Get up to speed on climate change fundamentals in this 1-hour crash course in climate science. Explore the fundamental causes and effects of climate change and how it is, and will, affect communities, businesses, and the global economy.

Speaker: Andrew Issacs, UC Berkeley, Senior Lecturer with Continuing Status

Andrew brings an unusual combination of Earth Science expertise and business experience to his role at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where he is one of the few climate scientists teaching at a major American business school.Isaacs began his career with NASA's Planetary Science Division at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, conducting research on Earth and planetary geochemistry after completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in geochemistry from the University of Michigan. From NASA he moved to Silicon Valley, where he worked at a materials science startup before taking on management and executive positions at corporations in Silicon Valley and Tokyo.

Since joining UC Berkeley in 1999, Isaacs has taught technology innovation, climate science, and climate change strategy to over 5,000 students. Isaacs has also written 30 business case studies, many addressing climate-related business challenges, and is working on a textbook to help non-scientists teach climate change to business students. Isaacs has taught executive courses for more than 100 companies across the US, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

 Isaacs’ recent recognition includes the 2022 UC Berkeley Sustainability Teaching Award and the 2024 Best Haas Case Study award for his work on Net Zero. He lives with his family in rural Napa County, where they operate a low-carbon ranch producing wines under the Screaming Squirrel label.