STONY BROOK, N.Y., February 6, 2006 — Dr. Robert D. Cess, emeritus and adjunct professor at Stony Brook University, has won the 2006 Jule G. Charney Award by American Meteorological Society, the nation’s leading professional society for those in the atmospheric and related sciences.

The award “for his outstanding contributions to our understanding of the science of atmospheric radiation and climate change and the role of clouds in climate models,” will be presented tonight, at the Society’s 86th Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

The Charney Award is given to individuals in recognition of highly significant research or development achievement in the atmospheric or hydrologic sciences. The award was established in 1969 during the 50th anniversary of the Society and was originally called the “Second Half-Century Award.” In 1982, it was renamed in honor of Jule Charney, who played a major role in establishing the theoretical framework on which numerical weather prediction is based.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Cess has taught at Stony Brook since 1961. During his distinguished career at the university, he participated in and led countless research projects studying clouds and climate change. He was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and participated on the National Science Foundation’s panel on policy implications of greenhouse warming. Cess has been honored with numerous awards including the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University, where he also received the E.B. Lemon Distinguished Alumni Award. He earned his master’s from Purdue University and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Founded in 1919, the AMS has a membership of more than 11,000 professionals, professors, students, and weather enthusiasts. AMS publishes nine atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic journals, sponsors multiple conferences annually, and directs numerous education and outreach programs and services. For more information see www.ametsoc.org