About Us
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MISSIONThe mission of “Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet” is to provide the public with accurate and timely news and information about Earth’s changing climate, along with current data and visualizations, presented from the unique perspective of NASA, the world’s leading climate research agency.
SCIENCE ADVISERS
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Dr. Carmen Boening, Climate Scientist and OceanographerDr. Carmen Boening has a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Bremen, Germany. She is involved in JPL's Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its follow-on mission, GRACE FO, to be launched in 2017. Her research interests include the complex processes behind sea level rise, involving interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, land hydrology and land ice.
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Dr. Erik Conway, HistorianDr. Erik Conway is the historian at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, holding a Ph.D. in History of Science and Technology from the University of Minnesota. He writes on the history of Earth, planetary and space sciences in the 20th century, his most recent work entitled Exploration and Engineering: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Quest for Mars.
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Dr. Michael Gunson, Atmospheric ScientistWith a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Bristol University, Dr. Michael Gunson is a Global Change and Energy program manager and an Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) project scientist. His research interests lie in atmospheric remote sensing, atmospheric composition and chemistry, and climate change. Prior to his present JPL roles, Dr. Gunson worked as a lead scientist for building the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA’s AQUA satellite and the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard the AURA satellite.
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Joe Witte, Climate CommunicatorJoe Witte started his career as a glaciologist for the USGS, working on the ice of South Cascade Glacier, Wash. He has worked for network affiliate news stations in New York City, Seattle, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, and was NBC’s morning weatherman for 20 years. He currently advises NASA communications teams about how to adapt NASA science content for use by TV meteorologists.
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Dr. Charles MIller, Atmospheric ScientistDr. Charles Miller received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. As a research scientist at JPL, his interests include atmospheric chemistry and carbon cycle science. He is the principal investigator of NASA's Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment (CARVE), which looks at atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane in the Arctic. He is also the JPL lead for the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS)’s Monitoring Megacity CO2 Emissions from Space project, and a member of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) science team.
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Dr. William Patzert, OceanographerNASA scientist Dr. William “Bill” Patzert has a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Hawaii. His research interests center on understanding and forecasting global, as well as local, climate change. He is an expert in science communication and often appears in the print and social media and on local and national television and radio. He lectures widely and works with students from around the world.
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Dr. Duane Waliser, OceanographerDr. Duane Waliser has a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of California, San Diego. In addition to being JPL’s Earth Science and Technology Directorate's chief scientist, he is an adjunct professor in the University of California, Los Angeles's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and a visiting associate in Caltech's Geological and Planetary Sciences Division. His research includes focus on climate dynamics and variability, ocean-atmosphere interactions, water cycle and weather/climate predictability.
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Dr. Josh Willis, OceanographerA project scientist for NASA’s Jason-3 satellite and principal investigator of the Oceans Melting Greenland campaign, Dr. Josh Willis received his Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Willis’s research interests lie in estimating both regional and global sea level rise and ocean circulation using NASA satellite data, among others. Because these are connected to global climate change, he also participates in public outreach efforts to communicate their significance.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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Randal Jackson, Website ManagerAs an Internet Manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Randal produces websites about Earth science and astronomy and cutting-edge visualization tools for the public. Prior to working for NASA, he was senior editor for science and technology at CNN.com, where he oversaw coverage of such stories as the Pathfinder mission to Mars, the deorbiting of the Mir space station, and the construction of the International Space Station. Randal majored in journalism and drama at the University of Georgia.
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Laura Faye Tenenbaum, Blogger and Senior Science EditorLaura writes for the Earth Right Now blog and is a Glendale Community College oceanography professor. She develops interactive new media products to engage and educate students, teachers and other professionals in climate and environmental science. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in marine science from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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Holly Shaftel, Website Editor and Social Media SpecialistHolly Shaftel manages the website’s daily operations, from publishing news to tracking metrics. She also maintains the related social media channels (NASA Climate Change on Facebook and Google+, @NASAClimate on Twitter, and @nasaclimatechange on Instagram) and writes original features for the website. Holly holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
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Susan Callery, Earth Science Public Engagement ManagerSusan Callery is the manager of the Earth Science Public Engagement Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Susan’s team plans, staffs, develops and implements all Earth science communication and outreach activities, with the exception of media. Prior to working for NASA, Susan worked at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and was a City Council member in Poway, Calif. Susan has a B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Master’s in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver.
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Susan Bell, Video Series ProducerSusan brings over 15 years of media production experience to her role at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her prior work includes stop motion animation, documentary television, narrative filmmaking, transmedia storytelling, game design and interactive project management. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production from Florida State University, and is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
EYES ON THE EARTH VISUALIZATION TEAM
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Kevin HusseyManager of Visualization Technology Applications -
Kristine NguyenChief Visualization Programmer
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Christopher "Kit" PetrieScientific Applications Software Engineer
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
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Justin MooreDesign and Development Director, Moore Boeck -
Andrea BoeckDesigner, Moore Boeck