Edward Wile Maibach

Edward Wile Maibach

Edward Wile Maibach

Distinguished University Professor

Climate change communication, public health communication, social marketing

Dr. Maibach is a distinguished University Professor (Emeritus) and the Founding Director (Emeritus) of Mason’s Center for Climate Change Communication (Mason 4C).  A Principal Investigator of the Yale/George Mason Climate Change in the American Mind polling project, Dr. Maibach also co-led the development of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, and Climate Matters—a climate reporting resources program that supports TV weathercasters as local climate educators.

Dr. Maibach is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Member of the both National Academy of Medicine and the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. In 2020, he was awarded the Beck Family Presidential Medal of Excellence in Research and Scholarship—Mason’s top research honor—as well as the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication (with Anthony Leiserowitz). In 2021, news agency Thompson Reuters identified him as one of the world’s 10 most influential scientists working on climate change. 

Dr. Maibach earned his PhD in communication science at Stanford University (1990), his MPH at San Diego State University (1983), and his BA at University of California, San Diego (1980). He previously had the pleasure to serve as Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute, and Worldwide Director of Social Marketing at Porter Novelli, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Climate and Health Alliance. 

 

Selected Publications

Myers, T., Kohl, E., Tucker, D., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (in press) Professional engagement with climate change among five communities of practice in Virginia, USA: An exploratory study. Climate Resilience and Sustainability. 
 

Yadin, S. and Maibach, E. (2025) Shaming climate wrongdoers. Environmental Research Letters. 20 124073 DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ae287d
 

Carmen, J., et al (including Maibach, E; in press) Worry about climate change and its impacts in U.S. frontline vs. non-frontline communities. One Earth.
 

Fine, J., Ettinger, J., Uppalapati, S., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (2025) Role model narratives are underutilized in Instagram and TikTok climate action posts, Oxford Open Climate Change, kgaf028, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfclm/kgaf028
 

Uppalapati, S., Campbell, E., Kotcher, J., Thier, K., Ansah, P., Gour, N., Maibach, E. (2025) Public engagement with climate change and health: A global literature review. EcoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-025-01756-4
 

Fine, J., Ettinger, J., Kotcher, J., Mildenberger, M., Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E. (2025). Advancing and integrating climate and health policy in the United States: Insights from national policy stakeholders. Journal of Climate Change and Health. 25, 100485.
 

Marlon, J., Begotka, N., Preston, A., Steifel, M., Keenan, J. et al (with Maibach, E) (2025) Experience-driven perceptions misalign with assessed heat risk in the United States. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67631-6
 

Meade, N., Cologna, V., Berger, S., Besley, J., Brick, C., Joubert, M, Maibach, E., et al.,  (in press) Public Communication about Science in 68 Countries: Global Evidence on How People Encounter and Engage with Information about Science. Science Communication.
 
Carrión, D., Prasanth, S., Hurtado, I., Lin-Schweitzer, A., Braga, M., Munson, S., Hines, E., Kotcher, J., Daly, H., Maibach, E., Conlon, K., Babcock-Dunning, L., Timm, K., Dubrow, R. (2025) A Mixed Methods Evaluation of an online Climate Change and Health Certificate Program for Working Professionals. BMC Public Health, 25(1) DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-23477-7

Cologna, V., Meiler, S., Kropf, C., Lüthi , S., Mede, N., Bresch, D. Lecuona, O., Berger, Besley, J., Brick, C., Joubert, M., Maibach, E., Oreskes, N., Schäfer, M., van der Linden, S. (2025) Global evidence on the relationship between extreme weather events and support for climate policies. Nature Climate Change. 15, 725–735 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02372-4

Ansah, P., Badullovich, N., Myers, T., Kotcher, J., Rosenthal, S., Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E. (2025) Predictors of willingness to support and engage in nonviolent civil disobedience to defend the climate. npj Climate Action. 4, 53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00258-x

Ghasemi, O., Cologna, V., Mede, N., Stanley, S., Strahm, N., Ross, R., Alfano, M., Kerr, J., Marques, M., Berger, S., Besley, J., Brick, C., Joubert, M., Maibach, E., Mihelj, S., Newell, B., Oreskes, N., Schäfer, M. (2025) Gaps in public trust between scientists and climate scientists: A 68 country study. Environmental Research Letters. 20 061002. DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/add1f9

Mesa, G., Potter, T., Astle, B., Roop, H.A., Honegger Rogers, H., Farris, A., Kenney, M.A., Harris, J., Meyer, N.J., García López de Villavicencio, R.A., & Maibach, E. (2025) Leveraging Partnership in the Cuban National Health System to Protect People from the Health Harms of Climate Change: Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease as an Example. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies. https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/ijps/article/view/6762/3909

Thier, K., Campbell, E., Uppalapati, S., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (2025) The impact of public health messages on audience engagement and collective climate action. Current Opinions in Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101539

Badullovich, N., Kotcher, J., Myers, T., Rosenthal, S., Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E. (2025) Understanding six “key truths” about climate change predicts policy support, discussion, and political advocacy. Climatic Change. 178, 89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-025-03934-3

Roser-Renouf, C., Myers, T., Maibach, E. (2025) Information processing and response among Global Warming’s Six Americas. Environmental Communication, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2025.2464165

Orr, M., Borth, A., Kotcher, J., Campbell, E., Myers, T., Maibach, E., Leiserowitz, A., Rosenthal, S., Clarke, C. (2025) Breaking the climate silence: Predictors of discussing global warming with family and friends. PLOS Climate. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000538

Campbell, E., Uppalapati, S., Kotcher, J., Thier, K., Ansah, P., Gour, N., Maibach, E. (2025) Activating health professionals as climate change and health communicators and advocates: A review. Environmental Research: Health. 3 012002 DOI 10.1088/2752-5309/ada791

Ettinger, J., Fine, J., Badullovich, N., Thier, K., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (2025) Communicating with policymakers about climate change, health, and their intersection: A scoping review. Lancet Planetary Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00307-3

Cologna, V., Mede, N., Berger, S., Besley, J., Brick, C., Joubert, M., Maibach, E., et al. (2025) Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries. Nature Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02090-5

Badullovich, N., Nesci, A., Massie, M., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (2025) Communicating about “The End of Fossil Fuel” in a museum setting: a mixed-methods investigation of the Climate Museum. PLOS Climate. 4(2): e0000518. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000518

Guan, J., Dutcher, E., Goldin, P., Ahmadi, S., Fromer, E., et al. (including Maibach, E.; 2025) The role of trait mindfulness in moderating climate distress during wildfire seasons. PLOS Climate. 3(12): e0000524. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000524

Carman, J., Lu, D., Ballew, M., Low, J., Verner, M., et al. (including Maibach, E.; 2025) American’s support for climate justice. Environmental Science and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103976

Mede, N., Cologna, V., Berger, S., Besley, J., Brick, C., Joubert, M., Maibach, E., Mihelj, S., Oreskes, N., Schäfer, M., van der Linden, S. et al. (2025) Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 67 countries – the TISP dataset. Scientific Data. 12, 114. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-04100-7

Epel, E, White, K., Brownell, K., Rodin, J., Hollis, A., et al (including Maibach, E; 2025). Transforming health psychology and behavioral medicine to address the climate crisis: A call for strategic research and advocacy. Co-published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Health Psychology, and Psychosomatic Medicine.

Ayers, M., Marlon, J., Ballew, M., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Roser-Renouf, C., Leiserowitz, A. (2024) Changes in Global Warming’s Six Americas: An analysis of repeat respondents. Climatic Change. 177, 96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-024-03754-x

Maibach, E., Kotcher, J., Patel, L. (2024) We can use our superpower to help end fossil fuel pollution and rise to the challenge of climate change. Journal of Communication in Health Care, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2024.2357949.

Kotcher, J., Patel, L., Wheat, S., Philipsborn, R., Maibach, E. (2024) How to communicate about climate change with patients. The BMJ. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-079831 

Cologna, V., Kotcher, J., Meade, N., Besley, J., Maibach, E., Oreskes, N. (2024) Trust in climate science and climate scientists: A narrative review. PLOS Climate. 3(5): e0000400. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000400

Maibach, E. (2024) Accelerating the end of the fossil fuel era: A human and planetary health imperative and opportunity. Frontiers in Science. doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2024.1383921 

Myers, T., Roser-Renouf, C., Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E. (2024) Emotional signatures of climate policy support. PLOS Climate. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000381

Lee, S., Goldberg, M., Rosenthal, S., Maibach, E., Kotcher, J., Leiserowitz, A. (2024) Climate change belief systems across political groups in the United States. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300048

Badullovich, N., Tucker, D., Amoako, R., Ansah, P., Davis, B., Horoszko, U., Zahiyyah, H., Maibach, E. (2024) How Does Public Perception of Climate Protest Influence Support for Climate Action. npj Climate Action. 3:16 https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-023-00096-9

Kotcher, J., Badullovich, N., Ahmed, M., De Alwis, D., Maibach, E. (2024) Role model stories can increase health professionals’ interest and perceived responsibility to engage in climate and sustainability actions. Journal of Climate Change and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100291

Maibach, E., Roser-Renouf, C., Myers, T., Kotcher, J., Reed, D. (2024) The “think-and-do tank” model: Action-oriented climate communication research. Environmental Communication. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17524032.2024.2304571

Kotcher, J., Luong, K., Gould, R., Charles, J., Maibach, E. (2023) Health professionals calling attention to opponents of climate action improves the effectiveness of climate and health messages. Lancet Planetary Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00217-6

Ortiz, L., Stiles, R., Whitaker, S., Maibach, E., Kinter, J., Henneman, L., Krall, J., Bubbosh, P., Cash, B. (2023) Public health benefits of zero-emission electric power generation in Virginia. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20198

Myers, T., Roser-Renouf, C., Maibach, E. (2023) Emotional Responses to Climate Change Information and Their Effects on Policy Support. Frontiers in Climate. Vol. 5: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1135450

Maibach, E., Campbell, E., Uppalapati, S., Kotcher, J. (2023) Active learning and effective communication to optimize climate change action. Journal of Climate Change and Health. doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100207

Howard, C., MacNeil, A., Hughes, F., Alqodmani, L., Charlesworth, K., de Almeida, R., Harris, R., Jochum, B., Maibach, E., et al. (2023) Learning to treat the climate emergency together: Networked social tipping interventions by the health sector. Lancet Planetary Health. https://doi.org/10.1016?S2542-5196(23)00022-0.

Campbell, E., Kotcher, J. E., Myers, T., Munson, S., Borth, A. C., Rosenthal, S. A., Leiserowitz, A., & Maibach, E. (2023) The Potential Role of Descriptive and Dynamic Norms in Promoting Climate Change Advocacy. Oxford Open Climate Change, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfclm/kgad001

Campbell, E., Uppalapati, S., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E. (2023) Communication research to improve engagement with climate change and human health: A review. 
Frontiers in Public Health. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1086858

 

Education

  • BA, Psychology, 1980, University of California, San Diego
  • MPH, Health Promotion, 1983, San Diego State University
  • PhD, Communication Science, 1990, Stanford University

Recent Presentations

 

 

In the Media

  1. Cook, J., van der Linden, S., Leiserowitz, A. & Maibach, E. (2017) Why the 97% climate consensus is important.  The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/oct/02/why-the-97-climate-consensus-is-important
  2. Maibach, E., Leiserowitz, A. & Marlon, J. (2017) By 5 to 1, voters say the U.S. should stick with the Paris Agreement.  Grist. http://grist.org/article/by-5-to-1-voters-say-the-u-s-should-stick-with-the-paris-agreement/
  3. Maibach, E., Leiserowitz, A. & Marlon, J. (2017) Should the US stay in the Paris Agreement? A majority of Democrats and Republicans think so.  The Conversation.  https://theconversation.com/should-the-us-stay-in-the-paris-agreement-a-majority-of-democrats-and-republicans-think-so-77455
  4. van der Linden, S., Maibach, E. & Leiserowitz, A. (2016) Climate change’s unseen consensus.  U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/articles/2016-02-18/teachers-need-to-communicate-the-scientific-consensus-on-climate-change
  5. Maibach, E. (2015). Voters to GOP: “I’m not a scientist” just won’t cut it on climate change.  Los Angles Times.  http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-maibach-gop-climate-change-position-20151016-story.html

Dissertations Supervised

Hilyatuz (Lia) Zakiyyah , Collective Climate Action in Indonesia A Mixed-Methods Study (2025)

Patrick Owusu Ansah, Fossil Fuel Industry Efforts To Manage Their “Social License”: Scoping Review, Conceptual Analysis, And Empirical Investigations (2025)

Saahi Uppalapati, Assessing and Mitigating Climate Change Psychological Distress: Scale Development and Pilot Intervention (2025)

Margaret Orr, Trusted Sources as Mythbusters: Evaluating Climate Myth Debunking on Social Media by Trusted Climate Information Sources (2024)

Eryn Campbell, Health Professionals as Advocates for Climate and Health Solutions: The Influence of Social Norms on Health Professional Engagement in And Public Support for Climate Advocacy (2023)

Kristin M. F. Timm, Sources and Frames in a Contested Framing Space: An Analysis of the U.S. Media Coverage of The Fourth National Climate Assessment (2021)

Justin Rolfe-Redding, Communicating Hope about Societal Issues: The Case of Climate Change (2019)

Lindsey Beall, The Examination of Message Strategies Used by Environmental Organizations to Communicate with Members (2019)

John Kotcher, Reducing Resistance to Communication about Climate Change Using an Applied Self-affirmation Intervention (2016)

Neil Stenhouse, Powerful Feelings: Extending the Extended Parallel Processing Model to Collective Action on Climate Change (2015)

Jagadish Thaker, Climate Change in the Indian Mind: Role of Collective Efficacy in Cimate Change Adaptation (2012)