Meet NASAs Next Earth Science Division Director

Hi, I’m Karen St. Germain, and I am thrilled to be NASA’s next Division Director for Earth Science. I hoped to greet you all in person today, but, that day will come soon, and in the meantime, I thought I’d introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my background and why I’m so excited to take on this role. I got my start in Earth Science up close and personal flying through hurricane Gilbert in 1988 as a graduate student at the university of Massachusetts. I was working on a new technique to observe very high ocean surface wind speeds from aircraft altitude. That was a very exciting start to about a decade and a half of an R & D career.

That was either in collaboration with NASA or funded by NASA. Largely focused on observing ocean surface winds, arctic and antarctic sea ice, as well as glacial ice. More recently, I’ve been working on major systems development, as well as developing NOAA’s future Earth observing architecture, and also managing portfolios and programs. I’ve learned a lot along the way, including what it takes to really deliver a capability, as well as what it means to balance a portfolio of programs to meet a broader set of objectives. I’m really looking forward to bringing that learning back to my home turf - Earth Science. And to working with the leaders at NASA.

I’m especially looking forward to working with 01:31 - Sandra Cauffman who has been a friend and a colleague for several years. Sandra has my deepest thanks and appreciation for all she’s done to lead the Earth Science program over the last year. This is a crucial time in Earth science. Of course the Decadal Survey outlined a very ambitious vision for the Earth Science enterprise, and I’m optimistic we can achieve that mission. I’m also compelled to achieve that mission. I’m compelled because understanding land, ocean, atmosphere and cryospheric systems, and how they are coupled together is going to be critical - I believe - for the future of humanity. The global economic forum identified environmental factors as the greatest risks - both in terms of probability and impact - to global prosperity and health in the coming years.

That means it’s more 02:26 - important than ever to understand our environment and NASA Earth Science is the engine room for research and innovation driving that understanding forward. And it’s serious and important work. We’ll have to work together with NGOs, industry, and agencies both in the U.S. and around the world to increase the impact of NASA’s R&D investments in Earth Science. This is a unique community, and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone one of you to rise to these challenges. I am humbled. I am honored. And I cannot wait to get started. Thank you. .