In a recent episode of the widely acclaimed podcast series The Life Scientific, Professor Gideon Henderson, Univ Senior Research Fellow and a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, shared insights into his groundbreaking research and the pressing challenges of our changing world, not least of which is climate change, which he feels should better be thought of as “carbon change”.

Hosted by Professor Jim Al-Khalili, the episode delved into Professor Henderson’s upbringing and career, his contributions to climate science, and the urgency of addressing the climate / carbon crisis. The two also discussed the critical importance of accurately measuring and modelling carbon changes in oceans and land ecosystems, and our understanding of how carbon dioxide is absorbed and released by various Earth systems, which provides essential data for climate projections and policy decisions.

Since 2019 Professor Henderson has also been the Chief Scientific Advisory and Director General for Science and Analysis at the UK Government Department, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). In the podcast he shared his optimism regarding innovations in carbon capture technologies, but cautioned that they should complement, not replace, efforts to reduce emissions at the source.

Listeners were also treated to insights into the life of a climate scientist, with Professor Henderson recounting his experiences conducting research in diverse environments, from the deep ocean to remote tundra.

Listen to the episode of The Life Scientific.

On Saturday 23 September 2023, Professor Henderson will be joined by Professor Rosalind Rickaby, Univ Professorial Fellow and Chair and Professor of Geology at Oxford Earth Sciences, to present the talk “Naturally inspired routes to CO2 removal from the atmosphere”. The talk is part of the Meeting Minds Oxford 2023 series of events; details for joining either in person or online can be found on our Events page.

Published: 14 September 2023

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