Sam Abernethy, Ph.D.

Sam Abernethy, PhD, is a climate scientist who combines original research with field-building work across Spark's programs. His work focuses on atmospheric methane removal, warming-induced emissions, and Earth's energy imbalance. Sam translates emerging science into actionable insights on where research investment can have the largest impact.

Sam received a 2025 Inflection Award, given to 30 early-career scientists worldwide working on climate solutions. He holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University, an MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing from the University of Oxford, and a BSc in Mathematical Physics from Queen's University. Outside of work, Sam enjoys backcountry skiing, cooking, and bike touring.