With this grant, Dr. Hansen, the 2018 laureate, will be able to finish Sophie’s Planet, a book written for younger generations in which he chronicles his own struggle to become a scientist and learn the scientist method.

In view of the climate stress driven by extreme weathers and related natural disasters, 2018 laureate Professor Ramanthan’s first research proposal focuses on 100 families living in climate stressed zones in California, and is intended to document the mental health impact climate change has exerted on this population.

Professor Ramanthan, the 2018 laureate, wants to bring about collaborations between science and religion so that religious leaders and their communities can work constructively with climate scientists to shape the ethics required for addressing climate change and to communicate this issue effectively to the public.