Double distinction for UEA academics with prestigious Royal Meteorological Society award wins
By: Communications
Two academics from the University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences have been awarded the prestigious Adrian Gill Award by the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS), a largely unprecedented achievement for academics from the same institution.
Prof Manoj Joshi, Professor of Climate Dynamics, and Prof Adrian Matthews, Professor of Meteorology, both received the award for their ‘Advances at the Interface of Atmospheric Science and Related Disciplines’.
Presented to them at the 2024 RMetS Awards ceremony on Wednesday 4 June, this award is given in memory of Adrian Gill, in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions.
Prof Joshi said: “I am extremely honoured to accept this award. My research merely reflects the presence of many exciting fields lying adjacent to the vibrant area of meteorology itself, from oceanography and planetary science to electricity and of course our changing climate.
“In my career, I have been lucky enough to interact with a number of dynamic communities, and this achievement could not have happened without collaborations with scientists from academia to the civil service: their wisdom and energy continues to be a source of inspiration.”
Prof Matthews said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Adrian Gill Award and would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Royal Meteorological Society and my nominators for this recognition.
“Over the past decade, there have been remarkable advancements in our ability to simulate and predict tropical weather and climate systems, along with a deeper understanding of the extreme weather events often associated with them. These progressions have been driven by new observational field campaigns and developments in modelling, particularly the emergence of large-domain convection-permitting atmospheric models in the tropics.
“I have been fortunate to collaborate with many scientists across the UK and Europe and partner countries in South Asia and the Maritime Continent, exploring various aspects of these ocean-atmosphere interactions. It has been especially rewarding to mentor and inspire the next generation of scientists in this expanding field.”
Manoj Joshi
Prof Manoj Joshi is a highly original and innovative leader in the field of Climate Dynamics. He uses theories and models to solve problems driven by high-impact issues such as climate change, and conducts inspiring interdisciplinary science that connects terrestrial meteorology to other fields including oceanography, aerosols, atmospheric electricity, the land surface, and the climate and atmospheric circulation of other planets.
His impactful work includes many studies on the causes and mechanisms of large-scale physical patterns of climate change and their impacts, but also connects meteorology to other topics such as low frequency variability in ocean tides, ocean atmosphere interaction, the effects of chlorophyll on the ocean and climate, and even extending to the global electric circuit.
Prof Joshi has a rare level of interdisciplinary expertise, and he has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed studies.
Adrian Matthews
Prof Adrian Matthews is a research leader in tropical atmosphere-ocean interactions leading major international collaborative projects and providing the inspiration and direction for innovative research studies.
He has been a leading light in the UK community of climate researchers since the 1990s, with his work embracing the scientific fundamentals of observations, models and theoretical concepts to understand coupled ocean-atmosphere systems deeply. Adrian’s work has also had practical application to improving weather and climate prediction globally, including contributions to improving forecasting services in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, such as delivering in-country training workshops and evaluating model forecasts of extreme precipitation.
His recent successes have been built on a long record of multidisciplinary work, and a track record of inspiring his students and postdoctoral researchers. For example, his earlier work on the Madden Julian Oscillation brought genuine insight into the complexities of this coupled system.
Adrian is an inspiring lecturer and supervisor of research students, and through his collaborative research, he has been involved working with excellent research staff and students both in the UK and overseas. Indeed, he has a reputation for outstanding mentorship and supervision, demonstrating excellent supervisory and collaborative skills and allowing those he works with to flourish.
RMetS Awards
This year’s Awards are particularly significant as they coincide with the Society’s 175th anniversary – a remarkable milestone in the Society’s long-standing history of advancing the science and understanding of weather and climate.
First awarded in 1901, the RMetS Awards are among the most prestigious honours in weather and climate science, celebrating individuals and teams who have made outstanding and enduring contributions to the field.
Prof Liz Bentley FRMetS, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said: “Our heartfelt congratulations go to each of this year’s winners, whose work exemplifies the highest standards of excellence.
“These Awards not only recognise their remarkable achievements; they also reaffirm the Society’s role in leading the profession and championing the very best in weather and climate science.”
Find out more on the Royal Meteorological Society website.
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