Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a world-renowned atmospheric scientist whose pioneering work bridges climate science with public policy and community engagement. She currently serves as Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, a position she assumed in 2021, while maintaining her role as Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Professor of Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University. Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1972 to missionary parents, she spent her childhood in Cali, Colombia before returning to Canada for her undergraduate studies. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Toronto in 1994, initially intending to pursue astrophysics until a climate science course redirected her academic path toward atmospheric science.
Her research focuses on developing and applying high-resolution climate projections to evaluate the future impacts of climate change on human systems and natural environments, with particular emphasis on making climate science relevant at local scales. Dr. Hayhoe has authored over 150 scientific papers and served as a lead author for the Second U.S., Third, and Fourth National Climate Assessments, significantly contributing to national understanding of climate vulnerability. She has gained international recognition for her ability to communicate complex climate science across ideological divides, with her TED Talk 'The Most Important Thing You Can Do About Climate Change: Talk About It' accumulating more than 5 million views. Her work bridging the gap between the scientific community and religious groups, particularly evangelicals, has been instrumental in expanding the conversation about climate action to diverse audiences worldwide.
As a trusted voice in climate science, Dr. Hayhoe serves as the climate ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance and hosts the PBS digital series 'Global Weirding: Climate, Politics and Religion,' which explores the intersection of climate science with cultural contexts. She has authored the influential book 'Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World,' providing an optimistic, solutions-oriented approach to climate conversations. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors including the United Nations Champion of the Earth Award in Science and Innovation, Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Currently, she continues to advance climate solutions through The Nature Conservancy's global conservation efforts while working to foster meaningful dialogue about climate action across all sectors of society.
