About

A. E. Nesbitt, Ph.D.

Writer | Educator | Scientist | Artist

If humanity is, as Nietzsche claims, a rope stretched over the abyss, I try to slink across it like a leisurely sloth, pausing to overanalyze the view. From this vantage, my writing juggles psychological realism, deadpan absurdity, fragile ecosystems, and the occasional demon goat. Whether it's a romcom about fertility panic and catfishing, a tragicomedy about intimacy and aging, or a bildungsroman centered on an anarchist plot, I'm drawn to characters navigating the knotty systems of family, society, climate, and capitalism. As a non-Mormon Utahn with a Ph.D. in biophysics and three neurodivergent kids, I notice patterns people miss, am habituated to discomfort, and never pass up a well-placed dick joke. In short, my work hovers at the absurd intersection where comedy and grief lock eyes across the void — and maybe pass a joint. I've placed as a second rounder twice for plays at AFF (2025), and as a semifinalist at AFF (2023) and Scriptapalooza (2021), and I'm currently writing a comedy about four men on a hellish backpacking trip in the Rockies.

Curriculum Vitae

"Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to

which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."

— Hermann Hesse

Creative & Climate Storytelling Experience

Stories are powerful — they move us, connect us, and inspire hope and action. Yet increasingly, they are weaponized by special interests, their fictions and fears sold as fact and spread at unprecedented speed. As a storyteller, my goal is to reignite curiosity and invite audiences into an open stance, fostering discussion. Through collaboration, I aim to weave narratives from our shared experiences that spark new visions for how we can live better together — in a world of finite resources but infinite imagination. At the University of Illinois, I taught Climate and Global Change and led field expeditions on sustainability, experiences that revealed how curious and open people truly are. But I also learned that when individuals feel their own stories are dismissed or are confronted without empathy, no one wins. As Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.” The same is true for stories. Today, we need new stories more than ever.

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Academic & Climate Education Leadership

Teaching Assistant Professor

Developed and taught large lecture, online, and graduate-level courses on climate change, sustainability, Earth's systems modeling, and atmospheric chemistry.
Emphasized human connections and consequences of global change using discovery-based and media-rich teaching methods.
Supervised student projects bridging data, climate modeling, and storytelling.

CliMAS
University of Illinois

Urbana, IL

2017-2020

2012-2017

School of Earth, Society & Environment
University of Illinois

Urbana, IL

Program Coordinator & Lecturer

Created and led courses and field expeditions focused on sustainability, environmental policy, and climate systems.
Organized the SESE Research Review, fostering cross-disciplinary storytelling about climate and environment.
Developed professional development programs to prepare students for careers in climate communication and advocacy.
Designed and led experiential learning trips to Costa Rica (climate, sustainability, hazards, ecosystems) and to Midwest ecological sites.

Climate Communication & Digital Media

2014-2019

School of Earth, Society &

Environment
University of Illinois

Web Applications Developer and Designer

Designed and maintained public-facing climate/earth science websites for Geography, Atmospheric Sciences, Geology, and SESE.
Integrated storytelling and scientific expertise to make environmental issues accessible through faculty and research vignettes.
Graphic & digital tools: Skilled in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, WordPress, interactive coding (Python, JavaScript, Godot), supporting visual storytelling of climate narratives.

2017-2020

CliMAS
University of Illinois

Outreach Committee Founder & Chair

Established and chaired a new outreach initiative to build community partnerships, expand student recruitment, and increase public engagement with weather and climate issues in Illinois.
Designed and led hands-on demonstrations using professional meteorological instruments in schools and community settings, reaching hundreds of K–12 students through school visits and public events.
Authored accessible, engaging outreach materials that translated complex atmospheric science into clear, memorable public experiences.
Championed the use of storytelling and visual demonstrations to inspire curiosity about climate science and environmental change.