October 16, 2007
(Ottawa)--Carleton University wishes to congratulate Dr. Mike Brklacich, Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Dr. John Stone, Carleton Adjunct Research Professor, for their contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was just awarded a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Prize was awarded in two equal shares to Al Gore and to the IPCC (www.ipcc.ch). Dr. Peter Grünberg, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University from 1969-72 in Carleton University’s chemistry department, also won a 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics.
“I am excited by this news because it focuses international attention on anthropogenic climatic change and how it is and will continue to adversely impact human well-being in all corners of our planet,” says Dr. Brklacich.
Dr. Brklacich is a lead author in the North American chapter included in the most recent Report (AR4) prepared by Working Group II of the IPCC: "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”. Dr John Stone has been a 10-year member of the IPCC Bureau which is responsible for guiding the international assessment process.
“It has been a privilege to have been associated with the IPCC and the large number of top-rate scientists who have contributed to its work over the past 20 years,” says Dr. Stone. “I very much hope that this award galvanizes governments' efforts to tackle this very real threat to our planet, our environment, and our livelihoods.”
Recognizing the problem of potential global climate change, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme established the IPCC in 1988 to assess the scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, and its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC bases its assessment mainly on peer-reviewed and published scientific/technical literature. The panel provides the vision and glue which directs the efforts of thousands of scientists who volunteer their time to assessing research and preparing reports. The most recent assessment, the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), was rolled out in 2007.
The congratulatory email distributed by the Co-Chairs of IPCC’s Working Group II noted: “At the end of the day, it is the authors who are the IPCC because it is they who do the Assessments…you make the key decisions, write the Assessments and ensure the scientific quality. So, the Assessments are your work and you are really the recipients of this prize.”
“I wish to thank Carleton University for allowing me to “volunteer” my time over the past few years,” says Dr. Brklacich. “It has been a truly remarkable experience to collaborate with colleagues from around the world and a portion of this Prize belongs to Carleton.”
More information about Dr. Peter Grünberg and his Nobel Prize is available at:
http://www.carleton.ca/duc/newsroom/archive/2007/Oct9b.html
For more information:
Dr. Mike Brklacich
Professor and Chair
Dept of Geography and Environmental Studies
Carleton University
613-520-2600 Ext 7553
Lin Moody
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600 ext. 8705
