Pablo Osvaldo Canziani, Senior Scientist at CONICET
Pablo Osvaldo Canziani
La Grande Boissière, 1977
Senior Scientist at CONICET (the National Research Council of Argentina)
Argentina
Learn more about me :
I am a Senior Scientist at CONICET (the National Research Council of Argentina) as well as Director of the Engineering Research Unit at the National Technological University (UTN), in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I live. I trained as a physicist at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (both the Licenciatura and Doctoral programs), and spent two years thereafter at the University of Washington, Seattle, as a Visiting Scientist for NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite Science Team, an experience which set the path for the rest of my research career. Over the years I was involved in UN UNEP Ozone Assessment Activities, the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), being part of the 4th Assessment Report Authors Team that earned the Nobel Peace Prize, back in 2007.
I also engaged in explaining environmental sciences to the common citizen, particularly climate science, through national and international media. I produced and hosted a radio talk show discussing environmental sciences and faith for 5 years, all outreach as a volunteer. I have also been involved in promoting environmental care in collaboration with faiths, both through the Holy See and through the UN’s Faith for Earth Program. I had the honour of being co-founder of the global Laudato Si Movement, in Rome, and UNESCO’s Regional Centre for Climate Change and Decision-Making bringing together universities and research centres from Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
I have so many good memories from Ecolint, starting with friends from different countries and backgrounds (Mike Trauner, Chris Warner, Zheliaz Mrachkov, Gideon Lack, David Fernig, just to name a few) and exceptional teachers (Miss Rushton, Mr. Quinn, Mr. Unitt, Mr. Bonnan, Mr. Sharpe, among others). As school events go, I particularly enjoyed being involved in the preparation of the school plays, especially “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”, the latter played by teachers.
My Ecolint experience was essential to life in general and my professional activity in particular. The teachers taught us how to think critically, how to search for relevant information and assess it, how to discuss ideas, and defend arguments. We also learned how to interact with different people with very different backgrounds. In essence, Ecolint taught us what is now known as “resilience.”
If I have to do it all over again, overall, I do not think I would change anything, except for a few minor details.
My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: in present times we are flooded with information, frequently distorted if not plainly incorrect. Thus, it is essential to develop critical thinking to discern and decide correctly, both personally and professionally. In second place, I would recommend humility and patience to understand others with an open mind, as well as to tackle apparently intractable problems. Last but not least, I would urge courage to move forward with conviction for the construction of the common good. Your professional training/degree does not define you, you define it.
What legacy do you want to leave? Personally — a good family, professionally — a job well done, and socially - understanding and love for nature.