Three scientists from the UK’s leading oceanographic research center, the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), have been recognized as recipients of industry-leading accolades at the upcoming Challenger Conference in September 2024. The awards of mention are the Challenger Medal as well as the Challenger Fellowship.
The Challenger Medal is the premier award of the Society. The award is for a distinguished UK marine scientist or other person who has made a single major contribution, or a sustained contribution, to the development of marine science, or whose innovation has opened up new perspectives.
NOC’s Chief Scientist, Professor Penny Holliday, has been awarded the Challenger Medal in recognition of her contribution to the field of Oceanography. She has also played a key role in supporting others, driving equality, and creating opportunities for early career researchers.
Professor Penny Holliday is one of NOC’s many world-leading researchers who specializes in using observations and models to understand the circulation and variability of the subpolar North Atlantic and the role of the ocean in climate.
Alongside Professor Holliday, Dr. Anna Katavouta (NOC) and Dr. Tiago Segabinazzi Dotto (NOC) have been recognized as recipients of the Challenger Fellowship. The Fellowship is awarded to early career scientists to recognize and honor their achievement or promise in a branch of marine science.
The Challenger Society initiated the award to the members of the Society of four Fellowships, which was awarded biennially in 2000. The Fellowships are awarded to early career-stage marine scientists who are members of the Challenger Society for their achievements and promise in a branch of marine sciences: marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology, and marine physics.
Speaking on the awards secured by NOC’s scientists, Dr. John Siddorn, CEO of the National Oceanography Centre, said: “NOC’s industry-leading experts undertake in-depth oceanographic science research and work alongside their expert peers across the world. It is a pleasure to see our team recognized for their dedication to facilitating world-class agenda-setting scientific research which aims to understand the global ocean and provide real-life solutions to global problems.”
The Challenger Conference is the UK’s largest gathering of marine scientists and is attended by around 300 scientists from around the UK and further afield. To find out more visit: https://challenger2024.co.uk/
