EPRI
Sarah Kapnick is Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The PUF team spoke with some of the leaders of the Climate REsilience and ADaptation Initiative to harden systems for the more adverse environmental conditions ahead. Here in this special feature are conversations with the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the COO of Southwest Power Pool, the General Secretary of Europe's electric industry association, and two leaders at EPRI.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: What do you do as the Chief Scientist at NOAA and what's your typical day like?
Sarah Kapnick: A typical day varies. The Chief Scientist's role is to support all the science, technology, and policies produced at NOAA. One piece is upholding scientific integrity for the agency.
I described that at the conference as reviewing the scientific facts and making sure the agency gives out the facts and information that decision makers need. We don't tell them what decision to make but give all the information needed to make those decisions.
It's an integral, important part of the agency that people trust us. They have to trust our data and information. They have to want to use it. In the private sector, people refer to this as upholding your reputation. It's an important part of the science we put out. That is one big piece.