Topical Group on Physics of Climate Fellowship
Fellowship in the American Physical Society is a great honor. In accordance with the APS Constitution, "there shall be elected to Fellowship only such Members who have contributed to the advancement of physics by independent, original research or who have rendered some other special service to the cause of the sciences." All APS members are invited to nominate deserving colleagues as potential Fellows of APS.
Rules and eligibility
Nominating a colleague for APS Fellowship is a way to commend them for excellence in physics and their service to the physics community.
To nominate a colleague for APS Fellowship, you and the additional nominating co-sponsor must be active APS members. The colleague you nominate must also be an active APS member.
Process and selection
To nominate a colleague for APS Fellowship, please include the following:
- The nominee's name
- The co-sponsor's name, and email address
- A 300 character suggested citation that does not include the nominee's name, gendered pronouns, or symbols, and begins with, "For..."
- A 2,500 character paragraph expanding on the citation to indicate the originality and significance of the contributions
- A PDF sponsor's recommendation letter
- The co-sponsor's recommendation letter, which must be uploaded by the co-sponsor
- The nominee's curriculum vitae (CV), which must include academic and employment history, professional honors, a list of principal publications only, and other significant contributions to physics
- Optional: Up to two additional PDF letters of support, which must be uploaded by the letter writers
Selection Committee
- Gregory Chini (Chair)
- Cesar Rocha
- Justin Burton
- Tiffany Shaw
Recent recipients
Justin Burton
2024 recipient
For leading efforts to identify and promote new directions of physics research that advance our understanding of the climate system, and for bringing granular materials research in physics to the study of ice-ocean interactions in geophysics, leading to new discoveries about Earth's cryosphere.
Tiffany Shaw
2024 recipient
For fundamental contributions in atmospheric dynamics and its response to climate change, and for advancing our understanding of the coupling between the global atmospheric circulation and water vapor and clouds, and how this coupling shapes Earth’s climate.
Michael Ghil
2022 recipient
For outstanding contributions to the understanding of the unsteady dynamics of atmospheric, oceanic, and Earth’s climate, via the application of cutting-edge mathematics.
Geoffrey K. Vallis
2022 recipient
For foundational work on the roles of turbulence and intrinsic variability in the atmospheric and oceanic general circulation, weaving together physical intuition, rigorous mathematics, and empirical evidence for deep insights into the dynamics of Earth's climate.
Venkatachalam Ramaswamy
2021 recipient
For pioneering research on radiative transfer in the climate system, especially regarding the impacts of anthropogenic changes in carbon dioxide and ozone on stratospheric dynamics, and the effects of aerosols on tropospheric temperatures and the hydrological cycle.
APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Standards. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.