M Jackson

Dr. M Jackson is a glaciologist, geographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer whose work reveals how glaciers have shaped the landscapes, cultures, and histories of our planet. For more than two decades, she has lived, worked, and conducted research in Iceland, where she studies the relationships between glaciers, communities, and environmental change.

A three-time U.S. Fulbright Scholar, TED Fellow, and National Geographic Explorer, Jackson has led expeditions across the Arctic and Antarctic, explored our planet’s cryosphere, taught university, and served as a science advisor and host for projects with National Geographic, Netflix, CNN, Discovery, and Crash Course. Her writing has appeared in National Geographic, Grist, Orion, Yale University Press, and other publications.

Jackson is the author of four books, including The Secret Lives of Glaciers, an acclaimed exploration of Iceland's glaciers and the people whose lives have been shaped by them; While Glaciers Slept, an award-winning memoir about family and climate change; and the novels The Ice Sings Back and Ice to Water. Her forthcoming book, Wild Islands: How Ice Shapes Our Planet—and Us, explores how glaciers have shaped the landscapes, cultures, and futures of three remarkable islands across the North Atlantic, Bering Sea, and Southern Ocean.

Whether teaching travelers about Iceland's glaciers or speaking to audiences around the world, Jackson's mission is to help people see glaciers—and the forces that shape our changing planet—with new eyes.