Dr. William Collins is an internationally recognized authority in climate science whose career has profoundly shaped modern climate prediction systems and assessment frameworks. He currently serves as Associate Laboratory Director of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he previously directed the Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division from 2015 to 2022, and holds a position as Professor in Residence in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. With a PhD in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Chicago completed in 1988, he transitioned into climate science through foundational work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research where he chaired the Scientific Steering Committee for the DOE/NSF Community Climate System Model project. His academic journey from astrophysics to climate science provided a unique foundation for addressing complex questions in atmospheric radiative transfer that would define his subsequent research trajectory.
Dr. Collins' research has fundamentally advanced understanding of critical climate processes, particularly the intricate interactions among sunlight, heat, the coupled climate system, and global environmental change with specialized focus on clouds and aerosols. His seminal contributions include developing innovative methods for simulating global aerosols and clouds, which are essential components for accurate climate prediction systems and represented a major advancement in the field. As a Lead and Coordinating Lead Author for multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, including the Fourth Assessment that contributed to the IPCC being awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, his work has directly informed global climate policy with scientific rigor. His leadership as Chief Scientist for the Department of Energy's Accelerated Climate Model for Energy program earned him the DOE Secretarial Honor Award in 2015, showcasing his ability to bridge fundamental science with computational innovation to address urgent climate challenges.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Collins has been instrumental in building collaborative frameworks that advance climate science across institutional boundaries through initiatives like the Climate Readiness Institute, a multi-campus effort to prepare the Bay Area for climate impacts. His recognition as a Fellow of four major scientific societies—AAAS, APS, AGU, and AMS—along with the prestigious AGU Tyndall History of Global Environmental Change Lectureship in 2019, underscores his standing as a thought leader who shapes the intellectual direction of climate science. Through his mentorship of emerging researchers and leadership in national climate modeling efforts, he continues to cultivate the next generation of climate scientists who will address evolving environmental challenges. Currently spearheading the integration of advanced computational techniques with climate science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Dr. Collins remains at the forefront of developing next-generation earth system models that provide critical insights for climate adaptation and mitigation strategies worldwide.
