Professor Mark Maslin combines academic authority at University College London with public-facing climate advocacy through outlets like The Conversation and The Guardian. His work focuses on:
When approaching Maslin:
“We have the technology. We have the resources. We have the money. We lack the politics.” – Maslin on climate action barriers
Mark Maslin has carved a unique niche as a climate scientist who translates complex Earth system dynamics into actionable public knowledge. As a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London (UCL) and strategic advisor to organizations like Lansons and Net Zero Now, his career spans three decades of academic rigor and media engagement.
This 2024 analysis in The Conversation dissects Maslin’s groundbreaking research on prehistoric climate “flickering” in East Africa. By drilling sediment cores from Ethiopia’s Chew Bahir basin, his team identified rapid wet-dry oscillations preceding the Sahara’s desertification 5,500 years ago. The article underscores how these paleoclimate patterns could foreshadow modern tipping points, such as ice sheet collapses or permafrost thaw. Maslin methodically links geological data to contemporary policy, urging readers to view climate variability as a warning signal rather than statistical noise.
Published in The Guardian, this 2025 piece exemplifies Maslin’s ability to address sector-specific climate challenges. He critiques greenwashing in airline sustainability pledges while proposing actionable strategies: optimizing flight paths, mandating synthetic fuels, and retrofitting older aircraft. The article balances technical details (e.g., contrail reduction algorithms) with regulatory calls, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to environmental solutions.
This 2024 follow-up in The Conversation expands on Maslin’s Sahara research to discuss modern implications for vulnerable regions. He highlights how climate models often overlook short-term variability, using East Africa’s drought cycles to argue for improved early-warning systems. The piece merges ethnographic insights with climate data, noting how ancient human migrations mirror today’s climate refugees.
Maslin prioritizes stories that bridge scientific research, policy, and human impact. For example, his aviation article paired engineering innovations with regulatory frameworks. Pitches should similarly connect technical advancements (e.g., carbon capture prototypes) to socioeconomic outcomes, avoiding siloed approaches.
His Sahara studies demonstrate how historical data informs modern crises. Successful pitches might explore parallels between ancient methane releases and current Arctic thaw rates, emphasizing lessons for mitigation strategies.
Maslin rarely covers minor policy tweaks or corporate net-zero pledges without systemic analysis. Instead, focus on transformative ideas, such as redesigning IPCC assessment processes or rethinking climate finance models.
Maslin’s role in this annual report has redefined global health policy, directly influencing WHO guidelines and the Paris Agreement’s health adaptation funds. The Countdown’s integration of climate models with disease burden metrics set a new standard for interdisciplinary research.
“A carefulexplanation of what society is doing to this amazing planet and its people. I was absolutely gripped.” – Ellie Mae O’Hagan on How to Save Our Planet
This prestigious honor recognized Maslin’s contributions to understanding anthropogenic climate impacts. The award’s rigorous peer-review process underscores his academic authority, particularly in linking CO2 emissions to prehistoric extinction events.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Climate, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
