The Human Element

Gabriele Pfister is an atmospheric scientist and the deputy director of the NSF NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory (ACOM). She has been at NSF NCAR since 2002.  Her research focuses on the chemical composition of the air around us using chemical models in conjunction with satellite, aircraft, and ground based observations, striving to understand local air quality and global pollution.

Frank Flocke is an atmospheric chemist at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric research since 1992. He is an expert in studies of air quality and air pollution utilizing aircraft measurements. He works on processes connected to ozone formation in the troposphere, and helps design and supports airborne field campaigns to address air quality issues.

James Balog is an environmental photographer and the founder and director of the Earth Vision Institute and the Extreme Ice Survey. He is the subject of the 2012 documentary Chasing Ice and the author of eight books.

Tania Schoennagel is an ecologist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her research addresses the causes and consequences of western forest disturbances, primarily wildfire and insect outbreaks. Her research generally focuses on fundamental ecological questions with applications to forest management, land-use and climate change policy.

Jessica Gilman is is a research chemist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her research is focused on conducting in-situ measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in order to identify their sources and influences on ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation.