Greg Flato

About me

I was born/grew up in: I was born in Edmonton, Alberta and grew up on a farm near Edmonton.

I now live in: Victoria, British Columbia

I completed my training/education at: I completed a BSc and MEng in Civil Engineering, at the University of Alberta. I completed my PhD in Engineering Physics at Dartmouth College.

What I do at work

I am the Director of the Climate Research Division, which carries out a suite of activities ranging from observations of climate change, field studies on snow and ice, measurement of greenhouse gases, and the development and use of global climate models. Climate models are computer simulations of Earth, its atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and ecosystems. We use these models to understand how and why the climate has changed. They also help us predict how it will change in the future.

Every day is different. Some days I will meet with a group of scientists in other countries to talk about a new research project. Some days I write papers or other documents summarizing scientific results. Some days I work on climate science presentations. I give these to non-experts or policy makers to help them understand important issues like climate change.

My career path is

When I was an undergraduate, a research project for a course got me interested in computer modelling. At that time, in the early 1980s, it was still a fairly new area. I was fascinated by the way we could write mathematical equations that represented a physical process. Then solve those equations on a computer and see how this compares to actual observations. My first project was about how a river and its ice cover change with increasing water volume.

I am motivated by

I find it very satisfying to be involved in research that has a tangible benefit to all Canadians, and indeed everyone. We all share this one planet – Earth. We must care for it for our children and future generations.

How I affect peoples’ lives

The research I do is used by world leaders to develop national and international climate policies, like the Paris Agreement. I was also one of the lead developers of Canada’s first global coupled climate model. This was a model that combined models of the atmosphere and ocean. It allowed us to simulate historical and future climate change.

Outside of work I

I like woodworking and metalworking. I spend much of my spare time in my workshop building and fixing things. I also enjoy playing the guitar and listening to music.

My advice to others

Stay positive and stay humble. Always ask questions about your own work and the work of others. Ask if some new result makes sense. How might it be wrong? Are there other explanations? How compelling is the evidence that has been assembled? Has this been done before?

I would tell my 10-year-old self, “Don’t limit your interests. You never know where your life will take you. Be prepared to learn new things and take advantage of opportunities. Don’t be shy or afraid.”

I would tell someone interested in pursuing a STEM career to take school seriously and get the most out of it. Learn how to study and do homework effectively and efficiently. These skills are really valuable in both post-secondary and later in your career. Read lots! Watch documentaries and science programs on TV and YouTube.