Every February 11, the United Nations–designated  International Day of Women and Girls in Science  reminds us of the myriad obstacles women and girls around the world face within the STEM disciplines and the ways they continue to overcome challenges and stand out in their fields.

“Today, women make up less than one third of the world’s researchers,” says Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia Climate School. “Closing this gender gap is not only a matter of fairness but is essential to further the innovation and impact of the work.”

In honor of this year’s theme, “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls,” we are highlighting just some of the exceptional women researchers from the Columbia Climate School, who use today’s tools to answer tomorrow’s essential questions.

Learn more about how these women are leading the charge toward a more sustainable future below, and keep reading State of the Planet for ongoing coverage of remarkable women scientists year-round.  

Archeologist Kristina Douglass, who was named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow, uses lessons from the past to help communities understand how to adapt to climate change. Douglass is an associate professor at the Climate School.

Yushu Xia discusses her research projects, mentorship goals, and the importance of staying ahead in a changing scientific landscape. Xia is an assistant research professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of the Columbia Climate School.  

A recent paper by Savannah S. Cooley, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center and a PhD graduate of Columbia’s Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology program, and her team, shows why effective climate policy must treat forest regeneration and emissions reductions as complementary strategies, not alternatives. 

A recipient of the Stanley Park Climate Finance Scholarship, M.S. in Climate Finance student Monica Alonso Soria hopes to help countries finance their conservation and climate goals. 

Alison Miller, a senior leader at the Nature Conservancy, reflects on her time in Columbia’s MPA-ESP program and how it helped shape her career path. 

Fatou Kiné Gueye, an MPA-ESP student, shares her perspective on climate action and how she plans to translate her coursework into meaningful action in her home country of Senegal. 

M.A. in Climate and Society student Saira Ramirez Mingueta plans on working at the intersection of climate justice, public health and policy. 

A graduate of the MPA-ESP program, Tiffany Wu now works on climate and sustainability projects spanning carbon markets, corporate greenhouse gas accounting and clean energy.  

M.A. in Climate and Society student Anar Amarjargal hopes to bring the lessons from her work on global climate projects and disaster recovery back home to Mongolia. 

Carissa O’Donnell talks about her connection to nature, and how that led the way to the Climate School and a career in environmental policy. 

You can also meet some of the women researchers at the Climate School in our Science for the Planet series: 

Dean Alexis Abramson explains how she applies engineering, data analytics and machine learning to help dramatically cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. 

Meet Lisa Sachs—a lawyer who specializes in how public and private investment can help achieve environmental, social and economic goals. 

Climate School professor Sheila Foster works with frontline communities on climate adaptation strategies. 

Archaeologist Kristina Douglass explains how past human adaptation can inform solutions to modern climate challenges.