Trump's Climate Denial Impacts Popular Stanford Professor

Melting Ice, Engineering Solutions, and Climate Change

Research courtesy of Grace Haubner

Most news outlets are focused on other major stories - release of the Epstein files, Greenland, Fulton County, etc. Stories about climate change do not get much press. But, my concern about a a warming planet brought me to the Castro Valley Center for the Arts to see Dr. Leslie Field.

Dr. Leslie Field is a chemical, electrical, and industrial engineer. She was a professor of engineering and climate change at Stanford University. Despite teaching a very popular course (with 400+ students), Stanford University recently let her go. This was likely due to “climate” being in the title of her course. Dr. Field's research is not only essential to the rigorous academic atmosphere of Stanford, but essential to the field of climate science. She's traveled to the Himalayas to study melting ice, and has seen first-hand the outsized impact of climate change on people in that part of the world. Glacial melts and monsoon rains leading to flooding left over 1,700 dead, and 2.1 million homeless. Water supply is also under threat in this area. CO2 emissions are increasing, the planet is warming, and researchers like Dr. Fields are essential to research regarding these matters. This is only a small part of Dr. Field’s multifaceted works, but the facts speak for themselves. The current administration is threatening academia, and hurting both students and faculty in the process.

What Happened to Dr. Leslie Field?

Stanford University cut $140 million from its 2025-26 budget, resulting in the layoff of at least 363 staff members. These cuts are attributed to federal policy changes, including increased endowment taxes (up to 8%), reduced research funding, and "ongoing economic uncertainty". The actions affect various departments, including information technology and administrative staff. Education has suffered under the Administration with District schools struggling to make their own cuts. It's difficult times for teachers. If elected, I'll work to restore the funding of research, special education, climate science.

Vote Carin for Congress.

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Photo credit: Leslie Fields

Not written by AI.