Scientists connected with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of the Columbia Climate School, received notable accolades from renowned national and international research societies this fall.
Extreme weather expert Suzana J. Camargo, professor of Climate at the Columbia Climate School and researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, was named an outstanding individual from “the weather, water and climate community” as a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.
Edward R. Cook, Ewing Lamont research professor of biology and paleo environment at Lamont, was given the Roger Revelle Medal from the American Geophysical Union. This award is given annually to one honoree for their “outstanding contributions in atmospheric sciences, atmosphere-ocean coupling, atmosphere-land coupling, biogeochemical cycles, climate or related aspects of the Earth system.”
Ben Cook, scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Adjunct Senior Research Scientist at LDEO and, is receiving the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for “outstanding contributions in research, educational, or societal impacts in the area of global environmental change, especially through interdisciplinary approaches.”
Folarin Kolawole, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences, seismology, geology and tectonophysics at Lamont, received the Jason Morgan Early Career Award from the American Geophysical Union for outstanding and significant contributions to tectonophysics through a combination of research, education and outreach activities.
The European Geosciences Union awarded Kai Kornhuber, adjunct associate research scientist of ocean and climate physics at Lamont, the 2025 Climate: Past, Present & Future (CL) Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award, which recognizes scientific achievement made by an early-career scientist in their division.
Geochemist Kerstin Lehnert, senior research scientist at Lamont, received the 2025 Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Mineralogical Society of America for distinguished contributions to public policy and outreach.
The society also honored Adam Sobel, professor of Earth and environmental sciences in ocean and climate physics at Lamont, with the Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award for advancing understanding of tropical meteorology through transformative approaches, including the weak temperature gradient approximation and moisture-mode theory.
Renata Wentzcovitch, professor of materials science and engineering in the applied physics and applied mathematics department, Earth and environmental sciences, and Lamont, received the 2025 Bridgman Award from the International Association for High Pressure Research. She is the first woman to receive this award, which honors outstanding research in high-pressure physics, chemistry and technology.
The Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award (The New Innovator Award) from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) recognized Yushu Xia, assistant research professor of biology and paleo environment at Lamont, for promising research that opens new avenues of knowledge to deliver groundbreaking solutions to difficult challenges.
