Katharine Hayhoe

Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and celebrated communicator, translating complex climate science into accessible language for diverse audiences. After being named one of Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ in 2014, Katharine Hayhoe further solidified her reputation as a leading atmospheric scientist and acclaimed communicator. A faculty member at Texas Tech University since 2005, she currently holds the position of Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law. Hayhoe’s foundational academic work includes a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Toronto in 1994, followed by a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where her 2010 PhD thesis, ‘A Standardized Framework for Evaluating the Skill of Regional Climate Downscaling Techniques,’ focused on regional climate projections.

The United Nations recognized her global impact, naming her a Champion of the Earth in 2019. In 2021, Hayhoe significantly expanded her influence by joining The Nature Conservancy as Chief Scientist. That same year, she authored the critically acclaimed book ‘Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World’ and co-authored ‘Downscaling Techniques for High-Resolution Climate Projections: From Global Change to Local Impacts.’ Her ongoing contributions to the scientific community were further acknowledged in 2022 when she received the American Geophysical Union’s Ambassador Award and was named a Fellow of the AGU. Most recently, in 2023, she was elected to the distinguished American Academy of Arts and Sciences.