Atmospheric Scientist Katharine Hayhoe Receives Dickinson College’s Rose-Walters Prize for Environmental Activism
President John E. Jones III '77, P'11; Rose-Walters Prize Co-Creator Julie Walters; 2024 Rose-Walters Prize Recipient Katharine Hayhoe; Associate Professor of Geosciences Jorden Hayes. Photo by Dan Loh.
Hayhoe Will Participate in an On-Campus Residency During the Upcoming Academic Year
Katharine Hayhoe, an award-winning atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change on people and the planet, received The Sam Rose ’58 and Julie Walters Prize for Global Environmental Activism at Dickinson’s Commencement on Sunday, May 19. The annual $100,000 prize is awarded to individuals or organizations significantly impacting responsible action for the planet and its people. Recognized as a United Nations Champion of the Earth, Hayhoe calls climate change “one of the most pressing issues we face today.”
The Rose-Walters Prize acknowledges Hayhoe’s many accomplishments. She is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and is a distinguished professor and endowed chair at Texas Tech University. Hayhoe served as a lead author for the Second, Third, and Fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments, gave a TED talk with over 4 million views, and has written many scientific studies, essays, and books including Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.
Associate Professor of Geosciences Jorden Hayes introduced Hayhoe during the Commencement ceremony. “She is a model of empathetic and courageous approaches to climate communication,” Hayes said. “Her work communicating climate science to the broadest audiences is impressive. I especially appreciate her regular reminder that caring about climate change is loving our neighbor.”
A woman of faith, Hayhoe is also well known for her work bridging the gap between scientists and Christians. She has been named by Christianity Today as one of their 50 Women to Watch and she serves as the World Evangelical Alliance’s Climate Ambassador. Hayhoe hosted the PBS digital series Global Weirding: Climate, Politics and Religion and currently produces the newsletter Talking Climate. Her husband, Andrew Farley, is a pastor, radio host and best-selling author of numerous popular Christian books. Together, the couple co-wrote A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions. Hayhoe is also a co-founder of nonpartisan advocacy group Science Moms.
“More than any recognitions you may earn, the most important thing in life that powers all of our fight for a better future is love,” Hayhoe told Dickinson’s Class of 2024.
Hayhoe is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and the American Scientific Affiliation, and serves on advisory boards for organizations including Netflix, UBS, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
During the 2024-25 academic year, Hayhoe will visit Dickinson for a multi-day residency. The Rose-Walters Prize has previously honored climate advocates including Elizabeth Kolbert, Mark Ruffalo, Bill McKibben and Lisa Jackson.
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Published May 23, 2024