Keynote: Steve Running. Forest ecologist Steve Running develops computer models of global and regional ecosystems to study Earth’s changing climate. Dr. Running is a professor at the University of Montana and a team member of the NASA Earth Observing System. He is on the board of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and was a chapter lead author for the 4th Assessment of the IPCC report. The IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.