The Council of the Royal Society of NSW is delighted to learn that one of its fellows, Scientia Professor Trevor McDougall AC FRS FRSN FAA of the University of New South Wales, has been awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science in 2022. The prize, valued at $250,000, recognises significant advancement of knowledge through science.
Professor McDougall, who is a global leader in oceanography, is recognised for his discoveries of new ocean mixing processes and his work to redefine the thermodynamic definition of seawater, now adopted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission as the new international standard. This work has had a transformative impact on the study of oceanography and ocean thermodynamics, and in furthering our understanding of the role of the ocean in regulating the Earth’s climate.
Professor McDougall was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1997, a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 2012, a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW in 2015, and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2018. In 2018, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2018 for "eminent service to science, and to education, particularly in the area of ocean thermodynamics, as an academic, and researcher, to furthering the understanding of climate science, and as a mentor of young scientists".
The Council of the Royal Society of NSW extends its warmest congratulations to Professor McDougall on this highly-deserved recognition of his outstanding research achievements and impact.
For further information and background, together with a video summarising Professor McDougall's contributions to oceanography, please see the announcement on the Department of Industry website.