14 June 2016
Joeri Rogelj receives the Piers Sellers Prize
Energy Program's Research Scholar Joeri Rogelj has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Piers Sellers Prize for "world leading solution-focused climate research", awarded by the newly established Priestley International Centre for Climate of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The Piers Sellers Prize, in the name of the renowned astronaut and climate scientist, Piers Sellers, recognizes exceptional research that furthers our understanding of climate change and how to address it.
Joeri Rogelj received the inaugural prize in recognition of his work on low emission pathways and its contribution to the Paris agreement. The inaugural prizes are awarded at the Priestley Centre launch event on 14 June 2016 by Piers Sellers.
Joeri Rogelj and Sir Alan Langlands, Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds; Courtesy of Priestley International Centre for Climate/University of Leeds
THE PIERS SELLERS PRIZE
Recognising exceptional climate change research
The Priestley Centre is establishing two annual prizes in the name of the renowned climate scientist, astronaut and Leeds alumnus, Piers Sellers, to recognise exceptional research that furthers our understanding of climate change and how to address it. The inaugural prizes will be awarded at the Priestley Centre launch event on 14 June 2016. In this first year, the judging panel will comprise the Priestley Centre Management Committee and Piers Sellers. In addition to cash prizes both prize recipients will be presented with a commemorative framed certificate with a picture taken by Piers Sellers during a mission on the International Space Station.
World leading contribution to solution-focused climate research
This prize will be awarded to a world leading researcher (not limited to the University of Leeds). It will be awarded on the basis of a researcher’s contribution to solution-focused climate research. The judging panel will develop a shortlist of nominees based on recent high impact journal publications and meet as a panel to decide the winner. The recipient will be invited to the Priestley Centre launch to provide a keynote speech and receive the award from Piers Sellers. The award will be £1000 along with expenses for attending the Priestley Centre launch.
About Piers Sellers
The Priestley Centre is establishing the Piers Sellers Prize in the name of Piers John Sellers – Leeds alumnus, renowned climate scientist, astronaut and current Deputy Director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate and Acting Director of the Earth Sciences Division at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. After receiving a doctorate in biometeorology from the University of Leeds in 1981, Piers moved to the US to work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center researching the interaction between the Earth’s biosphere and atmosphere. Piers joined the astronaut corps and was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1996. A veteran of three space flights and six spacewalks, Piers has logged just under 35 days in space. As serving Deputy Director of the Science and Exploration Directorate, Piers oversees research and mission design for the space and Earth sciences, including climate. Piers has been awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Award (1994); Arthur Fleming Award (1995); Fellow of AGU (1996); AMS Houghton Award (1997); Fellow of AMS (1997); Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for services to science (2011). ‘As an astronaut I spacewalked 220 miles above the Earth…. From this God’s-eye-view, I saw how fragile and infinitely precious the Earth is. I am hopeful for its future.’ (Piers Sellers, New York Times, January 2016)
PUBLICATIONS