Carnegie’s Anna Michalak Honored by Max Plank Society
Washington, DC—Carnegie’s Anna Michalak has been named an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society in recognition of her scientific excellence and leadership.
“Congratulations to Anna on this achievement,” said Carnegie’s Deputy for Science John Mulchaey. “Membership in this prestigious community is a recognition of her scientific impact across disciplines.”
The honorary position, which was recommended by the society’s Chemistry, Physics, and Technology Section and approved by the Senate of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and by its President Martin Stratmann, will also support expanded scientific collaborations.
“Her research interests are a perfect match to the institute's research areas, and the continuing collaboration will provide the setting for a planned Max Planck Centre,” said the said the organization in announcing her membership.
Over the course of her career, Michalak has developed novel approaches for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and for characterizing how climate change impacts the biosphere’s ability to sequester carbon. She has also advanced our knowledge of how a warming planet and shifting precipitation patterns impact coastal, lake, and river water quality around the world.
This work has positioned Michalak as a thought leader for policymakers, for example leading the development of the U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan and serving on multiple committees for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
“I am deeply honored by this appointment, and I look forward to many years of continued fruitful scientific collaborations that will help to address the climate and sustainability challenges facing our planet,” Michalak said.
Her collaborations with the organization date back nearly a decade, including membership in the institute’s Scientific Advisory Board between 2014 and 2016, and serving as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium Integrated Carbon Observation System from 2016 to 2023, whose atmospheric calibration laboratory is located at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. Michalak is also a founding member of the upcoming Max Planck Centre MC³ 4 Earth, which is currently being established between the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and three other partner institutions.