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Uni Professor awarded top atmospheric science prize – University of Reading

Professor Lennart Bengtsson, from the University of Reading's Environmental Systems Science Centre (ESSC), has been awarded the prestigious Rossby Prize for 2007.

The prize is given about every three years to a Nordic scientist who has made important contributions in the field of geophysics, and is named in memory of Professor Carl-Gustav Rossby, one of the leading atmospheric scientists of the 20th Century.

Professor Bengtsson, originally from Sweden, earned this esteemed award for his hugely important work on the development of numerical weather prediction at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, his fundamental contributions to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and his outstanding contribution to international climate research.

"I am extremely proud to be recognised in this manner by my peers," he said. "This would not have been possible without the fantastic support of my colleagues at the ESSC and throughout the University of Reading. I am extremely grateful."

Professor Robert Gurney, ESSC Director, believes the prize is fully deserved: "I am delighted for Lennart," he said. "It is just reward for all his hard work. The prize is only awarded when merited, so the list of previous recipients is very distinguished. On behalf of the ESSC and the University I congratulate him on a fantastic achievement."

The prize ceremony will take place in Uppsala, Sweden on 17 September, 2007 when Professor Bengtsson will give a lecture entitled "How predictable is Climate?"

Ends

Notes for editors:

The ESSC is directed by Professor Robert Gurney, and is comprised of more than 25 scientific staff and between 10-16 postgraduate students. The Centre is an integral part of the University of Reading and is a component of the School of Physics, Mathematics and Meteorology. It was rated 5* in the Research Assessment Exercise 2001.

Its expertise in Earth Observation has allowed it to play a major role in steering the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC's) Earth Observation strategy; members of ESSC play a leading role in many NERC Peer Reviews and other Committees and in other national and international programmes.

For University of Reading media enquiries, please contact James Barr, Press Assistant, on 0118 3787115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk