UC ANR scientist with Bay Area roots recognized for climate communications
Daniel Swain, climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, is on the 2025 TIME100 Next list recognizing 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.
The 2025 TIME100 Next features people from an array of industries, from movies and music to sports and science to politics and philanthropy.
Swain, who grew up in San Rafael, California, studies the changing character, causes and impacts of extreme weather and climate events on a warming planet, focusing on the physical processes leading to droughts, floods and wildfires.
Swain is known for writing the Weather West blog and holding “office hours” for the public and journalists on his YouTube channel to explain in everyday language causes of extreme weather and provide context for climate-related news. He also engages with the public on social media.
“Daniel’s research and his ability to clearly explain climate science to the public and policymakers – especially during extreme and dangerous weather events – have been crucial for communities in California and across the globe,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “We are thrilled that TIME is recognizing his invaluable contributions to science and society.”
The TIME100 Next list pairs the honorees with guest contributors who write about them. In this case, Swain’s recognition was written by Michael Mann, professor of earth and environmental science at the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of the book “Science Under Siege.”
“What makes Daniel special is that he doesn’t just do the fundamental science, he somehow finds the time to explain it to the public,” Mann wrote.
“When disasters happen, he appears regularly on cable news programs; is quoted in seemingly every related news article; and engages directly with people through social media, his blog, and his virtual ‘office hours,’ all in an effort to inform the public and policymakers.”
“It’s genuinely an honor to be included on the TIME100 Next list this year,” Swain said. “Based on who’s been on the list in the past, it’s truly humbling.”
“While we’ve made it our mission to cover people who have reached the pinnacle of their fields, the TIME100 Next is an opportunity to recognize those still on the rise,” wrote TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. “Our goal with each project is to provide a snapshot of the moment and to recognize those who we feel are truly changing the world this year.”
“From my perspective as a weather and climate scientist, it’s become really clear to me that the present moment is an especially consequential one,” Swain said. “When it comes to climate change, we really are on a precipice – and what happens next is going to have consequences that reverberate, not only for generations to come, but for the broader context of the Earth’s system literally for millennia. Our choices right now in this moment could not possibly matter more.”
“There is a critical need for institutions to support those who are trying to distill the complex societal and environmental issues that allow us to make more informed decisions about what comes next,” Swain said. “So I am grateful for this recognition, which I see as an encouraging indicator that this kind of work really is valued.”
“I also want to acknowledge the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, which came through for me in a moment of academic precarity and, through their ongoing support, has allowed me to continue my climate communication efforts,” Swain said.
On Sept. 15, Swain was selected for the 2025 Grist 50 list, which highlights the work of 50 innovative climate leaders who are applying their strengths, creativity and time to inspire climate action. “Swain is a research scientist studying how climate change is affecting extreme weather events, but he’s never pursued tenure, concerned about the demands it would impose on his time,” Grist wrote. “Instead, he’s placed a focus on being an effective and accessible communicator.”
In November 2024, Swain was named one of Vox's Future Perfect 50 – “the thinkers, activists and scholars working on solutions to today’s (and tomorrow’s) biggest problems.” Vox wrote: “Our communities and institutions are largely unequipped to fully understand, let alone deal with, the impacts of climate change. That’s where climate experts should, theoretically, come in. But knowing the science is one thing – being able to effectively communicate it is a whole other ballpark. Climate scientist Daniel Swain is that desperately needed liaison.”
As a member of the TIME100 Next, Swain is invited to the annual TIME100 Next Gala on Oct. 30 in New York City. This intimate dinner of 175 people brings together rising stars in politics, technology, science, philanthropy, media, business and entertainment. Past participants include Sabrina Carpenter, Anna Sawai, Jalen Hurts, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Zegler, Camila Cabello, Kwame Owuachi, Celine Song, and Jaylen Brown.
The 2025 TIME100 Next issue of the magazine has three worldwide covers featuring three people transforming their fields: actor Jonathan Bailey, singer Tate McRae and CEO April Koh.