Fengpeng Sun's Biosketch

Dr. Fengpeng Sun is a faculty and climate scientist of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Division of Natural and Built Environment of School of Science and Engineering at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC). Dr. Sun has particular research expertise and teaching interests in climate change, modeling and impact assessment.

Employment

Associate Professor, University of Missouri–Kansas City    2022-present

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri–Kansas City    2016-2022

Assistant Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles    2012–2016

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles    2008–2012

Education

Ph.D., Earth System Science (Climate Dynamics)    2008
University of California, Irvine, California

Honors and Awards

The Haskell Distinguished Research Award, University of Missouri–Kansas City, 2019–2020

Grants

High-resolution Climate Change Projections in Missouri, The National Science Foundation (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

NSF INCLUDES Alliance: The Alliance of Students with Disabilities for Inclusion, Networking, and Transition Opportunities in STEM (TAPDINTO-STEM), The National Science Foundation (NSF) Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES)

GP-UP: Kansas City Explores Earth and the Environment (KC E3) – A program to support early college URM student success through mentoring and community-focused inquiry, The National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE)

Investigating Climate Impacts of Urbanization and the Potential for Cool Roofs to Mitigate Future Climate Change in Kansas City, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Grant Consortium (SGC)

A Heat Watch Community Science Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mapping Campaign in Kansas City MO, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Program Office (CPO)

Kansas City Urban Heat Island Campaign, Evergy, Inc.

Kansas City Explores Earth and Environment (KC E3): Summer Program to Train Next Generation Innovators Through a Partnership between UMKC EES and Kansas City Teen Summit, Kauffman Foundation UMKC Entrepreneurship Innovation Grants

Assessment of Climatic Impacts of Urbanization in Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the Potential for Cool Roofs to Counter Future Climate Change, University of Missouri Funding for Excellence (FFE)

End-of-Century Climate Change in Missouri and its impact on warm season heat related mortality, University of Missouri Funding for Excellence (FFE)

Professional Services

Advisory Council Member of Missouri Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN)

Manuscript Reviewer for:
      Nature Climate Change, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Journal of Climate, Climate Dynamics, Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, Journal of Hydrometeorology, Geophysical Research Letters, Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Climatic Change, Urban Meteorology, Atmosphere, Journal of Hydro-environment Research, Environmental Science & Technology.

Proposal Reviewer and Panelist for National Science Foundation (NSF)

Session Organizer and Convener of Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Annual Meeting

Session Chair/Host Organizer of NSF Missouri EPSCoR Transect Fourth Annual Meeting

Lead-organizer of Computer Science Institute for Women in Kansas City, Missouri

Committee Member University of Missouri–Kansas City College of Arts and Sciences Academic Standards Committee

IPhD Coordinator of University of Missouri–Kansas City Geosciences Ph.D. Program

Degree Program Coordinator of Environmental and Urban Geosciences Master of Science for University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Science and Engineering Division of Natural and Built Environment

Selected Media Reports and Appearances
 
NPR KCUR Radio Station FM89.3 "Up To Date" Live Interview: Environmental and legal experts explain the consequences of Supreme Court EPA restriction, 2022/07

NPR KCUR News: Kansas City hopes planting more trees will create 'a city within a park' and combat climate change, 2022/05

AccuWeather: Mapping urban heat in Kansas City, 2021/08

Flatland KC: Hunting for Hot Spots in Kansas City's Climate, 2021/08

Energy News Network: Urban heat island research aims to spotlight disparities and solutions, 2021/08

Missouri Independent: Kansas City suffers from severe urban heat. Research underway may help leaders address it, 2021/08

Missouri Business Alert: Urban heat opens door to negative public health effects, 2021/08

National Catholic Reporter: City dwellers swelter in heat islands as high temps hit neighborhoods unequally, 2021/08

The Kansas City Star: Extreme heat is deadly. Where you live in Kansas City might increase your risk, 2021/06

NPR KCUR Radio Station FM89.3 "Up To Date" Live Interview: What The Kansas City Metro Could Be Facing From Climate Change, 2021/03

New York Times: Why California? A Recipe For Catastrophic Wildfires., 2020/12

KMBZ Kansas City Kansas Radio Station FM98.1 "Kansas City’s Morning News" Interview: Wet and Dry Spells: How Climate Change Effects Weather Patterns, 2020/07

New York Times: ‘Turn Off the Sunshine’: Why Shade Is a Mark of Privilege in Los Angeles, 2019/12

Global Times: Experts say climate change fueling California wildfires, 2019/11

ABC/KMBC TV News: Hundreds Attend “Climate Strike” Event in Kansas City Friday Evening, 2019/09

KKFI Kansas City Missouri Radio Station FM90.1 Live Interview: Radio Active Magazine–Climate Change and Extreme Weather, 2019/02

New York Times: Why Does California Have So Many Wildfires?, 2018/11

The Indian Express: Explained: Why California wildfire is so severe this time, 2018/11

Science Daily: Weather should remain predictable despite climate change, 2018/02

prior to 2018:

Los Angeles Times: Number of days with temperatures above 95◦F to soar in L.A. County

Reuters: “Los Angeles can expect number of extreme heat days to rise”

The New York Times: “District by District, Climate Change in Los Angeles”

Los Angeles Times: “Climate change could slash snowfall in Southern California mountains”

ScienceDaily: “Dramatic Loss in Snowfall for Los Angeles-Area Mountains Predicted”

Los Angeles Times: “Study predicts more hot spells in Southern California”

TIME: “Why Dwindling Snow–Thanks Largely to Climate Change–Might Dry Out Los Angeles”

Associated Press: “Study: Southern Calif. could see record scorchers”

NPR/PBS/KQED: “Zooming in on L.A.’s Warming Climate”