Dr. Tom Mote (he/him) is an atmospheric scientist who works at the intersection of the water and climate systems, particularly on issues involving drought and extreme rainfall. He is the founding director of the Atmospheric Sciences program at UGA and a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Geography. Mote is currently PI or Co-PI on multiple transdisciplinary projects based in regions from the tropics to the Arctic and funded by NSF, NASA, NOAA, SERDP, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His most recent award, recommended for funding by the Belmont Forum, is a transdisciplinary and convergent research project on cultural heritage and climate change crossing five countries. Tom is also the UGA lead on implementing Vertically Integrated Projects, a transformative approach that engages undergraduate and graduate students in ambitious, long-term, large-scale, multidisciplinary project teams. Return to Who We Are