Billionaire Wendy Schmidt Continues to Invest Heavily in Climate Science Research amidst Trump's Presidency
Wendy Schmidt's Philanthropic Ventures Advance Science and Environmental Awareness
Wendy Schmidt, a prominent philanthropist and environmental advocate, has been making significant strides in supporting scientific research and discovery, particularly in the field of marine biology.
In 2009, Schmidt, along with her husband Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, founded the Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund. This organisation supports groundbreaking research in science and engineering, and extends its support to the Schmidt Family Foundation and Schmidt Ocean Institute for scientific research.
One of the notable achievements under Schmidt Ocean Institute's umbrella was a deep-sea expedition off the coast of Argentina. Funded to the tune of around $1.5 million, the expedition became a national moment in a country where biodiversity is under threat and science funding remains precarious. The expedition led to the discovery of otherworldly coral forests, neon-hued sea stars, and dozens of other unknown species.
Dr. Martín Brogger, a marine biologist involved in the expedition, credits Wendy Schmidt for making the expedition possible. Similarly, Dr. Richards, a recipient of the Schmidt Science Fellows program, pivoted from geophysics to sea-level rise modeling and won a €1.5 million ($1.6 million) European Research Council grant for his Earth2Sea project.
Schmidt's philanthropy now supports a wide range of projects, including local food systems, immersive experiences, and climate communication. In 2024, Schmidt Ocean Institute launched The Hive, a shared-use commercial kitchen for small-scale food entrepreneurs. The Schmidt Science Fellows program, another initiative, provides top postdoctoral scientists with $110,000 as a stipend for a one to two-year placement in labs outside their original fields to spur interdisciplinary breakthroughs. The program also offers additional Catalyst Grants (up to $10,000) to support cross-disciplinary collaboration among Fellows.
Schmidt's organisations have provided bridge funding for defunded initiatives like the Keeling Curve, which tracks atmospheric CO2 levels, and rural public media. Wendy Schmidt has also acquired Jigsaw Productions, Oscar-winner Alex Gibney's documentary studio, to back investigative storytelling on climate and public interest science.
Wendy Schmidt's initiatives have helped discover nearly 50 new species and supported over 1,400 marine and ocean scientists. Her funding spans climate modeling, biodiversity tracking, and tools that help collect and share scientific data openly, with an emphasis on the ocean.
Wendy Schmidt's efforts in environmental conservation and scientific research have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, she was included on the Forbes Sustainability Leaders list, honoring individuals driving transformative climate progress. Schmidt's organisations have also directed a significant portion of their resources towards environmental initiatives, including more than $450 million into Schmidt Ocean Institute.
In 2024, Schmidt also launched Agog, a platform helping creators and nonprofit leaders harness extended reality. With Wendy Schmidt's continued support for deep-sea discovery, public media, and scientific collaboration across the globe, the future of scientific research and environmental conservation looks promising.
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