James Hansen thinks that the most exciting planetary research involves trying to understand climate disruption on Earth. As the former head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, Hansen might be best known for his 1988 testimony on climate change to congressional committees which initally sounded the alarm. He brings this experience to his current position as Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and to his role as an activist bringing broader awareness to the issue of climate disruption.

Hansen is the author of Storms of My Grandchildren and numerous peer-reviewed scholarly articles.

Dr. James Hansen is the recipient of the 2012 Stephen Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Communication.