Julia Cole

Julia Cole is an interdisciplinary paleoenvironmental scientist with a passion for science communication. She is a Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan and chairs the marine science advisory board at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere-2. Before joining UM in 2017, she served on the faculties of the University of Arizona and University of Colorado. Although a recent arrival on the UM campus, she has strong familial roots in Michigan.

Julia’s research uses data and models to understand environmental change in regions and systems with substantial ecological or human impacts. Her work emphasizes the history of drought in semiarid regions and the variability of tropical oceans and their influence.

Julia teaches in the areas of climate, global change, oceanography and environmental communication across all levels of university students. She also has participated in several National Research Council and other national/international committees and contributed to recent assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Julia values opportunities to discuss environmental and climate issues with decision-makers, the media, and the public and believes strongly that scientists need to do more of this. Her favorite inspirations come from helping students gain insight into the natural world and from enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.

She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and master’s and doctoral degrees from Columbia.