A climate scientist with two decades of experience, Dr. Ziolkowski specializes in identifying actionable solutions for a sustainable future. After 15 years of studying the climate system through oceanographic and polar research, her career interests shifted to climate solutions, including building local government capacity for climate action and environmental justice, from navigating energy procurement to securing funding. Her expertise includes carbon management workforce development, sustainable campus operations in higher education, and negative emissions technologies combating climate change. Dr. Z is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina’s School of the Earth, Ocean and the Environment, where her research has garnered international recognition and she has been awarded University-wide teaching and service awards. She received her Ph.D. in Earth System Science from the University of California Irvine, her M.Sc. in Oceanography from Dalhousie University, and a B.Sc. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Waterloo.