Drawdown Science

Jonathan Foley, Ph.D., is executive director of Project Drawdown and a world-renowned environmental scientist. His work focuses on finding new solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems, and natural resources. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific articles and had presentations featured at hundreds of international venues. Jon founded the University of Wisconsin Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, served as the founding director of the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, and served as executive director of the California Academy of Sciences.

James Gerber, Ph.D., is a senior scientist, data science, with Project Drawdown. He has special expertise in agriculture’s impact on Earth’s ecosystems, food security, and the interrelation of climate and food security. Lead author for the Sixth Assessment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with a focus on development pathways, he comes to Project Drawdown from the University of Minnesota.  

Yusuf Jameel, Ph.D., is associate scientist, data science with Project Drawdown. A multidisciplinary scientist with experience in water resources, public health, data analytics, and science communication, he focuses on a broad range of solutions at the intersection of climate, food, energy, water, social equity, and finance. He previously served as research manager for Drawdown Lift and as a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Florida.

Daniel Jasper is the policy advisor for Project Drawdown. Previously, he worked for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), where he advocated for peace, humanitarian cooperation, and international development in Asia, and at World Learning, where he administered the state department's International Visitor Leadership Program. Founder and primary author of StreetCivics.com, Dan served in the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan from 2008 to 2010 and in Saint Lucia from 2013 to 2014. He has also worked for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum. 

Amanda D. Smith, Ph.D., is senior scientist, built environment, with Project Drawdown and a researcher and analyst in building science and energy systems modeling. Her professional career includes academic, national laboratory, and industry positions. Most recently, she served as senior energy analyst at SOCOTEC USA. She received her doctorate from Mississippi State University.

Christina (Tina) Swanson, Ph.D., is senior scientist, policy and private sector partnerships, with Project Drawdown. An environmental scientist with a background in cross-disciplinary research and multi-faceted engagement at the interface of science and policy, she is driven by an enduring passion to turn science into action to solve environmental problems and benefit society. Tina comes to Project Drawdown with more than two decades experience in the environmental non-profit arena, including with The Bay Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Paul West, Ph.D., is senior scientist, ecosystems and agriculture, for Project Drawdown. An ecologist researching solutions on managing lands and waters to improve food security, climate, nature, and people’s lives, he is driven by conducting cutting-edge science and working with others to effect change on the ground. He previously worked at The Nature Conservancy and the University of Minnesota. He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. 

Stephen D. Agyeman, Ph.D., is a researcher, writer, and policy advocate with expertise in electricity and industrial sector decarbonization. His research focuses on low-carbon fuels, clean technologies innovation, energy economics, and policy regulation. He earned his doctorate in energy economics and management from Xiamen University, where he studied (de)regulation’s contribution to advancing negative emission technology in Africa. Stephen's career has spanned the electric power sector, academia, think tanks, and international development with Genser Energy Ghana, the World Bank Group, the University of Strathclyde, and more. At Project Drawdown, he is focusing on the electricity and transport sectors.

Sarah Gleeson, Ph.D., is a materials scientist with expertise in plastics, carbon removal, and science communication. She earned her doctorate from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she wrote her thesis on designing a nanoscale synthetic bone composite. Previously, Sarah was a scientist at Running Tide studying ocean carbon removal and a postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researching surfactants at liquid interfaces. Her research interests include systems-level decarbonization, waste mitigation, and global materials circularity. At Project Drawdown, she is analyzing the impact of emissions reductions in the industrial sector and the techno-economic potential of engineered carbon sinks. 

Jason Lam holds a bachelor’s degree in biosystems engineering with an environmental specialization from the University of Manitoba and a master of engineering leadership in clean energy engineering from the University of British Columbia. He previously worked in the nonprofit sector with the Pembina Institute, where he conducted analysis on Canada’s liquefied natural gas sector, and has experience in the engineering consulting sector in both Manitoba and British Columbia with downstream oil and gas clients. His work with Project Drawdown focuses on the buildings, electricity, and industry sectors. 

Cameron Roberts, Ph.D., is an interdisciplinary social scientist who specializes in studying low-carbon technologies in their full social context. He is particularly skilled at using insights from the past to understand how low-carbon innovations might have a greater impact in the future. Cameron earned his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester in socio-technical transitions theory. He has studied low-carbon solutions in transportation, electricity generation, space heating, agriculture, and heavy industry and developed a methodology to use historical insights to inform assessments of the future potential of geoengineering technologies. His work for Project Drawdown focuses on low-carbon transportation.

Eric Toensmeier is a writer, trainer, and consultant working on agricultural climate change mitigation. He specializes in agroforestry and perennial crops. Eric has served as a senior fellow with Project Drawdown and the Global Evergreening Alliance, and a lecturer at Yale University. His books include The Carbon Farming Solution and Trees with Edible Leaves.

Eric Wilczynski is an energy professional with an interdisciplinary career spanning from analyst and operations roles in the North American power and demand response industries to research positions in European climate think tanks and research centers. His main research interests are related to energy flexibility, demand response, and decarbonizing the heating and cooling sectors. In addition to working on European research projects and operating virtual power plants, he is completing his Ph.D studies with Utrecht University and the University of Geneva. Eric’s work with Project Drawdown focuses on the electricity and buildings sectors.