Lisa Goddard, 9/23/1966-1/13/2022

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. Lisa Goddard died on January 13, after a long battle with cancer. Lisa had been at IRI since its founding, and served as the institute’s Director from 2012-2020.

Lisa was internationally recognized for her work in climate science and climate services. She was a pioneer in seasonal climate forecasting, and led key research on El Niño and La Niña. Her contributions to our understanding of climate cannot be overstated, nor can her commitment to ensuring that climate information was accessible and meaningful to decision makers across the globe.

Lisa was a brilliant scientist, and more importantly, a wonderful colleague, mentor and friend to many of us at IRI, across Columbia University and around the world. Her spirit will continue to guide us. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.