The sea level models came back clean. Precise. Devastating. Another 60 years until the moai disappear completely. I've spent three years calculating exactly how we'll lose them—centimeter by centimeter, storm by storm. My advisor calls it "important work." I call it professional mourning. I used to think science meant solutions. Now I just document endings. Every dataset is a countdown timer. Every publication feels like writing obituaries for places that haven't died yet. The grant application asked how this research "benefits society." I stared at that question for hours. What's the benefit of knowing exactly when something irreplaceable will vanish? What's the point of perfect predictions if nobody has perfect solutions? 🌊 I measure rising waters for a living. Some days I feel like I'm drowning too. #Science #ClimateAnxiety #ScienceBurnout