Juliette Rooney-Varga directs the Climate Change Initiative, co-directs the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and is a professor of environmental science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is also a research affiliate at the MIT System Dynamics Group.

She has more than 20 years’ experience as a scientist studying biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. Her current work focuses on translation of science to bridge the gap between scientific and societal understanding of climate change and sustainability. She develops and analyzes the impact of dynamic modeling and interactive simulations that enable people to learn for themselves about the climate and energy systems. These simulations bring current climate change and energy science to students, citizens, and policymakers at all levels and have been shown to motivate science-informed action.

She earned a Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire, a master's degree from Cornell University and a bachelor's degree from Colby College.

 

In the Media

  • Juliette Rooney-Varga soundbite filmed in UMass Lowell studio.