Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor Marshall Shepherd will receive the 2018 Helmut E. Landsberg Award from the American Meteorological Society. The award, which recognizes major advances in understanding urban impacts on rainfall climatology and for assessing the socio-economic value of urban precipitation forecasts, will be presented to Shepherd Jan. 10 at the AMS Awards banquet.
“This award speaks to Dr. Shepherd’s level of influence in his field and the value of his research to the world,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “The University of Georgia is very proud of this significant accomplishment.”
Professor of geography and director of UGA’s atmospheric sciences program, Shepherd is a leading international expert in weather, climate and remote sensing. In addition to his work in the classroom and published scholarship, Shepherd serves as host of The Weather Channel’s Sunday talk show Weather Geeks and is a contributor to Forbes Magazine. He served as president of the American Meteorological Society in 2013.
“To be recognized by peers with one of the more significant awards in my field is particularly humbling and affirms that our body of work on how urbanization impacts weather and climate is having an impact,” Shepherd said. “The Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professorship and sustained funding from NASA have enabled us to build a world-class research group on urban weather and climate at the University of Georgia. We are now attracting or retaining some of the best and brightest graduate students because of our work.”
Helmut Erich Landsberg was a noted and influential climatologist and an important figure in meteorology and atmospheric science in education, public service and administration. The Landsberg Award recognizes contributions to the fields of urban meteorology, climatology or hydrology that provide an improved understanding of atmospheric processes in urban environments, enhanced urban meteorological or air quality forecasting capabilities or advances in identifying and quantifying beneficial and adverse impacts in urban areas.
“This significant honor underscores the pace-setting nature of Dr. Shepherd’s scholarship,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. “He is a leader in his field, conducting research with implications for health, safety and the economy while also educating students on campus and advancing the public’s understanding and appreciation of science.”
