energy/environmental seed grants for interdisciplinary projects. He also mentors undergraduate researchers through collaborative climate initiatives.

Labs and Teams: He is involved in research projects such as 'Facilitating Environmental Investigations Employing a Single Column Model' and 'Projecting Flood Risk from Extreme Precipitation: Interaction Between Climate Change and Urbanization.' He collaborates with teams at Penn State and beyond, including researchers from MIT and other institutions, focusing on convergence research that integrates scientific, social, and ethical dimensions.