Michael Joseph Puma

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Michael J. Puma is a Professor of Climate at Columbia University's Climate School, where he leads the Center for Climate Systems Research, working in close collaboration with NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He oversees a team of 40 scientists and staff advancing research in climate science, space studies, and climate impact analysis. As Editor of Earth's Future (AGU), Dr. Puma focuses on global food security, human migration, and the interactions between water and climate.

His research explores how shocks—such as conflicts, extreme floods and droughts, volcanic eruptions, and policy changes—disrupt interconnected global food systems. He develops strategies to balance efficiency and resilience in these systems, providing pathways for both short- and long-term stability. Dr. Puma also studies the drivers of human migration, particularly when food and water scarcity arise from environmental change and conflict. Currently, he is developing an innovative approach that applies quantum probability theory to understand and prevent catastrophic cascades in global food systems, aiming to better explain the rapid shifts between cooperative and competitive behaviors observed in food trade networks during recent crises. His work delivers critical insights for policymakers addressing global food insecurity and humanitarian challenges. His research has been funded by major institutions including NASA, the European Commission, the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, DARPA, and the United Nations Development Programme.