James Hansen is the EarthSky Science Communicator of the Year for 2008. He was awarded this honor after EarthSky asked its 600 Global Science Advisors to nominate and vote on which scientists had best communicated with the public about vital science issues or concepts during the previous year. Dr. Hansen, a physicist, is director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City and an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. He is an outspoken authority on climate change.