I study radical environmental changes of the past to see what they can and cannot do to inform our present and future. In particular, I use archaeology and volcanology in conjunction with climate science data as tools to understand the human experience of environmental change. I am interested in creative conveyance of data as a form of public outreach and pedagogy. I am currently a Research Scientist at the Gallatin School of New York University. I hold a Phd from Columbia University and prior to NYU I taught at Brown and Stanford Universities.