Dr. Kate Marvel On Processing The Complexities of The Climate Crisis

Aug 7, 2025

Dr. Kate Marvel, a renowned climate scientist and author of 'Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet,' shares her journey from a disinterested high school student to a leading climate voice. She discusses the intertwining of emotion and climate science, revealing the deep feelings evoked by everyday discoveries. Marvel highlights the unique challenges faced by climate scientists, from public skepticism to the complexities of narrative. Her insights emphasize the power of storytelling in making climate science relatable and urgent.

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ANECDOTE

From Hating Science To Loving Earth

Kate Marvel discovered astronomy in college and pivoted from disliking physics to studying cosmology.
Realizing Earth's uniqueness pushed Kate Marvel from cosmology toward climate science.

INSIGHT

Playful Power Of Climate Models

Kate Marvel calls climate models 'toy planets' that let scientists run experiments impossible on the real Earth.
She uses models to test scenarios like removing humans or setting off volcanoes to learn system responses.

INSIGHT

Emotions Don’t Undermine Credibility

Kate Marvel rejects the idea that scientists must hide emotions to stay credible.
She argues honesty about feelings builds trust, while pretending to feel nothing makes scientists liars.

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This week, Dr. Kate Marvel, author of Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet, is on the show to discuss the complex ways she processes varying emotions while studying climate change and thinking about this planetary crisis. Marvel talks about her journey from a high school student disinterested in science to studying cosmology to eventually becoming a leading climate scientist. She explains why she's inspired by this work and the people that do it. We talk about the creative and fun aspects of working with climate models, some of the certainities and uncertainites that come with any scientific exploration, and what scares her most about climate change. Marvel shares some of the deep emotions that are evoked by everyday climate science and the importance of the narratives we tell living through this crisis. We also explore what it's like for climate science and scientists to be attacked, ignored, and/or belittled, and why it's critical to appreciate the amazing contributions we've received from years of hardworking scientists studying this issue.

Dr. Kate Marvel is one of the world's best-known climate scientists working today. She received a PhD in theoretical physics from Cambridge University, led the “Climate Trends” chapter in the U.S. Fifth National Climate Assessment, and has both given a TED Talk and testified before the U.S. Congress! She has written for Scientific American, Nautilus magazine, and the On Being Project.

Read Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet

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