Climate anxiety is a valid, natural response to a changing, warming world. In 2020, more than half of Americans reported feeling anxious about climate change’s impact on their mental health, and most of us (67%) are anxious about its impact on the planet.

So what do you do when it’s your job to witness and document climate change?

In this eight-part series, we talk with scientists spanning several generations whose work is deeply, tangibly connected to the Earth and its ecosystems. They’re tracking changes across the planet in search of solutions, working through anxiety with action — and sometimes even a little joy.