Dr. Thomas P. Wagner

Thomas P. Wagner is the NASA Program Scientist for the cryosphere. He directs NASA activities for study of the earth’s polar regions, glaciers, sea ice, and related aspects of climate change and sea level rise.

Before joining NASA in early 2009, Tom was Program Director for Antarctic Earth Sciences at the US National Science Foundation. He has been to Antarctica six times, and helped plan the US research program for the International Polar Year (2007-2009).

Tom holds a bachelors degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His thesis research focused on volcanoes of the earth and moon.

After finishing his PhD, Tom spent six years teaching at the University of Papua New Guinea, where he was also involved in university administration and foreign aid projects. Tom enjoys science outreach, and has helped various film makers and other artists interested in polar work. He has also appeared on various television, radio, and web programs to discuss polar science and climate change.