Exploring NOAA with Chief Scientist Dr. Sarah Kapnick

Dr. Sarah Kapnick serves as the Chief Scientist at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which plays a critical role in understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. Bringing a unique mix of science and finance to NOAA, Dr. Kapnick's background includes a stint as a senior climate scientist at JP Morgan Chase, a leadership role at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and an early career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. She holds a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from UCLA and an AB in Mathematics from Princeton.

In our conversation, Dr. Kapnick touches on a wide range of topics, including NOAA's extensive work, the importance of resilience and adaptation in today's changing climate, and the challenges of planning for a future that deviates from past assumptions of a stable climate. Highlighting NOAA's efforts in supporting community resilience and innovation, she underscores the agency's commitment to aiding stakeholders in navigating the complexities of our evolving environmental landscape, emphasizing the critical need for investment and focus on adaptation for the remainder of the 21st century.

In this episode, we cover: 

• [03:08]: An overview of NOAA and its departments, focusing on climate, weather, ocean, and coasts
• [05:16]: The six line offices within NOAA, including the National Weather Service and Oceanic Research
• [09:26]: NOAA's management of marine resources and the Great Lakes
• [12:18]: How scientific priorities are set within NOAA, driven by mission and funding
• [15:06]: Kapnick's background in climate science and finance
• [20:23]: The intersection of climate change and finance
• [22:45] The need for bipartisan support for resiliency and adaptation measures
• [31:13]: NOAA's role in funding and supporting coastal resilience and climate-ready fisheries
• [36:34]: NOAA's focus on adaptation and resilience in response to climate change
• [48:19]: Opportunities for startup innovation and government funding in adaptation and resiliency
• [54:00]: The state of the world's ocean and atmospheric circulation, including AMOC slowdown
• [59:17]: Climate change impacts on the Midwest and the variability of the Great Lakes

Episode recorded on Mar 13, 2024 (Published on Apr 15, 2024)

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