Professor Ric Williams, Chair in Ocean and Climate Sciences at the University of Liverpool, has been awarded the prestigious Challenger Medal in recognition of his contribution to understanding the ocean's role in the climate system.
The medal is awarded by the Challenger Society for Marine Science to a distinguished UK marine scientist who has made a major contribution to the development of marine science.
Professor Williams received the award during the Challenger Society's biennial conference in Bangor, where he also delivered the Challenger Medal lecture, 'Oceans and climate in a warming world'.
The Challenger Society recognised Professor Williams for the breadth and impact of his work - from understanding processes at the scale of microscale turbulence through to global, centennial-scale changes in the climate system.
His research has provided the scientific community and policymakers with tools to better understand and predict future change. The Society also highlighted his contribution to teaching, including his textbook Ocean Dynamics and the Carbon Cycle, his commitment to mentoring and developing early-career researchers, and his leadership in national research programmes and committees.
Commenting on receiving the award, Professor Williams said: "I'm truly honoured to receive the Challenger Medal. I've spent my career trying to understand how the ocean works and, in particular, the crucial role it plays in our climate system.
"As the planet continues to warm, understanding how the ocean takes up and redistributes heat and carbon is more important than ever. Ocean science has a vital role to play in helping us understand the changes ahead, informing decisions about our future and finding ways to respond to the environmental challenges we face."
Professor Williams has worked in marine and ocean science for more than three decades. He joined the University of Liverpool in 1993 and was appointed Professor of Ocean Sciences in 2004.
Over the course of his career, Professor Williams has led and contributed to major research programmes and research cruises across the world's oceans, while publishing extensively on ocean dynamics, climate and the carbon cycle.
Alongside his research, he has played a significant role in developing the next generation of marine scientists. The Challenger Society highlighted his extensive mentoring of early-career researchers across marine science and his efforts to foster an inclusive research environment.
Professor Williams has also held a number of national research leadership roles, including positions with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Research Excellence Framework, helping to shape priorities and support excellence across UK environmental science.
