Hopeful climate research praised internationally – Anna Rutgersson involved in selecting this year's Crafoord Prize winner

Anna Rutgersson, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University and Professor of Meteorology, is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) and, in that role, has been involved in selecting this year's Crafoord Prize winner, Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric and Climate Science at the University of California, San Diego, USA.

‘Within ten years, climate change will become unbearable. But that will force us to act.’
Veerabhadran Ramanathan

The Crafoord Prize is one of the world's most prestigious scientific awards and is presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Anna-Greta and Holger Crafoord Foundation. The prize recognises internationally leading research in fields such as mathematics and astronomy, geosciences, biosciences and polyarthritis – areas that complement the Nobel Prizes.

In an interview with Dagens Nyheter, this year's climate research award winner highlights both the seriousness of the research and the importance of optimism about the future when it comes to climate issues. The article emphasises how scientific knowledge can contribute to solutions to global climate challenges and the importance of not giving up hope for the future.

As a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Anna Rutgersson has participated in the Academy's work of assessing and evaluating nominations from researchers around the world. This work involves a thorough and lengthy process that focuses on scientific quality, originality and long-term significance.

“Being involved in selecting the Crafoord Prize winners is both a great responsibility and a privilege. The prize plays an important role in highlighting research that is crucial to our understanding of the climate system,” says Anna Rutgersson.