Pomeroy awarded John Tuzo Wilson Medal for outstanding contributions to geophysical sciences

VANCOUVER – John Pomeroy was awarded the prestigious J. Tuzo Wilson Medal for outstanding contributions in the field of geophysical sciences at a ceremony in Vancouver during the annual meeting of the Canadian Geophysical Union May 31.

This is the third researcher from the University of Saskatchewan awarded the medal, putting Pomeroy in the company of Zoltan Hajnal (2013) and Donald Gray (2000).

Pomeroy is a U of S Tier-1 Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change, Director of the Centre for Hydrology, Associate Director of the Global Water Futures program, Canada First Research Excellence Fund, and a regular guest and leading expert to Canadian media for his vast understanding of water systems – especially during times of flooding.

Pomeroy said he is truly humbled in receiving perhaps his biggest award to date.

“J. Tuzo Wilson, the famous developer of plate tectonic theory, was almost certainly Canada’s greatest geophysicist. To be awarded a medal named after him is a great honour indeed and is deeply moving,” said Pomeroy. “I am very grateful to my colleagues for recognising the hydrological research we have conducted at the University of Saskatchewan in this way.”

Pomeroy is a Fellow of American Geophysical Union – an honour given to only the top 0.01 per cent of the 62,000-member (approx.) international scientific society. He also leads the international Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology project of the World Climate Research Program, a recognized contributor to UNESCO’s International Hydrological program.

Since 2010, Pomeroy has published 94 research contribution, been awarded almost $7 million in personal research grants, given 97 invited or keynote presentations at conferences or workshops, trained 70 highly qualified personnel who have won over 40 scholarships and awards, and his papers have been cited nearly 10,000 times. He is a co-principal investigator for the $5 million NSERC’s Changing Cold Regions Network and also the $77.8 million GWF-CFREF grant.

“I have always believed in three things: science for the love of science, science for society and science for our planet. The love of science has always been my great motivator, it is simply delightful to be able to pursue research on such a fascinating and diverse field as hydrology.”

For more information, contact:

Mark Ferguson
Communications Specialist, Global Water Futures
Global Institute for Water Security
306-966-7135
m.ferguson@usask.ca