Seoul National University Emeritus Professor In-Sik 

KANG Wins the IMO Prize as First Korean Scientist

 

- The prize recognizes his contribution to world climate research and prediction

 

At its seventy-third session, the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has named Prof. In-Sik KANG, an emeritus professor at Seoul National University (SNU), as the winner of the 66th International Meteorological Organization (IMO) Prize.

* The International Meteorological Organization (IMO) was founded in 1873 to facilitate the exchange of weather information across national borders. In 1950, the IMO became the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a special agency of the United Nations.

 

Established in 1955, the IMO Prize is awarded every year by the WMO to individuals in recognition of outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of meteorology, climatology and hydrology. Of fourteen candidates, Prof. KANG made history as the first South Korean scientist to win the prestigious IMO Prize.

Prof. KANG has been a pioneer in the field of climate prediction. One hundred seventy of his papers have been published in science citation index (SCI) journals in the field of meteorology and climatology, and his papers were cited over 11,400 times on Google Scholar as of June 2021.

From 2000 to 2009, he was the Director of Center of Excellence for Climate Environment System Research at SNU. He initiated and played a major role in establishing the APEC Climate Center (APCC) and has a co-Chair of the APCC Science Advisory Committee since 2006.

In recognition of his activities and contribution to the WMO World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), he was selected as the winner of the 66th IMO Prize.

Prof. KANG will be awarded a gold medal bearing the official WMO emblem and a monetary award of CHF 10,000 by the WMO President Gerhard Adrian at an award ceremony during the 75th Session of the WMO Executive Council, which will be held in Switzerland in June 2022.

“It is my great honor and pleasure to win the WMO IMO Prize,” said Prof. KANG. “I have been striving to develop climate research and climate prediction technology in Korea. But, there is still a long way to go. As a climatologist, I will be committed to advancing climate change research and fostering the next generation.”