Melissa Finucane

Melissa L. Finucane is Vice President of Science & Innovation at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In her role, she ensures UCS positions and solutions are informed by robust, independent, and equity-informed scientific analysis, and works with our technical staff and outside experts to identify leading-edge research opportunities that contribute to the organization’s mission. She fosters collaboration across the organization and with external partners and scientists, as well as provides guidance and support to UCS scientists and analysts. Before joining UCS, Finucane was a senior social and behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, where her research focused on understanding the human dimensions of environmental health risks and designing policies that take them into account. She also co-directed the RAND Climate Resilience Center, whose work helps decision makers address the impacts of climate change.