From Corals to Climate Solutions: Dr. Kim Cobb on Uncovering Earth’s Climate Story

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia Gullapalli speaks with Dr. Kim Cobb, climate scientist and Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society at Brown University.Dr. Cobb shares how her research uses corals as archives of Earth’s climate history, helping scientists understand how phenomena like El Niño and La Niña have changed over thousands of years. She discusses her experiences conducting fieldwork across the tropical Pacific, witnessing the devastating effects of climate change on coral reefs, and how those experiences pushed her to think beyond understanding climate change toward helping solve it.The conversation also explores Dr. Cobb’s path into climate science, her work contributing to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, her evolution as a scientist and leader, and her commitment to supporting women and the next generation of scientists. From reconstructing Earth’s past to preparing for its future, Dr. Cobb offers an inspiring look at how scientific curiosity can grow into meaningful action.