Biography:William D. Collins

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Short description: Climate scientist and astrophysicist
William D. Collins
OccupationClimate scientist and astrophysicist
Academic background
Alma materPrinceton University
University of Chicago
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of East Anglia

William D. Collins is a climate scientist and astrophysicist. He is the director of ClimateUEA and a professor of AI for Climate Science at the University of East Anglia.

Collins' research has focused on climate science, Earth system modeling, atmospheric physics, machine learning for climate prediction, radiative forcing, and climate change. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Physical Society (APS), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Education

Collins received a B.A. in physics from Princeton University in 1981. From the University of Chicago, he received an M.S. and a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics in 1984 and 1988, respectively.[1]

Career

Collins began his career as a post-graduate research associate at the University of Chicago from 1988 to 1990. Later, he joined the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the same role from 1990 to 1992.[2] Subsequently, he became an assistant research physicist at Scripps and also worked as a lecturer there in 1994. In 1996, he joined the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and worked there until 2008.[2][1]

In 2007, Collins joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a senior scientist. Subsequently, he held leadership positions there, including department head from 2007 to 2015,[1] division director from 2015 to 2022, and associate laboratory director from 2022 to 2026.[3] He was also a professor in residence at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2007 to 2026, where he also held the position of James and Katherine Lau Chair from 2018 to 2020.= He was director of the university's Climate Readiness Institute from 2013 to 2018 and of its Environmental Resilience Accelerator from 2018 to 2020. Since 2026, he has been the director of ClimateUEA and a professor of AI for Climate Science at the University of East Anglia.[4]

Alongside these appointments, Collins has also worked as a lead and coordinating lead author of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a lead author of the Fifth Assessment Report, and a lead and contributing author of the Fourth Assessment Report, which formed part of the IPCC's work recognized by the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.[3][5] He was an editor of the Journal of Climate[1] and co-editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Climatology.[6] He is also an executive editorial board member of Machine Learning: Earth.[7]

Research

Collins' research has focused on climate science, Earth system modeling, physical climate processes, and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance climate prediction and decision-making. His research has focused on aerosol radiative effects and radiative transfer models,[8] radiative forcing,[9] greenhouse gases,[10] and the Rapid Radiation Transfer Model Global (RRTMG) for shortwave and longwave radiation.[11] He described the overlapping methodology used in the radiation parameterization[12] and the effects of cloud overlap on radiative heating rates, atmospheric temperature, and hydrological processes.[13] He described the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) as the atmospheric component of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM).[14] He also employed the Community Earth System Model (CESM) to disentangle the biogeophysical and biogeochemical effects of climate change[15] and developed CESM 1.2.2, comprising atmosphere, land, ocean, sea ice, and river systems.[16]

Collins' studies have further introduced vertically resolved soil biochemistry schemes[17] and evaluated the transient climate response.[18] He assessed the ability of climate models to simulate climate using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) historical simulations,[19] including the representation of temperature extremes.[20] He examined solar absorption in the tropical climate system.[21] He also emphasized that humans are changing the climate with uncertain consequences[22] and highlighted links between global warming and extreme weather, as well as planning for climate change.[23]

Collins discussed hybrid modeling frameworks that integrate machine learning with classical process-based models.[24] He explored the potential of machine learning based climate model emulators,[25] and used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture to identify extreme weather conditions.[26] Moreover, he presented a deep learning based methodology for climate extreme event detection by classifying tropical cyclones, weather fronts, and atmospheric rivers.[27]

Awards and honors

  • 2014 – Fellow, AAAS[28]
  • 2017 – Fellow, APS[29]
  • 2019 – John Tyndall History of Global Environmental Change Lecture, AGU[30]
  • 2020 – Fellow, AGU[31]
  • 2021 – Five Sigma Physicist Honor, APS[32]
  • 2022 – Robert Hofstadter Memorial Lecture, Stanford University[33]
  • 2024 – Jule Gregory Charney Lecture, AGU[34]
  • Fellow, AMS[35]

Selected articles

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "WILLIAM D. COLLINS". https://haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/Vita_Collins-William-Collins.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Climate Expert William Collins Selected as New Associate Laboratory Director". November 29, 2022. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2022/11/29/william-collins-associate-laboratory-director/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "William Collins – Profile". https://climatesciences.lbl.gov/profile/wdcollins/. 
  4. ↑ "William Collins". https://profiles.lbl.gov/11626-william-collins. 
  5. ↑ "Nobel Peace Prize 2007". https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/ipcc/facts/. 
  6. ↑ "New Senior Editorial Team for the International Journal of Climatology". https://www.rmets.org/news/new-senior-editorial-team-international-journal-climatology. 
  7. ↑ "Machine Learning: Earth". https://publishingsupport.iopscience.iop.org/journals/machine-learning-earth/editorial-board/. 
  8. ↑ Kahn, Ralph A.; Andrews, Elisabeth; Brock, Charles A.; Chin, Mian; Feingold, Graham; Gettelman, Andrew; Levy, Robert C.; Murphy, Daniel M. et al. (2023). "Reducing Aerosol Forcing Uncertainty by Combining Models With Satellite and Within-The-Atmosphere Observations: A Three-Way Street". Reviews of Geophysics 61 (2): 10. doi:10.1029/2022RG000796. Bibcode: 2023RvGeo..6100796K. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022RG000796. 
  9. ↑ Saunois, Marielle et al. (2020). "The Global Methane Budget 2000–2017" (in English). Earth System Science Data 12 (3): 6. doi:10.5194/essd-12-1561-2020. ISSN 1866-3508. Bibcode: 2020ESSD...12.1561S. https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/12/1561/2020/essd-12-1561-2020-discussion.html. 
  10. ↑ Solomon, Susan; Plattner, Gian-Kasper; Knutti, Reto; Friedlingstein, Pierre (2009). "Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 (6): 1705. doi:10.1073/pnas.0812721106. PMID 19179281. Bibcode: 2009PNAS..106.1704S. 
  11. ↑ Appel, K. Wyat; Bash, Jesse O.; Fahey, Kathleen M.; Foley, Kristen M.; Gilliam, Robert C.; Hogrefe, Christian; Hutzell, William T.; Kang, Daiwen et al. (2021). "The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model versions 5.3 and 5.3.1: system updates and evaluation". Geoscientific Model Development 14 (5): 2874. doi:10.5194/gmd-14-2867-2021. PMID 34676058. Bibcode: 2021GMD....14.2867W. 
  12. ↑ Katragkou, E.; García-Díez, M.; Vautard, R.; Sobolowski, S.; Zanis, P.; Alexandri, G.; Cardoso, R. M.; Colette, A. et al. (2015). "Regional climate hindcast simulations within EURO-CORDEX: evaluation of a WRF multi-physics ensemble". Geoscientific Model Development 8 (3): 605. doi:10.5194/gmd-8-603-2015. Bibcode: 2015GMD.....8..603K. https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/8/603/2015/. 
  13. ↑ Qian, Y.; Long, C. N.; Wang, H.; Comstock, J. M.; McFarlane, S. A.; Xie, S. (2012). "Evaluation of cloud fraction and its radiative effect simulated by IPCC AR4 global models against ARM surface observations". Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 12 (4): 1788. doi:10.5194/acp-12-1785-2012. Bibcode: 2012ACP....12.1785Q. https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/12/1785/2012/. 
  14. ↑ Hurrell, James W.; Hack, James J.; Shea, Dennis; Caron, Julie M.; Rosinski, James (2008). "A New Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Boundary Dataset for the Community Atmosphere Model". Journal of Climate 21 (19): 5145. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2292.1. Bibcode: 2008JCli...21.5145H. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/21/19/2008jcli2292.1.xml. 
  15. ↑ Doelman, Jonathan C.; Stehfest, Elke; Tabeau, Andrzej; van Meijl, Hans; Lassaletta, Luis; Gernaat, David E.H.J.; Hermans, Kathleen; Harmsen, Mathijs et al. (2018). "Exploring SSP land-use dynamics using the IMAGE model: Regional and gridded scenarios of land-use change and land-based climate change mitigation". Global Environmental Change 48: 133. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.11.014. Bibcode: 2018GEC....48..119D. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/items/1797956a-3127-474b-a8a3-178d652f9055. 
  16. ↑ Zhang, Ran; Guo, Jiaqi; Bradshaw, Catherine D.; Xu, Xiyan; Shen, Tiantian; Li, Shufeng; Nie, Junsheng; Zhang, Chunxia et al. (2025). "Vegetation feedbacks accelerated the late Miocene climate transition". Science Advances 11 (18): 8. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads4268. PMID 40315310. Bibcode: 2025SciA...11S4268Z. 
  17. ↑ Lawrence, David M. et al. (2019). "The Community Land Model Version 5: Description of New Features, Benchmarking, and Impact of Forcing Uncertainty". Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems 11 (12): 4248. doi:10.1029/2018MS001583. Bibcode: 2019JAMES..11.4245L. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018MS001583?__cf_chl_f_tk=xIKEjNZNle0DE4SCt1BDqo7hMGOcNoAJZvZjjv5_vqo-1783321771-1.0.1.1-rburHTxaToZCg9iz3AzYtiFunoaK_4hL9bFR_r5cb4M. 
  18. ↑ Voldoire, A. et al. (2019). "Evaluation of CMIP6 DECK Experiments With CNRM-CM6-1". Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems 11 (7): 2206. doi:10.1029/2019MS001683. Bibcode: 2019JAMES..11.2177V. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2019MS001683. 
  19. ↑ Eyring, Veronika; Bony, Sandrine; Meehl, Gerald A.; Senior, Catherine A.; Stevens, Bjorn; Stouffer, Ronald J.; Taylor, Karl E. (2016). "Overview of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) experimental design and organization". Geoscientific Model Development 9 (5): 1943. doi:10.5194/gmd-9-1937-2016. Bibcode: 2016GMD.....9.1937E. https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/9/1937/2016/. 
  20. ↑ "Weather and Climate Extreme Events in a Changing Climate". Climate Change 2021 – the Physical Science Basis: Working Group I Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Cambridge University Press): 11–43. 2023. doi:10.1017/9781009157896.013. ISBN 978-1-009-15789-6. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/climate-change-2021-the-physical-science-basis/weather-and-climate-extreme-events-in-a-changing-climate/5BCB24C5699F1D42B2DE379BDD4E2119. 
  21. ↑ Pardaens, A. K.; Banks, H. T.; Gregory, J. M.; Rowntree, P. R. (2003). "Freshwater transports in HadCM3". Climate Dynamics 21 (2): 193. doi:10.1007/S00382-003-0324-6. Bibcode: 2003ClDy...21..177P. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00382-003-0324-6. 
  22. ↑ "Mirren is spectacular as Queen Elizabeth I". Oakland Tribune: p. 26. April 20, 2006. https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/201036391/. 
  23. ↑ "Top astrophysicist to open St. Andrew's series". Clarion Ledger. March 18, 2007. https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/201036501/. 
  24. ↑ Hao, Yuefeng; Mao, Jiafu; Bachmann, Charles M.; Hoffman, Forrest M.; Koren, Gerbrand; Chen, Haishan; Tian, Hanqin; Liu, Jiangong et al. (2025). "Soil moisture controls over carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions: a review". npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 8 (1): 8. doi:10.1038/s41612-024-00888-8. Bibcode: 2025npCAS...8...16H. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-024-00888-8. 
  25. ↑ Van Vuuren, Detlef P. et al. (2026). "The Scenario Model Intercomparison Project for CMIP7 (ScenarioMIP-CMIP7)". Geoscientific Model Development 19 (7): 12. doi:10.5194/gmd-19-2627-2026. Bibcode: 2026GMD....19.2627V. https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/19/2627/2026/. 
  26. ↑ Mohammadi, Mehdi; Al-Fuqaha, Ala; Sorour, Sameh; Guizani, Mohsen (2018). "Deep Learning for IoT Big Data and Streaming Analytics: A Survey". IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 20 (4): 20. doi:10.1109/COMST.2018.2844341. ISSN 1553-877X. 
  27. ↑ Wang, Senzhang; Cao, Jiannong; Yu, Philip S. (2022). "Deep Learning for Spatio-Temporal Data Mining: A Survey". IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering 34 (8): 12. doi:10.1109/TKDE.2020.3025580. Bibcode: 2022ITKDE..34.3681W. 
  28. ↑ "Historic Fellows". https://www.aaas.org/fellows/historic?field_last_name_value=C&field_address_city=All&field_address_when_elected_administrative_area=All&field_address_when_elected_country_code=All&field_year_elected=2014&field_primary_aaas_section=All&field_status_value=All&field_year_status_changed_value=&name_combine=Collins&field_institutional_affiliation_value=. 
  29. ↑ "Forum on Physics and Society Fellowship". https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/aps-fellowship/fps-fellowship. 
  30. ↑ "Past Recipients". https://www.agu.org/honors/tyndall/past-recipients. 
  31. ↑ "Union Fellows Program". https://www.agu.org/honors/union-fellows/past-recipients. 
  32. ↑ "Five Sigma Physicist Honor". https://www.aps.org/funding-recognition/honor/5-sigma. 
  33. ↑ "Hofstadter lecture and Applied Physics/Physics Colloquium: Dr. Bill Collins". https://physics.stanford.edu/events/hofstadter-lecture-and-applied-physicsphysics-colloquium-dr-bill-collins. 
  34. ↑ "Past Recipients". https://www.agu.org/honors/charney/past-recipients. 
  35. ↑ "List of AMS Fellows". https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-organization-and-administration/list-of-fellows/. 




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