Meet the New Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Article Content

This story originally appeared in the winter 2025 issue of UC San Diego Magazine as “The Next Wave.”

Planetary scientist and academic leader Meenakshi Wadhwa brings a bold vision and broad scientific perspective as the new vice chancellor for Marine Sciences and director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

1. What inspired your interest in earth science?  

I grew up in northern India in the foothills of the Himalayas and loved being outdoors and exploring the natural world around me. I was fascinated to discover that there were limestone rocks near the top of Mount Everest that were once at the bottom of an ancient ocean — it was mind-blowing to think of the tremendous natural forces that resulted in the formation of these mountains. This sense of wonder about natural processes on Earth was what inspired me to study geology as an undergraduate.

2. What drew you to Scripps Institution of Oceanography? 

Scripps Institution of Oceanography holds a special place in my heart — it’s where I began my career as a postdoctoral researcher in 1994, working with Dr. Günter Lugmair, a world-renowned isotope geochemist who himself came to UC San Diego as a postdoctoral researcher in 1968 to work with Nobel laureate Dr. Harold Urey. Scripps has a rich legacy of scientific leadership across marine, earth and atmospheric sciences. In this era of unprecedented planetary change, it will be critical to understand the interdependencies of all parts of our Earth system for addressing global challenges. Positioned within the UC San Diego ecosystem, Scripps is uniquely equipped with the people and the capabilities to tackle these issues while training the next generation in interdisciplinary expertise and technological approaches.

3. How does your work in planetary science align with the work underway at Scripps?

My work as a planetary scientist broadly encompasses the areas of isotope geochemistry, cosmochemistry and astrobiology. My current research interests include understanding the processes and timescales of solar system and planetary formation; the origin of water on planetary bodies, including Earth; and the conditions on ancient Earth and Mars. I feel that this work, especially with its comparative planetology aspects, is contributing to a better understanding of our Earth system and is thus aligned with the mission of Scripps. 

4. What are some of the challenges facing Scripps Institution of Oceanography? What opportunities do you see? 

Like research universities nationwide, we face significant challenges in today’s federal funding landscape. Seeking solutions to modern environmental challenges requires tapping into new resources and interdisciplinary collaborations that will test our institutional capacity and traditional structures. Yet these challenges are balanced by extraordinary opportunities. The critical need for environmental, climate and human health solutions positions Scripps as essential, given our unparalleled expertise spanning marine, earth and atmospheric sciences and our ability to connect with other key strengths at UC San Diego such as engineering, data science and global policy. 

5. Looking ahead, what are you most looking forward to doing at Scripps?  

My immediate predecessor, Dr. Margaret Leinen, was a trailblazer, as she was the first woman to serve as director of Scripps. Her 12 years of leadership were consequential in solidifying Scripps as a research and education leader while driving environmental and climate policy nationally and internationally. She is an inspiration to me and many others.

As the 12th director of Scripps, I aim to build on this incredible legacy while advancing interdisciplinary and technology-based approaches — from studying natural samples and analyzing big datasets to modeling complex systems and continuing the global, long-term observations that Scripps is known for — all toward fulfilling the core mission of understanding and protecting our planet.