Last month, Antonietta Capotondi, Anne Gold, Matthew Shupe, and Christine Wiedinmyer joined the CIRES Council of Fellows. Their research mirrors the breadth of science at CIRES, spanning a variety of environmental science topics, including physical oceanography, climatology, science education, atmospheric science, chemistry, and engineering.

“These fantastic scientists have all been leaders in CIRES for years, taking us in new directions and expanding our environmental research and education mission,” said Maggie Tolbert, associate director of CIRES. “We are thrilled about the new perspectives and innovative ideas they will bring to the council.”

In their new roles as CIRES Fellows, Capotondi, Gold, Shupe, and Wiedinmyer will advise the director and guide the institute’s continued development and future. They join a talented team of university faculty, researchers, and NOAA scientists dedicated to advancing CIRES science.

Antonietta Capotondi

Antonietta Capotondi, a senior research scientist in NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory (NOAA PSL), studies the large-scale ocean circulation and its impact on climate change and variability using a combination of observations and models. Capotondi is a world-leading expert on the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which impacts climate and weather patterns across the world. She’s been with CIRES since 1998.

“Being part of CIRES allows me to share my research with experts in other disciplines and view my results in a broader context,” Capotondi said.

Anne Gold

Anne Gold, director of the CIRES Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation (CEEE), is a national leader in geoscience and climate education. At CEEE, she guides a team of curriculum developers, informal educators, evaluators, and education researchers in developing and running programs about broadening participation in STEM, building community resilience, inspiring action, and more. Gold, who’s been with CIRES since 2010, is also an affiliate faculty member in the School of Education at CU Boulder.

“​​I love being surrounded by thoughtful, innovative, and creative people who share a passion for science and meaningful engagement,” Gold said.

Matthew Shupe

Matthew Shupe, a senior research scientist in NOAA PSL and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), studies Arctic cloud and atmospheric processes using observations from the ground and models. He’s traveled all over the Arctic for his research, including to the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet and aboard icebreakers in the Arctic Ocean. Shupe, who’s been with CIRES since 2008, was the co-coordinator of the ground-breaking MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition, a year-long, international effort to study the Arctic atmosphere, sea ice, ocean, and ecosystem.

“CIRES has rich, diverse, and impactful research that is collectively at the cutting edge of science globally,” Shupe said. "Institutional and employee well-being is critical for our continued success."

Christine Wiedinmyer

As the CIRES Associate Director for Science, Christine Wiedinmyer manages the institute’s research in service to NOAA and fosters partnerships across CU Boulder and beyond. She is also a research professor in Mechanical Engineering — her work focuses on the emissions, transport, and fate of pollutants in the atmosphere and how they impact air quality, climate, and health. Wiedinmyer was instrumental in the efforts to rapidly measure gases and fine particulates in homes impacted by the Marshall Fire. She’s been with CIRES since 2017.

“I am excited about the breadth of expertise and exciting work across CIRES,” Wiedinmyer said. “I look forward to expanding opportunities to bring people together, develop innovative research solutions, and address the world's pressing issues.”