Penn State Professor Honored with National Medal of Science for Groundbreaking Climate Research

Dr. Richard Alley, a leading geoscientist and professor at Penn State, recently received the National Medal of Science. This award is the highest honor in the U.S. for outstanding achievements in science and engineering.

Dr. Alley’s research focuses on ice cores taken from Greenland and Antarctica, which are two miles thick. These ice layers act like a history book for our planet’s climate.

As he puts it, “You can read a history of climate written in the layers of the ice.” His work allows us to understand how and why our climate changes over time. He studies the effects of these changes on both the atmosphere and living organisms.

By analyzing the different layers of ice, Dr. Alley has uncovered important features that can trigger sudden climate shifts. He often discusses how the sun influences these changes; it shines in the summer and not in winter, which alters the snow’s properties, including its chemical and electrical characteristics.

Dr. Alley’s important findings have had a significant impact on Earth science and global climate policy. He was honored at a ceremony in the White House, where he joined 13 other distinguished scientists in receiving this medal. Alley is the fifth member of the Penn State community to earn this esteemed award.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi praised Dr. Alley, stating, “He embodies what it means to be an exceptional scientist.” Alley also expressed his gratitude to the faculty and students who contributed to his research.

For more details, you can read an article about Dr. Alley’s achievement here.