Making a case for physicists to join climate research
Summary
Science Friday host Ira Flatow interviews Dr. Morgan O’Neill, a physicist at the University of Toronto, about bridging traditional physics and climate science. O’Neill explains how fluid dynamics and other physical principles apply to understanding storms and climate models, advocating for more physicists to enter the field. She also discusses the severe challenges facing U.S. climate researchers due to political interference and funding cuts, noting a growing interest in relocating to Canada.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Climate change as a physics problem
Dr. O'Neill's journey from astrophysics to climate science
The gap in fluid dynamics training for physicists
Bridging planetary science and Earth climate research
Modeling small-scale storm physics in climate systems
Recruiting physicists amid US funding challenges
Brain drain and the future of US climate science
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