Stephen H. Schneider

Stephen H. Schneider received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Plasma Physics from Columbia University in 1971. In 1975, he founded the interdisciplinary journal, Climatic Change, and continues to serve as its editor. Schneider was honored in 1992 with a MacArthur Fellowship for his ability to integrate and interpret the results of global climate research through public lectures, seminars, classroom teaching, environmental assessment committees, media appearances, Congressional testimonies, and research collaboration with colleagues. He has consulted with federal agencies and/or White House staff in the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations. Schneider was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2002 and received both the National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation and the Edward T. Law Roe Award of the Society of Conservation Biology in 2003. He has been an author for all 4 assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, and served as a Coordinating Lead Author in Working Group 2 for the last two reports as well as serving on the Synthesis writing teams. In 2000, he and Richard Moss co-authored the uncertainties guidance paper for IPCC authors. His recent work has centered on the importance of risk management in climate-policy decision making, given the uncertainties in future projections of global climate change, and he continues to serve as an adviser to decision makers and stakeholders in industry, government and nonprofit sectors on possible climate-related events and policy responses. He is also engaged in improving public understanding of science and environment through extensive media communication and public outreach.