Director, Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
Kim Cobb serves as the Lawrence and Barbara Margolis Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) at Brown University, a position she has held since July 2022.
In this role, she leads IBES in its mission to study the interactions between natural, human, and social systems, aiming to prepare future leaders to envision and build a just and sustainable world.
As director, Cobb emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from various fields to address complex environmental challenges. She focuses on translating research into actionable climate solutions, fostering partnerships across academic departments, and engaging with policymakers and the public to communicate climate science effectively.
Appointed Member, President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
As the first-ever climate scientist to be on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, Cobb ensured that the intelligence offered to President Joe Biden took into account climate–related security issues.
Professor, Environment and Society and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Cobb’s course, Solving the Climate and Carbon Challenge, explores climate change, carbon management, and emissions reduction through lectures, discussions, and guest speakers. Students engage in a semester-long Carbon Reduction Challenge, developing real-world strategies to cut CO2 emissions. The winning team presents its work to Providence lawmakers, bridging climate science with policy action.