John Alexander Church

Emeritus Professor John Alexander Church is a prominent climate scientist affiliated with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and previously with CSIRO from 1978 to 2016. He served as the initial leader of the ocean climate program in CSIRO's Division of Oceanography and contributed to establishing the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Research Centre. Awarded CSIRO Fellow in 2010, he has also held visiting roles at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Southampton Oceanography Centre. His expertise lies in global/regional sea-level variability, ocean dynamics, and the Earth’s energy budget, combining observational data and climate models.

Church has been deeply involved in international climate research, including chairing the World Ocean Circulation Experiment's Scientific Steering Group and contributing to the IPCC's Third and Fifth Assessment Reports as a co-convening lead author. He has authored over 180 refereed papers, co-edited books, and earned prestigious awards such as the Roger Revelle Medal, BBVA Frontiers Prize, and AO honor. His work emphasizes the ocean's role in climate change, particularly in sea-level rise and its societal implications.

In advising and grants, Church has collaborated extensively on projects like the Framework for High-End Sea Level Rise Estimates and FAFMIP (Forecasting Sea-Level Rise using CMIP Models). His research also explores freshwater transport dynamics and the integration of observational data with climate models to improve projections. Notably, he leads discussions on the urgency of addressing sea-level rise for coastal management and policy.

Church's affiliations include the Climate Change Research Centre at UNSW and global collaborations with institutions like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. His contributions bridge science and policy, ensuring actionable insights for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.