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.

Dan 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.