John Lin, professor of atmospheric sciences, is among the newest class of fellows of the Earth Leadership Program. Along with 20 other researchers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Lin will embark on a year-long training program that, according to the program, “prepares researchers to work together as effective agents of change by providing tools and perspectives to help participants cross traditional disciplinary and sector boundaries.”

“The Earth Leadership Program enables me to tap into a network of fantastic scientists who are also passionate about making use of their expertise to tackle environmental issues,” Lin says.

The program’s two intensive leadership training sessions, at the beginning and end of the fellowship year, include learning how to create solutions with diverse stakeholders.

“I will then get to apply such skills in a concrete project that I will design myself, which will focus on working with international stakeholders on climate change and air quality,” Lin adds.

“The Earth Leadership Program is an excellent opportunity for investigators to apply research into practice to help solve environmental problems,” says Andy Weyrich, vice president for research. “This recognition truly highlights Dr. Lin’s extraordinary research as well as the university’s critical work in climate change and sustainability.”

U associate vice president for research Diane Pataki is a past fellow, in the 2015 cohort, as is biology professor Nalini Nadkarni, in the 2004 cohort.

“Tackling air quality and climate change gained urgency and became personal when I became a father,” Lin says. “When we went hiking in the forest, I wondered how much of the glorious natural beauty will be available for the next generation?  At the zoo, I thought about whether the magnificent animals we were watching would still be around for my children’s children?”

Formerly known as the Leopold Leadership Program, which began in 1998, the Earth Leadership Program is a program of Future Earth in collaboration with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the University of Colorado, Boulder. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation also provide funding for the program.

Lin says his selection as a fellow reflects the quality of research at the U in studying climate change and air pollution. “As importantly,” he says, “the Earth Leadership Program recognizes the potential for work at the U to provide solutions to these issues by working with stakeholders and the public at large.  This is testament to the efforts in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences as well as the many, many wonderful members of the Global Change and Sustainability Center across campus.”