Researcher Spotlight: Prof. Dr. Stephan Juricke - Multiscale Ocean Modelling and Climate Risk Prediction

In this interview, he talks about what motivates him in climate research, his multidisciplinary background, his focus on ocean modelling and multiscale coupling, and why collaboration is key for improving predictions, understanding uncertainties, and communicating climate risks.

What motivates you to work in this field?

“The climate system is complex and fascinating and affects our everyday life in many different ways, even if we sometimes don’t directly notice or think about it. Since climate is changing rapidly under human influences and the oceans are essential for our survival on this planet, I would like to better understand the processes that change and drive the circulation of our oceans to be able to better protect them, their inhabitants and life in general from (negative) human interference.”

How has your background and career path shaped your approach to climate science?

“I have worked on mathematics, computing sciences and climate, ocean and sea ice sciences in the past to varying degrees. Having a multidisciplinary approach to sciences helps to better understand the different disciplines involved in climate and Earth system sciences and to identify knowledge gaps that can only be tackled together, across research disciplines, nationalities and throughout society. “

What are your primary research interests?

“I work predominantly as a theoretical oceanographer, using models to simulate the ocean circulation, how it changes and affects climate. But I also have a strong interest in science communication, interdisciplinary research and education.”

What do you believe are the most pressing challenges in climate science today, and how does your work contribute to addressing them?

“We need to better understand and predict regional climate change and how we can adapt to it. Furthermore, the role of tipping elements in the climate system are still strongly debated in the scientific community and both the risks and uncertainties associated with them are large. In addition to tipping elements, extreme events and changes in their intensity and occurrence, especially those that act together in so called compound extreme events, are another high-risk category that needs to be better simulated and accounted for. And finally, the collaboration between climate science, social sciences, engineering, societal stakeholders and policy-makers needs to be improved to better communicate climate risks and efficiently prevent and adapt to climate change. My work contributes to these aspects by improving model simulations and addressing uncertainties in predictions as well as communicating my results to stakeholders and the public and engaging in interdisciplinary research with, e.g., social scientists. “

How does collaboration across different institutions and disciplines enhance the impact of your research?

“It is a necessity to make progress. Without collaboration, research is not possible, and having a large network of collaborating colleagues enhances perspectives and opportunities for science.”

In your opinion, what are the biggest opportunities for positive change through climate research and innovation?

“To be able to provide clear advance warnings of future risks and how to reduce or completely remove them. And to show the world that working together as one community on challenging global problems is better than working apart or against each other; this is certainly true also beyond climate research.”

Can you share a recent project or discovery that you found particularly exciting or meaningful?

“The possibilities of artificial intelligence to enhance our work and make better predictions, although to be taken with a grain of salt as we still need to be able to interpret and understand if, how and why these predictions are actually better and faster.”

What advice would you give to students or young researchers interested in pursuing a career in climate sciences?

“Be aware that part of any career always includes at least a little bit (if not quite a lot) of luck, being at the right place, with the right expertise and at the right time. And don’t trust one single person’s opinion too much; get multiple people’s opinions. Instead, trust your own instincts and interests.”

What is the best way to connect with you for potential research collaboration?

“Just write a mail, call or approach me during a conference/meeting/workshop etc.”