Biography

Simon Donner is a professor and interdisciplinary climate scientist at the University of British Columbia. He holds appointments in the university’s Department of Geography, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, and Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and directs the cross-campus Climate Solutions Research Collective. His research tackles questions at the intersection of climate science, marine science, and public policy using a combination of large-scale numerical modelling and field research. He was a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent Sixth Assessment Report and is Co-Chair of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which advises the federal government on pathways to eliminating climate-warming emissions. In addition to his research and teaching, Prof. Donner has participated in hundreds of science engagement activities. He is a recipient of a Leopold Leadership Fellowship, a Google Science Communication Fellowship, a Wrigley Storymakers Fellowship and the UBC President’s Award for Public Education through the Media. The longtime outdoor sports enthusiast has been described by his family as an aquatic plant – needing sun and water to thrive. During the pandemic, Simon dipped into the cold ocean near his Vancouver home every day for over a year.