Dr. Gregg Garfin awarded the distinction of Fellow by AAAS!

One of our ALRS faculty, Gregg Garfin, a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences expert on climate science and policy, has been elected a 2020 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society.

Garfin joins a roster of nearly 500 AAAS members who have earned the lifetime distinction. He is being recognized for his work linking fundamental climate and paleoclimate science to climate services and decision making, through climate assessment, knowledge exchange and the development of translational ecology.

Garfin has worked for the last 20 years to bridge the science-society interface through dialogues between scientists and decision-makers and collaborative climate and environment research projects.

His research focuses on adaptation to a changing climate, climate variability and drought, especially in southwestern United States and northern Mexico. He was co-lead author of the Southwest chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment. The congressionally mandated report is written every four years to help inform decision-makers and other stakeholders by providing a thorough examination of the effects of climate change on the United States. Decision-makers include utility and natural resource managers, public health officials and emergency planners.

"It is a tremendous privilege to receive this award," Garfin said. "Being named a AAAS Fellow is beyond anything that I expected in my career. I have been fortunate, several times, to be in the right place at the right time and to have the support of senior colleagues. For every scientist like me, who is fortunate enough to receive an award, there are many others deserving a similar honor."

Garfin's titles and affiliations reflect his accomplishments in building networks and working across disciplines and institutions. He is an associate professor and associate extension specialist in the UArizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment, where he directs the Water, Society & Policy Master of Science degree program. He also serves as the deputy director for science translation and outreach at the Arizona Institutes for Resilience.

Read the full profile on UArizona News.