Hannah Ritchie

Here’s someone who’s absolutely crushing it. Hannah Ritchie, she’s the real deal in the world of environmental data and science. This girl’s process is actually pretty inspiring. Started out in Scotland, born in Falkirk, and now she’s basically one of the top voices talking about how we can save the planet. No joke.

Back in W19, she jumped into YC, which is kinda like the startup Olympics, but for tech and innovation. But instead of just building apps or whatever, she went all-in on making data about climate change and sustainability super accessible. That’s her thing. She’s a data scientist who’s crushed it in translating complex stuff like deforestation, biodiversity, air pollution, and energy into visuals and stories everyone can get.

She’s been at Our World in Data since 2017, where she’s now Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher. Think of her as the voice making sense of all this climate chaos. Before that, she was at Oxford, doing research and outreach, which totally shows her passion for spreading knowledge. She’s also a senior researcher at the Oxford Martin School, so she’s deep in the academic world but still making her impact felt outside of it.

Her creds? Ph.D. in GeoSciences from Edinburgh, and she’s got honorary fellowships there too. She’s been featured everywhere, BBC, NYT, The Economist, Vox, you name it. Basically, if you’ve seen a chart or story about climate change or sustainability, chances are she helped make it happen or explained it. She even wrote a bestseller, “Not the End of the World,” which is all about how we can actually turn things around and build a sustainable future. No bullshit, she’s out here giving hope with facts.

And she doesn’t stop at research. She’s on Scotland’s Just Transition Commission and sits on the advisory board for Ember Energy, so she’s influencing real policy and change. Plus, she’s got awards, like an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Statistical Society, and was named one of Vox’s Future Perfect 50 in 2023. That’s basically being recognized as one of the most influential people shaping the future.

What’s wild is her story. She didn’t just study climate science, she’s turned her knowledge into accessible, strong stories that can actually make a difference. It’s like she took her academic background and said, “Nah, I’m gonna make this shit easy for everyone to understand and care about.” That’s what makes her so important. She’s the bridge between hardcore science and everyday people, making sure we don’t ignore the shit that matters.

So yeah, Hannah Ritchie, she’s not just a scientist. She’s a communicator, a changemaker, and a straight-up innovator in how we think about saving the planet. No Cap.