NASA Has New Chief Scientist And Senior Climate Advisor, Katherine Calvin

Katherine Calvin will serve NASA in a dual role as chief scientist and senior climate advisor. (photo: NASA doc)

JAKARTA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has finally found a replacement for Jim Green, the chief scientist who has retired since January 1 with more than 40 years at the agency.

Green's successor, Katherine Calvin will serve at NASA in a dual role as chief scientist and senior climate adviser. Calvin's responsibilities include representing the agency throughout the national and international science community, as well as serving as principal adviser to the head of the space agency, other leaders on science programs, strategic planning, and policy.

Calvin himself took over as permanent senior climate adviser from Gavin Schmidt, who has served since NASA created the position in February last year to meet US President Joe Biden's climate goals.

NASA is joining the Biden National Climate Task Force to assist the government in addressing issues related to climate change.

In doing so, Calvin will bring his expertise in integrated human-Earth systems modeling to help ensure the Biden Administration has the data to achieve its critical goals of protecting the planet.

"Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our nation, and our planet. NASA is a world leader in climate and Earth science. I'm excited to be part of the team helping advance this important science mission," said Calvin.

Prior to his stint at NASA, Calvin was an Earth scientist at the Global Change Research Institute with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in College Park, Maryland.

His responsibilities include working on the institute's Global Change Analysis Model which is a system for exploring and analyzing the relationship between human systems and the Earth.