Prof Colin O'Dowd (right) receives his award from Sir Peter Knight, president of the Institute of Physics
Prof Colin O’Dowd from NUI Galway and Prof Colin Latimer from Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) have both been presented with prizes at the Institute of Physics (IOP) annual awards in London.
At the awards ceremony last Wednesday, O’Dowd, from the School of Physics at NUI Galway, received the 2012 Appleton medal and prize for his contributions to research in atmospheric aerosol-cloud-climate interactions.
O’Dowd, who is director of the Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies at the university, received the award from the IOP for his contributions to research, particularly in the formation and transformation of aerosols from natural systems. According to the IOP, his research is used extensively to improve climate and air pollution-prediction models.
Latimer, from QUB, received the Phillips award in recognition of his service to the IOP.
Latimer has been professor of physics at QUB since 1997, while he has also taught at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and at Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan.
His research interests are in the areas of atomic and molecular processes and interactions.
Latimer has served in many roles with the IOP, including acting as treasurer of the institute and chair of the Atomic and Molecular Interaction group and the Institute of Physics in Ireland (1980-89).
Prof Colin Latimer (right) receives his award from Sir Peter Knight, president of the Institute of Physics
