For transformative contributions to understanding permafrost carbon feedbacks, exceptional leadership in Arctic science, and outstanding commitment to integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Western science to inform climate policy. Dr. Susan Natali is internationally recognized for her pioneering research on permafrost thaw and its global climate implications, as well as her visionary leadership at the intersection of science, society, and justice. Her work has fundamentally advanced understanding of how thawing permafrost affects the global climate system. Through extensive experimental and observational studies, she revealed the crucial role of soil hydrology in permafrost carbon dynamics and demonstrated that winter carbon dioxide emissions from Arctic ecosystems are far greater than previously recognized. These discoveries have reshaped how greenhouse gas fluxes are monitored and modeled across the permafrost region. As project lead of Permafrost Pathways, Dr. Natali secured $41 million through TED’s Audacious Project to establish a program that expands Arctic-boreal greenhouse gas monitoring while centering Indigenous Knowledge and environmental justice. Her synthesis research shows that permafrost carbon feedbacks jeopardize international climate targets—findings that have influenced national and global climate policy. Dr. Natali’s scientific excellence is reflected in more than 125 peer-reviewed publications with over 10,000 citations and over 90 openly available datasets. Her collaborative leadership is evident in key roles within NASA’s Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment and the Permafrost Carbon Network. Beyond academia, she has testified before Congress, contributed to multiple U.N. Climate Change Conferences, served on the U.S. Advisory Council for Climate Adaptation Science, and was selected as a chapter lead for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Seventh Assessment Report. In partnership with Alaska Native communities, she codevelops environmental monitoring plans and adaptation pathways that honor Indigenous expertise and priorities. A dedicated communicator and mentor, Dr. Natali’s TED Talk has reached over 1.7 million viewers, and her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, and the BBC. She received the AGU Sulzman Award for Excellence in Education and Mentoring, recognizing her commitment to empowering the next generation of Earth scientists. With a career defined by innovation, integrity, and impact, Dr. Natali exemplifies leadership in Arctic climate science and advocacy for environmental justice, embodying the enduring legacy of Joanne Simpson in Earth and space science. —Elchin Jafarov, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, Massachusetts