Leah Stokes Recognized for Outstanding Climate Science Communication

Leah Stokes, associate professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has received the 2024 Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication from ClimateOne. The annual award honors scientists who have made extraordinary research contributions and compellingly communicated their findings to the public.

A UC Santa Barbara faculty member since 2015, Dr. Stokes conducts extensive research on American politics, energy and climate policy, public policy, political behavior, and public opinion. She is a faculty member of The 2035 Initiative at the university, which aims to develop actionable roadmaps for slashing climate pollution and create a more equitable, resilient future.

Dr. Stokes’ book Short Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States (Oxford University Press, 2020) received several honors from the American Political Science Association and was recognized as one of the top five climate books of 2020 by The New York Times. Outside of her work in academia, Dr. Stokes co-hosts the “A Matter of Degrees” podcast, where she discusses the underlying forces of climate change.

Dr. Stokes received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and East Asian studies from the University of Toronto and her master of public administration degree in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. She holds a master’s degree in political science and a Ph.D. in public policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology