University of Reading atmospheric and oceanic sciences Prof Sue Grimmond has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society, for her pioneering research on the interactions between urban environments and the atmosphere, which has significantly advanced the field of urban climatology.
She is one of just 90 outstanding researchers from across the world, elected to join the Royal Society — the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences — as recognition for their substantial contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge.
Prof Grimmond was humbled by the recognition, but also "very honoured".
"It reflects the enormous contributions from my research group and everyone I have collaborated with during my career, and who have supported and inspired this work."
After studying physical geography and graduating with a Bachelor of Sciences degree at the University of Otago in 1980, she completed her Master of Sciences and PhD in climatology and hydrology at the University of British Columbia, in Canada, where she studied the movement of water vapour in towns and cities.
She then worked at Indiana University, in the United States, and King’s College, in London, before joining the University of Reading in 2013.
At Reading, she holds the position of Met Office joint chair, building links between academic research and weather forecasters.
Prof Grimmond is the author of more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, focusing on urban climate, land-surface modelling and hydroclimatology, and she has pioneered understanding about the exchange of heat and moisture between the atmosphere and urban surfaces, such as buildings and roads.
As well as leading research projects, she has served as president of the International Association for Urban Climate, she was awarded a European Meteorological Society (EMS) Silver Medal in 2024 for her work in urban meteorology, and was the first female recipient of the Symons Gold Medal in 2020 for her outstanding work in urban climatology.
