Earth Sciences Division Staff: William (Bill) Collins

Biographical Summary

Dr. William Collins's research is focused on the changes in the energy balance of the Earth system and the implications of those changes for the future of our climate.  He trained in physics and astrophysics at Princeton University and the University of Chicago.

Education

• B.A., Physics (cum laude) Princeton University, 1981
• M.S., Astronomy and Astrophysics University of Chicago, 1984
• Ph.D., Astronomy and Astrophysics University of Chicago, 1988

Professional Experience

• 1989 - 1990, Post-Graduate Research Associate, University of Chicago
• 1990 - 1992, Post-Graduate Research Associate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• 1992 - 1997, Assistant Research Physicist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• 1994 - 1994, Lecturer, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• 1996 - 1997, Visiting Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research
• 1997 - 2001, Scientist II, National Center for Atmospheric Research
• 2001 - 2007, Scientist III, National Center for Atmospheric Research
• 2001 - 2007, Adjoint Professor, PAOS Program, University of Colorado
• 2006 - 2007, Deputy Section Head, National Center for Atmospheric Research
• 2007 - present, Senior Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research
• 2007 - present, Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 2007 - present, Department Head, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 2007 - present, Professor in Residence, University of California, Berkeley

Awards

Contributor (lead author) for the Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Service

• Committees and activities for climate assessments Panelist, National Academy Climate Sensitivity Workshop, 2003. Invited participant, Joint WGCM CFMIP/IPCC expert meeting on Climate Sensitivity and Feedbacks, 2004. Lead and collaborating author, IPCC Working Group I Fourth Assessment Report, 2004 – 2007. Expert reviewer, IPCC Working Group I Fourth Assessment Report, 2005 – 2006.
• Editor, Journal of Climate, 2007 – 2008.
• Meeting organizer for climate assessments
  • Member, Organizing Committee, IPCC Working Group I Workshop on Climate Sensitivity, Jul. 2004, Paris, France.
• Public dissemination of assessment results
  • Collins, W., R. Colman, J. Haywood, M.R. Manning, and P. Mote, 2007: The Physical Science behind Climate Change. Scientific American, August issue.
• Climate modeling activities
  • Co-chair, NCAR Atmospheric Model Working Group, 2001 – 2003. Chair, DOE-NSF Community Climate System Model Scientific Steering Committee, 2003 – 2005. Member, CCSM Scientific Steering Committee, 2006 – present.