Christopher R. Schwalm Ph.D.

Climate change isn’t just a technical problem—it’s a human one. As an Earth system modeler and global change ecologist with over 20 years of experience, I’ve focused my career on making sure that policy decisions are grounded in scientific reality. From the boardrooms of global financial institutions to frontline communities across five continents, I work to ensure that climate science doesn’t just sit in an academic journal, but builds resilience where it’s needed most.

Currently, I serve as the Vice President of Science at Woodwell, where I lead a team of 12 world-class scientists. Together, we bridge the gap between complex research and the practical tools leaders need to navigate a warming world. I lead Woodwell Climate’s work connecting climate risk to capital markets, including our long-standing partnership with Wellington Management. I also direct Woodwell Climate’s outreach initiative to provide under-resourced communities globally with localized climate risk assessments. Whether I’m advising on national security or helping an investment manager understand physical risk, my goal is the same: providing the clarity and data-driven strategy required to protect our planet and our future.

I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and have authored over 100 publications—work that has been cited more than 15,000 times by the global scientific community. My research has been published in leading scientific journals–such as Nature, Science, and PNAS–and has been featured by the New York Times, CBS News, S&P Global, and The Diplomat. My focus today remains on turning that deep expertise into effective, timely, and scalable action.