GNS climate scientist Dan Lowry wins Aotearoa New Zealand Frontiers Planet Prize
The GNS Ice Sheet and Climate Modeller is one of three national winners recently selected by the Royal Society Te Apārangi to be put forward for the prestigious international Frontiers Planet Prize.
The Frontiers Planet Prize seeks to mobilise the international scientific community to speed up the search for solutions to the environmental challenges facing our planet. Three national winners are selected from each participating country – in Aotearoa New Zealand’s case by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. They are then put forward to an international jury for the opportunity to be appointed National Champion. The National Champions are in the running to be one of three International Champions, each receiving 1 million Swiss francs to support their research.
Dan was selected as a New Zealand winner for his research that produced an ice sheet model to improve projections of Antarctic ice sheet loss, and identified key processes and early warning signs to observe in the Ross Sea sector of Antarctica. The model has already been used to inform policy, through the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project 6 (ISMIP6), generating sea level projections for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report, and New Zealand’s first National Adaptation Plan for climate change.
GNS Environment and Climate Theme Leader Giuseppe Cortese says that it is fantastic to see Dan’s work getting this recognition.
"Antarctic ice sheet melt, and the associated sea-level rise, is one of the critical challenges facing our planet."
Dan’s recent body of work represents an important step forward for understanding Antarctic ice sheet dynamics, as well as providing science and policy advice at the highest level globally. His selection as one of three New Zealand winners is very well-deserved.
The National Champions will be announced on Earth Day (22 April), and the International Champions in July.