Dr. Carolina Vera stands as a preeminent leader in climate science whose pioneering work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of climate dynamics across South America. She currently serves as Full Professor at the School of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires and Director of the Center for Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences (CIMA), a joint institute between the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina National Council of Sciences, and CNRS France. Having earned her PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires in 1992 under Professor Eugenia Kalnay, Vera overcame significant gender barriers in meteorology, including professors who discouraged her from challenging their views in public forums. Her childhood fascination with weather phenomena, nurtured by her mother's keen observation of natural patterns in their native Argentina, ignited a career that has evolved from local meteorological studies to global climate leadership.
Dr. Vera's distinguished research portfolio centers on climate variability and simulation, with particular expertise in monsoons, rainfall patterns, and heatwaves across South American regions. Her sophisticated modeling approaches have provided critical insights for developing climate resilience strategies and informing adaptation policies in vulnerable communities. As a Lead Author of the IPCC Special Report on 'Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation' (SREX), she contributed essential scientific knowledge that shaped international understanding of climate risks. Carolina Vera received the Cleveland Abbe Award from the American Meteorological Society for advancing and communicating climate science to decision makers and stakeholders in South America and worldwide.
In her current role as Vice Chair of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Vera plays a pivotal role in examining the physical science basis of climate change, influencing global policy discussions from the organization's headquarters in Geneva. She actively cultivates the next generation of climate scientists through her leadership at the University of Buenos Aires and her deliberate efforts to encourage women in meteorology, consistently recognizing their excellent skills and aptitudes. Her scientific influence extends to multiple international bodies including the World Climate Research Program Joint Scientific Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change. Through her ongoing commitment to translating complex climate science into actionable knowledge, Dr. Vera continues to bridge the critical gap between scientific understanding and practical implementation in the face of escalating climate challenges.
