Janet K. Swim, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for her vision and leadership in bringing psychology to bear in addressing the crisis of global climate change.
With a background in social psychology, including work on prejudice and discrimination, Swim is a pioneer in advancing climate change as a topic for psychological research and as an issue of social justice. As chair of the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change in 2008-09, Swim shepherded and contributed to a major report on the human dimensions of climate change. This report has influenced the thinking of climate scientists and policymakers and inspired a generation of psychologists to include climate change themes in their research, teaching, practice, and advocacy.
Swim’s innovative research has enhanced understanding in such areas as energy use behaviors, factors determining the effectiveness of communications about climate, and interactions of gender and climate-related behaviors. Her contributions as a community leader include promoting sustainability at her university campus (Penn State), serving as president of APA Div. 34 (Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology), and participating in the work of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Committed to using science to improve people’s lives and generous in sharing her broad knowledge and experience, Swim serves as a model for psychologists who seek to make a difference in the world.