UC climate scientist Daniel Swain named to TIME100 Next list

By Pam Kan-Rice, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, has been named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list — which honors 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.

The TIME100 Next celebrates rising stars from every corner of life — from movies and music to sports, science, politics, and philanthropy.

Bringing science to the public

A San Rafael native, Daniel studies how extreme weather patterns are changing in a warming world — including droughts, floods, and wildfires — and what these changes mean for communities across California and beyond. His research digs into the physical forces behind these events, but what sets him apart is how he brings that science to the public.

Daniel is best known for his Weather West blog and his approachable “office hours” on his YouTube channel, where he breaks down climate science and the causes of extreme weather in plain language. He also keeps up an active presence on Bluesky, helping people understand and prepare for what’s happening in real-time.

“Daniel’s research and his ability to clearly explain climate science to the public and policymakers — especially during extreme and dangerous weather events — have been crucial for communities in California and across the globe,” said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We are thrilled that TIME is recognizing his invaluable contributions to science and society.”

As part of the TIME100 Next feature, each honoree is profiled by a guest contributor. Daniel’s write-up was penned by Michael Mann, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of “Science Under Siege.”

“What makes Daniel special is that he doesn’t just do the fundamental science — he somehow finds the time to explain it to the public,” Mann wrote. “When disasters happen, he appears regularly on cable news programs, is quoted in seemingly every related news article, and engages directly with people through social media, his blog, and his virtual ‘office hours,’ all in an effort to inform the public and policymakers.”

Rising to address the current moment

Daniel says the recognition is both humbling and motivating. “It’s genuinely an honor to be included on the TIME100 Next list this year,” he said. “Based on who’s been on the list in the past, it’s truly humbling.”

TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs described the purpose of the list this way: “While we’ve made it our mission to cover people who have reached the pinnacle of their fields, the TIME100 Next is an opportunity to recognize those still on the rise. Our goal with each project is to provide a snapshot of the moment and to recognize those who we feel are truly changing the world this year.”

For Daniel, this moment feels especially critical. “From my perspective as a weather and climate scientist, it’s become really clear to me that the present moment is an especially consequential one,” he said. “When it comes to climate change, we really are on a precipice — and what happens next is going to have consequences that reverberate not only for generations to come, but for the broader context of the Earth’s system literally for millennia. Our choices right now in this moment could not possibly matter more.”

He added, “There is a critical need for institutions to support those who are trying to distill the complex societal and environmental issues that allow us to make more informed decisions about what comes next. So I am grateful for this recognition, which I see as an encouraging indicator that this kind of work really is valued.”

Daniel also expressed gratitude for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. “The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources came through for me in a moment of academic precarity and, through their ongoing support, has allowed me to continue my climate communication efforts,” he said.

Additional accolades

This recognition from TIME follows a series of recent honors. In September, Daniel was also named to the 2025 Grist 50 list, which highlights innovative climate leaders driving real-world impact. “Swain is a research scientist studying how climate change is affecting extreme weather events, but he’s never pursued tenure, concerned about the demands it would impose on his time,” Grist wrote. “Instead, he’s placed a focus on being an effective and accessible communicator.”

Just months earlier, in November 2024, Daniel was named one of Vox’s Future Perfect 50 — a list celebrating “the thinkers, activists, and scholars working on solutions to today’s (and tomorrow’s) biggest problems.” Vox described him as “that desperately needed liaison” who bridges the gap between complex science and public understanding.

As a member of the TIME100 Next, Daniel will attend the annual TIME100 Next Gala on October 30 in New York City — an intimate event that brings together 175 rising stars from politics, technology, science, philanthropy, media, business, and entertainment. Past attendees have included Sabrina Carpenter, Anna Sawai, Jalen Hurts, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Zegler, Camila Cabello, Kwame Owuachi, Celine Song, and Jaylen Brown.