Sam Abernethy, Ph.D.

Sam Abernethy, PhD, is a climate scientist who combines original research with program strategy and field-building to advance atmospheric methane removal. His work focuses on accelerating rigorous assessment of methane removal viability — whether it can work, at what scale, and under what conditions — to help inform and prioritize the broader climate solutions portfolio. He authored several of the key early papers in atmospheric methane removal and methane emissions destruction, and his research spans Earth system modeling, greenhouse gas emission metrics, and scientific roadmapping. He engages with scientists, institutions, and partners to grow the rigor and credibility of the methane removal field, and represents Spark at conferences and workshops to translate the science into actionable insights for policymakers and funders. Sam is an Inflection Awardee, recognized as one of 30 top young scientists worldwide working on breakthrough climate solutions. He holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University, an MSc in Mathematical Modeling & Scientific Computing from the University of Oxford, and a BSc in Mathematical Physics from Queen's University. Outside of work, Sam enjoys cooking, skiing, and biking.

Recent publications:

• Abernethy, S., & Jackson, R. B. (2024). Atmospheric methane removal may reduce climate risks. Environmental Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad3b22