Dr. Diana Rucavado Rojas is an accomplished researcher specializing in climate governance and science-policy interfaces with significant contributions to international climate assessment processes. She is currently affiliated with Indiana University, where she conducts influential research on representation and equity within global environmental governance frameworks. Her academic background combines expertise in environmental science with practical policy implementation experience, positioning her as a respected authority on the translation of scientific knowledge into climate action. Her work bridges the gap between academic research and practical implementation, particularly through her engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment processes.
Dr. Rucavado Rojas has made seminal contributions to understanding representation dynamics within the IPCC, particularly examining the underrepresentation of Global South authors and practitioner knowledge in climate assessments. Her research published in Nature Climate Change has documented structural barriers that perpetuate inequitable knowledge inclusion in international climate science, revealing how institutional factors shape the integration of diverse perspectives into climate assessments. Her work on the 'cycle of underrepresentation' has provided critical empirical evidence for reform initiatives within the IPCC, highlighting disparities in regional, gender, and leadership representation across assessment cycles. These findings have catalyzed important conversations about improving inclusivity in climate science governance, with direct implications for how climate policies are developed and implemented globally.
Beyond her foundational work on IPCC representation, Dr. Rucavado Rojas has extended her expertise to energy justice issues, investigating how energy storage solutions can enhance resilience in disadvantaged communities through publications in Current Sustainable/Renewable Energy Reports. Her collaborative approach to research has positioned her as a valued contributor to multi-institutional efforts addressing climate change adaptation and policy implementation, including her work with the Northwest Straits Commission on marine resource needs assessment. She maintains an active research agenda examining the intersection of climate science, policy implementation, and equity considerations through her ORCID-verified scholarly output. As international climate governance continues to evolve, her research provides essential frameworks for building more inclusive and effective systems that incorporate diverse knowledge systems and practitioner experiences into decision-making processes.
