Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
| 22 Dec 2025 | |
| Press Releases and Statements |
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 22, 2025 — The Data Foundation announced today that four leading experts in climate science and environmental data have joined its Climate Data Collaborative as Senior Fellows. Ken Bagstad, Annmarie Eldering, Anna Karion, and Kim Mueller bring decades of combined experience in greenhouse gas measurement, modeling, and standards development as well as environmental economics to advance the Collaborative's mission of ensuring climate data is actionable.
The Climate Data Collaborative is an initiative of the Data Foundation that focuses on data quality, accessibility, and continuity to support timely climate action by decision-makers across sectors.
Ken Bagstad joins the Collaborative with extensive expertise in natural capital accounting and environmental-economic statistics. He spent 14 years at the U.S. Geological Survey, where he coordinated efforts across 27 federal agencies and over 100 technical staff to develop and report on ecosystem contributions to the U.S. economy. Bagstad has served as a senior technical advisor for the World Bank and United Nations, and his work focuses on semantic interoperability for environmental and economic data through the Artificial Intelligence for Environment and Sustainability (ARIES) Project. He holds a Ph.D. in natural resources and ecological economics from the University of Vermont.
Annmarie Eldering brings more than 20 years of experience in remote sensing of Earth's atmosphere from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Since late 2022, she has focused on remote sensing of methane plumes, leading efforts in documentary and consensus standards at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). At JPL, she served in project scientist roles on the Orbiting Carbon Observatories 2 and 3, which continue to precisely measure atmospheric carbon dioxide. Eldering holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering science from the California Institute of Technology and a B.E. in chemical engineering from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Anna Karion is a research scientist with 17 years of experience specializing in greenhouse gas measurements and modeling. She most recently served as Program Manager for the Greenhouse Gas Measurements program at NIST and, since 2015, has been a research scientist in NIST's Urban Testbed project, estimating anthropogenic methane and carbon dioxide emissions in metropolitan areas. Prior to NIST, she supported airborne greenhouse gas monitoring and measurement campaigns at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Monitoring Laboratory. Karion holds a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology and a B.S. from Yale University, both in mechanical engineering.
Kim Mueller is an internationally recognized expert in greenhouse gas emissions measurement, modeling, and standardization. She is the lead author of the World Meteorological Organization's Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) best-practice guidelines and has contributed to national and international efforts to standardize measurement science techniques. Mueller's work integrates atmospheric observations, energy use, socioeconomic data, and biospheric modeling to produce high-resolution, observation-informed emissions estimates. Her career includes senior science-policy roles at the Science and Technology Policy Institute and as a Congressional Science Fellow on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan.
"We are thrilled to welcome these four distinguished experts to the Data Foundation," said Ryan Alexander, the Executive Director of the Climate Date Collaborative. "Their combined expertise in greenhouse gas measurement, remote sensing, natural capital accounting, and data standardization will be invaluable as we address the complex technical challenges that are crucial to unlocking more actionable insights for decision-makers across sectors."
About the Data Foundation
The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)
Media Contact:
J.B. Wogan, Director of Communications
Phone: (202) 964-1130
Email: media@datafoundation.org
