Reading professor elected member of Academia Europaea

A University of Reading scientist whose research focuses on the mathematics of climate has been elected a member of an international academy that recognises research excellence.

Valerio Lucarini, Professor of Statistical Mechanics and Director of the Centre for the Mathematics of Planet Earth, was awarded membership of Academia Europaea, a pan-European Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Letters

Founded in 1988, Academia Europaea facilitates the advance of research excellence in humanities, law, the economic, social, and political sciences, mathematics, medicine and all branches of natural and technological sciences.

Membership of Academia Europaea is awarded following a rigorous peer review process and conferred to individuals that have demonstrated ’sustained academic excellence’. Members include more than 5,000 eminent international scholars.

Professor Lucarini was awarded membership within the Earth and Cosmic Sciences section of the academy for his research in statistical mechanics, dynamical systems, extreme events, climate dynamics, and climate and weather risk.

Through the Centre for the Mathematics of Planet Earth, Professor Lucarini has directed interdisciplinary research focusing on the interaction of mathematics and other sciences in the understanding of the properties of the climate system, and, specifically, its extreme events, its variability, and the ongoing climate crisis.

Professor Lucarini said: “It is a great privilege to receive such an honour from Academia Europaea and to have been nominated by peers. I am extremely grateful to my collaborators and for the opportunities that the University of Reading has given me over the years. I also wish to thank my partners in the Horizon 2020 project TiPES, in the Marie Curie ITN CriticalEarth, as well as the colleagues and the students involved in the Mathematics of Planet Earth CDT.”

Professor Dominik Zaum, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, said: “This is a great accolade for one of our leading mathematicians. This recognises huge and effective effort over many years by Professor Lucarini in leading interdisciplinary investigations at the boundary between mathematics and climate science.”

Professor Lucarini will also receive the 2022 SIAM Activity Group on Mathematics of Planet Earth (SIAG/MPE) Career Prize at the SIAM MPE conference taking place from 13-15 July in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.