Hanqin Tian

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  • Director and Institute Professor, Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, Boston College

Dr. Hanqin Tian is Inaugural Director of the Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability (CES3), Institute Professor of Global Sustainability and Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College. Dr. Tian is also Director of Global Carbon Project–Boston Office (GCP–Boston), leading international coordination on understanding and quantifying global nitrogen (N) cycle, the global nitrous oxide (N2O) budget, multi-GHG integration (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O), C-N interactions and nature-based solutions. An internationally recognized leader in Earth system science, his work has fundamentally advanced quantitative understanding of global biogeochemical cycles, greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation.

Dr. Tian’s research has helped reshape how the scientific community quantifies and interprets the roles of terrestrial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in regulating Earth’s climate and atmosphere. Through integrated C–N–P modeling and leadership of international synthesis initiatives, including the Global Carbon Project and the Global Nitrous Oxide Budget Assessment, he has contributed to closing critical gaps in global carbon and nitrogen budgets and strengthening the scientific foundation for IPCC and international climate assessments.

He has authored 440+ peer-reviewed publications, including more than 50 papers in Nature, Science, and leading sister journals. His work has been cited 74,000+ times (h-index 123), and he is a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2022–2025), ranking among the top 1% globally. He is a Fellow of AGU, ESA, and AAAS, and recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and the AGU Bert Bolin Award and Lecture.

Experience

  • 2022–present
    Institute Professor, Boston College
  • 2010–2022
    Solon & Martha Dixon Professor, Auburn University
  • 2003–2022
    Professor, Auburn University
  • 2001–2003
    Associate Professor, University of Kansas

Education

  • 1996 
    State University of New York, Syracuse, Ph.D.
  • 1986 
    Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, M.S.
  • 1982 
    Zhejiang University, B.S.

Publications

  • 2026
    Why methane surged in the atmosphere during the early 2020s, Science
  • 2026
    Emerging climate impact on carbon sinks in a consolidated carbon budget, Nature
  • 2024
    Global net climate effects of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen, Nature
  • 2024
    Global nitrous oxide budget (1980–2020), ESSD
  • 2020
    A comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide sources and sinks, Nature
  • 2016
    The terrestrial biosphere as a net source of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, Nature

Professional Memberships

  • Fellow, Ecological Society of America (2022)
  • Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2020)
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2016)

Contact Hanqin for

  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration