Join us for a discussion about drought in the United States under a changing climate.
View the webinar recording below.
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About this Event
Ecosystems and communities across the country are increasingly grappling with water shortages, changing precipitation patterns, and challenges to managing water resources. From declining snowpack in western watersheds to unexpected drought conditions in other regions, drought is emerging as a complex climate risk with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities. Faith Kearns (Arizona State University) moderated a discussion with Jonathan Overpeck (University of Michigan) and Pam Knox (University of Georgia) exploring what drives drought, how climate change is reshaping drought risk, and what scientists, water managers, and communities are doing to prepare. This conversation also examined advances in drought monitoring and early warning systems, the challenges of planning for future uncertainties, and opportunities to build resilience in a changing climate.
Participant Bios
Faith Kearns is a researcher, writer, and science communicator whose work focuses on water, wildfire, climate change, and communities. She has worked extensively on drought and climate issues in the western U.S., and is the author of the book Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Engagement and co-host of the Water Talk podcast. Her work emphasizes making complex environmental issues accessible while fostering productive dialogue across disciplines and perspectives.
Jonathan Overpeck is an interdisciplinary climate scientist, the Samuel A. Graham Dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He is an author or co-author of over 240 published works, including serving as a Coordinating Lead Author for the Nobel Prize winning IPCC 4th Assessment (2007), and most recently a 2026 National Academy of Sciences report on improving future U.S. drought assessment. Overpeck has led two major programs focused on regional climate adaptation and serves on the State of Michigan Governor’s Council on Climate Solutions, as well as the City of Ann Arbor’s Sustainability Commission. Overpeck has worked for over 40 years, and on six continents, to understand and halt climate change, as well as to promote efforts to adapt to the climate extremes that cannot be avoided.
Pam Knox is the Director of the UGA Weather Network, a network of 91 stations around the state which have been recording weather and climate data starting in 1991. She is also an agricultural climatologist for the University of Georgia. Previously, Pam has worked as the Georgia Assistant State Climatologist, the Wisconsin State Climatologist, and in the National Weather Service. She also served as President of the American Association of State Climatologists and on the American Meteorological Society’s Board of Applied Climatology and Board of Continuing Professional Development. She now serves on the technical advisory boards for the Southeast Regional Climate Center (NOAA) and the Southeast Regional Climate Hub (USDA).
Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action is a monthly webinar series from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that aims to convene high-level, cross-cutting, nonpartisan conversations about issues relevant to policy action on climate change.
