Carlyn Schmidgall

Carlyn is an oceanographer and climate scientist based in Seattle, where she is pursuing a PhD in Physical Oceanography, the study of the ocean's physical processes and their interactions with climate. Her work combines computational methods with seagoing observations, ranging from running climate model simulations on supercomputers to serving as scientific crew on NASA research missions in the Arctic and Indian Oceans. Her primary research focus is the Arctic Ocean, where she studies how currents transport heat and freshwater and how these processes are changing as the climate warms.

Growing up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Carlyn spent much of her childhood hiking, beachcombing and exploring tide pools throughout the Pacific Northwest. These experiences led her to pursue science as a way of better understanding the natural world. She holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA and master's degrees in Oceanography and Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington.

Throughout her academic career, Carlyn has remained active in science communication and education. Her experience includes teaching climate science to high school students, leading botanical garden tours and collaborating with artists on projects that communicate the impacts of Arctic climate change to broader audiences.
As a naturalist, Carlyn draws on her background in oceanography, climate science and field research to help travelers better understand the marine environments and polar regions she studies. She approaches exploration with curiosity, scientific perspective and a strong interest in connecting people with the natural world.