Dr. Eshkol Eytan
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born on Kibbutz Palmachim and went to Brenner High School on Kibbutz Givat Brenner. I earned my bachelor’s degree at the Hebrew University, majoring in Earth sciences, with a specialization in atmospheric and marine sciences, and environmental sciences. I began my master’s studies in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science and then transferred to the direct PhD track. I did my postdoctoral research at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.
Why BGU?
I was drawn to BGU by its steady progress in both research and teaching. Beyond that, the University, and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in particular, has a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like family. I am delighted to have the opportunity to expand and develop atmospheric and climate sciences at the University.
My research:
I study clouds and their influence on Earth’s energy balance. In recent decades, clouds have been changing as a result of human activity, including air pollution that alters their properties, and in response to global warming. Because clouds play a central role in regulating Earth’s temperature, these changes directly affect the rate of warming. In fact, how clouds respond is currently the greatest source of uncertainty in future climate projections.
Clouds are also central to efforts to develop methods for slowing global warming. A deeper understanding of their influence on Earth’s energy balance, and of how that influence changes over time, will improve our ability to assess the potential and risks of deliberate human intervention intended to buy time until technologies can be developed to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
An insight from my research:
With clouds, as with life, most things are not black and white. Everything is part of a complex system involving a wide range of processes operating on different scales.
Something you won’t find on my CV:
I love backpacking in remote natural settings and freediving, which is why I spent a year traveling in the Far East. These days, I am the proud father of two boys and try to be worthy of my wonderful partner. When I’m not busy with all that, I try to sneak in an hour at the beach or play basketball with friends.
A source of inspiration:
Jared Diamond’s book Collapse. His other books are excellent, too.
When I grow up…
As a child, I would have said a basketball player or a dinosaur researcher. Today, I’m happy to be a cloud researcher.
If I weren’t a researcher, I would work in…
Education or public service.
In brief:
- Summer or winter? Summer
- Steak or tofu? Tofu
- Meticulous planning or spontaneity? Spontaneity
- Trekking or lounging on the beach? Both
- Car or train? Train
- Market or mall? Market
- Sea or pool? Sea
- Dog or cat? Dog
- Movie theater or streaming? Streaming
- Three things I would take to a desert island? A snorkeling mask, a snorkel, and fins.
