Awards
The Awards Committee and Council invite nominations for the Society’s awards and prizes on an annual basis from the membership of the Society via notices in Weather and the website. Nominations can be sent to the Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.
We will open the nominations for 2013 in May 2013.
Right: award winners for 2011 at the 2012 AGM
The Vaisala Award
Awarded biennially to recognise contributions to the field of observation and instrumentation. In particular this new award recognises:
- contributions from both the professional and amateur community;
- those whose work does not naturally lend itself necessarily to publication in the scientific journal literature, but is of significant value to the science of meteorology;
- outstanding contributions to the work of national and international meteorological field campaigns.
The IBM Award for Meteorological Innovation that Matters
The award is based around innovation in meteorology, with a particular focus on business and/or public impact. It recognises people, projects or programmes within the academic, scientific or business communities who have made significant contributions to educating, informing or motivating organisations in their response to meteorological challenges, for example climate change or significant weather events.
Mason Gold Medal
The Mason Medal
Sir John Mason has generously funded a new award for Fellows of the Society, known as The Mason Gold Medal. The medal ranks with the Symons medal as the premier award of the Society and is bestowed in alternate years to the Symons. The citation for the Mason Gold Medal is “For outstanding contributions to the understanding of the fundamental processes that determine the variability and predictability of weather and climate”. The medal is presented at a special evening function held in London and consists of a lecture by the recipient and a drinks reception. The first Mason Gold Medal was awarded in 2006 to Paul Mason.
Symons Gold Medal
In 1901, in memory of Geroge Symons FRS, a gold medal was established. The medal is awarded biennially for distinguished work in connection with meteorological science. A representation of the Tower of the Winds at Athens appears on the reverse side of this medal.
The medal was designed by Mr Frank Bowcher of Chiswick and the dies for it were furnished and executed by Mr John Pinches of London.
Buchan Prize
Awarded annually to members of the Society for a paper or papers published in the previous five years in the Quarterly Journal, the International Journal of Climatology or Atmospheric Science Letters and adjudged to contain the most important original contribution or contributions to meteorology.
The Hugh Robert Mill Award
Awarded biennially for original research into the distribution or variation of rainfall or its application to meteorology or a related science.
The L F Richardson Prize
Awarded annually for a meritorious paper which was published in a Society journal during the preceding four years, and was contributed by a member of the Society who in their early career in meteorology (which we define as no more than 15 years into their career, excluding career breaks) at the time of submission.
The Michael Hunt Award
Awarded biennially for excellence in increasing the understanding of meteorology or its applied disciplines among members of the general public, including particular groups (eg. school children, yachtsmen, etc)
The Gordon Manley Weather Prize
Awarded annually for any outstanding contribution to Weather through a paper or papers -- or other outstanding service to Weather -- in the preceding five years that has furthered the public understanding of meteorology and oceanography.
International Journal of Climatology Prize
Awarded annually for a meritorious paper published in the preceding five years in the International Journal of Climatology.
The Adrian Gill Award
Awarded annually to a member of the Society who has made a significant contribution in the preceding five years, in the specified fields, and who has also been an author of a paper(s) in the Society’s journals. The specified fields are those that interface between atmospheric science and related disciplines. These related disciplines include oceanography, hydrology, geochemistry and numerical methodologies.
Society Outstanding Service Award
Awarded biennially to a member of the Society who has exceeded the normal bounds of their role to the great benefit of the Society.
James Paton Memorial Prize
Photo by Ms Rohan Beyts, Winner of the James Paton Memorial Prize 2012 with the following description:
This image of nacreous clouds taken over Aberdeenshire on the 9 December 2012 was chosen due to its detailed colourings, clarity and position within the frame. The contrast with the deep blue of the night sky provides the perfect backdrop for what is an excellent example of these “mother of pearl” clouds.
The Scottish Centre of the Royal Meteorological Society organises an annual competition for the James Paton Memorial Prize. It is awarded for one or more outstanding photographs or slides of meteorological or atmospheric interest published in Weather during the year. All photographs published in Weather are automatically considered, but the original submissions are also considered.
The competition is open to single or joint entries from amateur or professional meteorologists and photographers. No entry should consist of more than six photographs.
The winning entry must be offered for publication in Weather unless it has already appeared there, but photographs previously published elsewhere are not eligible. The copyright of all entries will be retained by the competitor and the decision of the judges will be final.
The prize will be a medal and certificate and the date of the next competition is advertised in Weather.
