Paul Higgins was the 2005-2006 AMS-UCAR Congressional Science fellow. Durring his fellowship year, he worked on climate policy in the office of Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH). He is now the Director of the American Meteorological Society’s Policy Program, where he works to increase the societal benefits from information and services relating to weather, water, and climate. 

Paul's research examines climate change and its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. He examines the two-way interaction between the atmosphere and the land-surface to help quantify responses and feedbacks to climate change. His policy analysis helps characterize climate risks and identify potential risk management strategies. He works with decision-makers to develop new policy options that can overcome contentious political obstacles. Paul also works to inform policy makers, members of the media, and the general public about climate science and climate policy.

In 2011, he was named a Google Science Communication Fellow. From 2005-2006 he was a Congressional Science Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). During his fellowship year, Paul worked on climate policy in the United States Senate. From 2003-2005 he was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the University of California. He received Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Stanford University and a B.S. from The University of Michigan. He is a former fellow of the Department of Energy’s Global Change Education Program.