Among the highest distinctions are four new AMS Honorary Members: atmospheric scientist Inez Fung, former AMS executive director Keith Seitter, climate and atmospheric scientist J. Marshall Shepherd, and longtime NOAA leader Louis W. Uccellini. Honorary Membership is reserved for individuals whose scientific achievements, applications, leadership, or service have had an exceptional influence on the atmospheric, oceanic, or hydrologic sciences. Their selection reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of modern Earth-system science, in which climate, weather, society, and policy are tightly connected.

The Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal will go to Rong Fu for pioneering observations of the atmospheric water cycle and land-atmosphere coupling. These processes describe how moisture moves between soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere, influencing rainfall, drought, and fire weather. Paola Cessi will receive the Henry Stommel Research Medal for advancing understanding of the ocean’s large-scale meridional overturning circulation, a system that transports heat, carbon, and nutrients around the planet. Sharon Nicholson, honored with the Hydrologic Sciences Medal, is recognized for foundational work on dryland hydroclimatology, particularly across Africa, where rainfall variability directly affects food and water security.

Other major science medals highlight the global machinery driving weather and climate. Renhe Zhang will receive the Sverdrup Gold Medal for clarifying Asian monsoon variability and its relationship with Northwest Pacific ocean-atmosphere interactions and El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Christian Kummerow will be awarded the Verner E. Suomi Technology Medal for transforming precipitation measurement through satellite microwave remote sensing. By detecting how raindrops, ice particles, and cloud structures interact with microwave radiation, such systems provide critical observations over oceans and remote regions where ground-based instruments are scarce.

David Thompson will receive the Jule G. Charney Medal for research into climate variability, stratospheric influences on global change, and the reliability of observed temperature records. Venkatachalam Ramaswamy will receive the Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal for influential research on radiation-climate interactions and his leadership of NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. The Jagadish Shukla Earth System Predictability Prize will recognize Xin-Zhong Liang, whose regional Earth-system models integrate atmospheric, hydrologic, ecological, and human influences to improve decision support for climate-sensitive communities.

The awards also emphasize the infrastructure and public institutions that make scientific progress possible. Eric DeWeaver is being honored for two decades of leadership in the National Science Foundation’s Climate and Large-Scale Dynamics Program, while Jim Mather is recognized for strengthening the scientific reach and accessibility of a major atmospheric observing facility. The National Weather Service AI Language Translation Program Team will receive the Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for developing the agency’s first artificial-intelligence-powered multilingual weather translation system. The technology is designed to make urgent forecasts and warnings accessible to people who may not receive life-saving information in English.

Several awards focus on mentorship, inclusion, and the human side of science. Jennifer D. Small Griswold will receive the Edward N. Lorenz Teaching Excellence Award for connecting atmospheric science with culture, place, and community while supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Isha Renta López will receive the Robert H. and Joanne Simpson Mentorship Award for expanding STEM access among Hispanic and Latin communities through science communication and engagement. Mona Behl will receive the Charles E. Anderson Award for advancing diversity and equity through organizational change, advocacy, and sustained mentorship in the geosciences.

Research addressing immediate societal challenges is also prominent. David Nolan will receive the Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award for work combining theory, field measurements, and numerical modeling to improve understanding of hurricane dynamics and forecasting. John Mitchell will receive the Syukuro Manabe Climate Research Award for developing and applying climate models that revealed how greenhouse gases and aerosols influence human-caused climate change. Sara Pryor is recognized for advancing renewable-energy research through actionable science, international collaboration, and mentorship, while Claudia Wagner-Riddle is honored for explaining the processes controlling greenhouse-gas emissions from agricultural ecosystems.

The 2027 recipients further include scientists working on urban meteorology, boundary-layer turbulence, ocean dynamics, and climate extremes. Shiguang Miao is being honored for research that improves urban forecasting, disaster-risk reduction, and resilience. John Albertson will receive an award for connecting turbulence physics with environmental challenges through simulations and field experiments. Early-career honors go to Ángel Adames Corraliza for moisture-mode theory in tropical dynamics, Aaron Piña for bridging science, policy, and community service, Zhiwei Zhang for research on submesoscale ocean dynamics, and Karen McKinnon for studying how internal variability and land-atmosphere feedbacks shape extreme temperatures and precipitation.

Forecasting and communication awards underscore the direct connection between atmospheric science and public safety. The National Weather Service office in Paducah, Kentucky, will receive the Award for an Exceptional Specific Prediction for life-saving forecasts during historic high-impact weather events in spring 2025. Jason Sippel will receive the Charles L. Mitchell Award for improving hurricane prediction through the operational use of reconnaissance observations. Broadcast meteorologists Jay Trobec and Drew Anderson are recognized for global leadership and for making topics ranging from earthquakes to auroras understandable through engaging scientific storytelling.

The AMS will also honor the Farthest North Chapter as its Local Chapter of the Year and the CU Boulder American Meteorological Society Chapter as its Local Student Chapter of the Year. Lectureships will recognize Jeffrey Pierce for research linking atmospheric particles with air quality, climate, and human health; Ashok Mishra for work on drought propagation and water security; and Daniela Domeisen for research into stratosphere-troposphere coupling and subseasonal prediction. The National Lightning Safety Council will receive a Special Award for 25 years of public education and advocacy, while 28 scientists will become AMS Fellows. Together, the selections illustrate a field moving rapidly from observation and theory toward prediction systems, inclusive communication, and practical tools for a safer world.

Subject of Research: Weather, water, climate science, atmospheric and oceanic research, forecasting, Earth-system modeling, scientific communication, and public safety.

Article Title: AMS Announces 2027 Honors Recognizing Breakthroughs in Climate Science, Forecasting, and Public Safety

Web References: https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-awards-honors/2027-award-and-honors-recipients; https://annual.ametsoc.org/2027/

Keywords: American Meteorological Society, AMS Awards 2027, climate science, meteorology, atmospheric science, hydrology, oceanography, hurricanes, drought, Earth-system modeling, artificial intelligence, weather forecasting, renewable energy, lightning safety, science communication

The Frontiers Planet Prize, now in its fifth iteration, distinguishes itself as the largest global science competition dedicated to planetary health. With a robust prize of $1 million annually awarded to three International Champions selected from the National Champions, the prize fosters the acceleration of transformative research capable of generating significant real-world impact. This initiative is underpinned by a scientifically rigorous assessment conducted by an independent jury of 100 leading experts, chaired by Professor Johan Rockström, renowned for developing the planetary boundaries framework, a critical scientific roadmap identifying nine biophysical thresholds essential for the safe operating space of humanity.

A seminal report titled From Science to Policy: Planetary Solutions in Action has been concurrently published by the Frontiers Policy Labs in collaboration with the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. This comprehensive analysis reveals a disturbing disconnect between frontline scientific innovation and its translation into effective policy interventions. The report underscores how current policy frameworks often fail to harness the full potential of scientific advancements, thereby widening the chasm between evidence-based solutions and decision-making mechanisms at national and multilateral levels.

Water security emerges as a pivotal domain among the National Champions’ research portfolios, reflecting the critical importance of hydrological stability in the context of a changing climate. Investigations range from the combined effects of climate and land-use change on African water resources, assessments of anthropogenic influences on river flow seasonality, to nuanced evaluations of freshwater availability in regions prone to climatic perturbations like El Niño. These studies employ sophisticated climate modeling and remote sensing technologies to forecast and mitigate impending water scarcity risks, providing essential data for resilient water governance frameworks worldwide.

In the emissions sector, the research advances the integration of climate-informed mechanisms and physical constraints into carbon capture assessments, highlighting the challenges and potentials of direct air capture technologies. Critical analyses reveal the limited sequestration potentials of ecosystem restoration and the underestimated methane emissions from landfill sites globally, thus calling for refined measurement approaches and innovative mitigation strategies. Moreover, efforts to optimize flight planning in aviation demonstrate viable pathways to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, underscoring the importance of cross-sectoral ingenuity.

The conservation and restoration of ecosystems remain a focal point for many National Champions, with investigations into the spatial behaviors of marine megafauna, the identification of resilient landscapes, and the promotion of native tree diversity in agriculturally dominated landscapes. These studies leverage cutting-edge ecological monitoring and evolutionary biology insights to support the design of protected areas and sustainable land management practices that enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functionality, critical to buffering the planet against climate-induced stresses.

Innovation extends beyond natural sciences, incorporating systemic and interdisciplinary approaches to catalyze broader transformations. Studies addressing lithium mining economics incorporate indigenous knowledge systems to ensure just and sustainable energy transitions, while explorations into sufficiency metrics propose novel frameworks for evaluating societal wellbeing beyond GDP. Additionally, analyses of food system reforms, such as reducing sugar intakes, emphasize the intertwined environmental and social benefits achievable through dietary policy innovations.

The Frontiers Planet Prize uniquely recognizes that scientific excellence must translate into actionable policy and societal impact, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the persistent gap between scientific knowledge and public policy. Professor Jean Claude Burgelman, Director of the Frontiers Planet Prize, articulates this urgency, stressing that the prevalence of scientific warnings has not equated to an equivalent proliferation of solutions or timely implementation. The Prize’s mission to spotlight and accelerate transformative science reflects a strategic intervention to incentivize solution-oriented research and foster global collective action.

The award ceremony, slated for January 18, 2027, in Davos, will convene an unprecedented congregation of policymakers, scientists, and philanthropists. This event aims to elevate planetary boundary science to the nexus of decision-making discourse, amplifying innovations that embody the convergence of scientific rigor and policy relevance. By creating platforms for these National Champions to communicate their work at national and international forums, the Prize enhances the potential for systemic change necessary to navigate the multifaceted planetary polycrisis.

This year’s cohort includes new representation from countries such as Peru, Colombia, Senegal, and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting an intentional expansion to include regions pivotal to global environmental and economic decision-making. The National Champions’ research portfolios demonstrate a harmonious blend of technical sophistication and practical application, published in preeminent journals including Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), and The Lancet Planetary Health. Such visibility supports the critical imperative for evidence-based policy formation amid escalating pressures on climate, biodiversity, and human wellbeing.

Underlying all these efforts is the planetary boundaries framework pioneered by Professor Rockström, a scientifically robust construct delineating nine critical Earth system thresholds. Crossing these boundaries elevates risks of abrupt or irreversible environmental changes with potentially catastrophic consequences. The National Champions’ work collectively addresses this precarious reality by presenting methodologies and technologies designed to keep humanity securely within this safe operating space through interdisciplinary, actionable research.

In sum, the Frontiers Planet Prize 2026 transcends traditional scientific accolades by embedding solution-driven research at the heart of planetary survival strategies. Its National Champions exemplify the future of planetary science—integrated, innovative, and imbued with an urgent imperative for policy relevance. This global initiative is a clarion call to both the scientific community and decision-makers worldwide, asserting that the time for incremental responses has passed and the epoch of rapid, scalable transformation has arrived.

Subject of Research: Planetary health, sustainability science, climate change mitigation, water security, ecosystem resilience, emissions reduction, systemic innovation

Article Title: Frontiers Planet Prize 2026 National Champions Unveil Scalable Solutions to the Planetary Crisis

News Publication Date: 2024-04-29

Web References:

• https://www.frontiersplanetprize.org
• https://policylabs.frontiersin.org/fpp-policy-brief-2026
• https://unu.edu/cpr
• https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home

References: Scientific articles cited include studies published in Science, Nature, PNAS, and The Lancet Planetary Health as referenced in the Frontiers Planet Prize materials.

Keywords: Planetary health, climate change, Earth system science, water security, carbon capture, biodiversity conservation, sustainability transitions, policy innovation, planetary boundaries, environmental governance