Featured Post from UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Covering Hurricane Melissa? Our Expert is Here to Help with Your Coverage

UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences' Marshall Shepherd is a leading expert and regular media contributor to Forbes Magazine

Oct 29, 2025

2 min


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Hurricane Melissa has exploded into a record-breaking Category 5 storm, tearing through the Caribbean with catastrophic force. It made landfall in Jamaica with sustained winds near 185 mph, unleashing torrential rain, landslides, and widespread destruction across the island — the strongest storm ever recorded there. The hurricane has already caused fatalities in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, and now barrels toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas, where mass evacuations are underway. Meteorologists warn of up to 30 inches of rainfall in some areas, storm surges reaching 11 feet along southern coasts, and a severe risk of flash flooding and mudslides due to the storm’s slow, grinding pace. 


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Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences.


View his profile here


While Melissa is expected to weaken slightly as it moves north, its enormous size means destructive winds, life-threatening flooding, and dangerous coastal waves will persist through the week — with Bermuda now bracing for potential impact and the U.S. East Coast monitoring for high surf and rip currents as the storm churns offshore.


Covering?  We can help.


Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia.


His expertise has been sought recently by ABC News, Forbes Magazine and The New York Times.


He's available to speak with the media about this ongoing story and storm - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.


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Expert Insight: UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences' Marshall Shepherd was recently featured in Forbes Magazine

In a September article featured in Forbes, Marshall Shepherd reports on a new tool launched by Project Drawdown that aims to deliver personalized climate-action strategies to different users—including policymakers, businesses, and individuals. In the piece, he explains that the tool helps match context-specific emissions reduction or resilience options to the particular needs, geography, and capacities of the user, rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions. Shepherd also emphasizes that tools like this can help bridge the gap between climate science and real-world decision-making. He argues that equipping stakeholders with tailored pathways could accelerate uptake of effective interventions by making them more relevant, feasible, and compelling. Ultimately, Shepherd presents the new Drawdown resource as a promising model for democratizing access to climate solutions, enabling individuals and organizations to engage in strategies best suited to their specific circumstances. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

2 min

3 Things A Climate Scientist Learned From Jane Goodall

In a recent Forbes article, Marshall Shepherd reflects on three key lessons he has drawn from the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. Shepherd frames Goodall’s legacy—spanning primatology, conservation, and public engagement—as deeply instructive for climate scientists and environmental advocates. He argues that her methods and mindset have more to teach than simply how to observe nature; they speak to how we engage with the world. First, Shepherd highlights immersion: Goodall’s decades of patient observation in the Tanzanian forests demonstrates the power of being physically—and emotionally—present to truly learn from ecosystems. For Shepherd, climate science must go beyond remote data collection: getting into the field and understanding local realities matters. Second, he emphasizes patience. Goodall’s willingness to wait, sometimes for years, for breakthroughs in understanding primate behavior offers a lesson for climate researchers, whose progress may unfold over decades. Third, he admires her tenacity—a commitment sustained over a lifetime, even under adversity. Shepherd suggests that tackling climate change requires that same kind of enduring resolve, especially when public attention or funding waxes and wanes. Through these reflections, Shepherd presents Goodall not just as an icon of conservation but as a model for scientific humility and perseverance. He invites readers to see the parallels between animal behavior research and climate work—and to adopt practices of listening, patience, and resolve in confronting our planet’s changing trajectory. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

2 min

Experts in the Media: Hurricane Season Isn’t Shutdown. A Busy Week Looms For Meteorologists

When you think hurricane season is winding down, think again. Just as many people begin to relax after a stretch of calm weather, the atmosphere often has other plans. Meteorologists are warning that even as we head deeper into October, the tropics are far from done stirring. The “off-season,” as Dr. Marshall Shepherd puts it, can be one of the most deceptive times of year—when attention fades but nature remains restless. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. View his profile here In his recent Forbes article, Shepherd, a leading atmospheric scientist and former president of the American Meteorological Society, reminds readers that the Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t have an on-off switch. While it may appear to be slowing, meteorologists are bracing for a busy week ahead as multiple weather systems continue to develop. He explains that this year’s pattern demonstrates how tropical activity often ebbs and flows, and a lull in storms doesn’t mean the threat has passed. Shepherd highlights how experts are closely watching sea-surface temperatures, wind shear, and atmospheric moisture—factors that can quickly transform calm seas into cyclone breeding grounds. Despite the calendar inching toward November, he warns that conditions remain ripe for sudden storm formation. Ultimately, Shepherd’s message is one of preparedness and respect for nature’s unpredictability. Even when the radar looks clear, the tropics can still surprise us. His call to stay alert is a timely reminder that meteorology is not about predicting the past—it’s about anticipating the next twist in the weather’s unfolding story. Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international weather-climate expert and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. He's available to speak with the media about this topic - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

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