Sybil Seitzinger, executive director of the University of Victoria (UVic)-led Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), has been nominated to deliver the prestigious Harald Ulrik Sverdrup Lecture later this week at the Ocean Sciences Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Portland, Oregon.
The Sverdrup Lecturer is selected for exemplifying the spirit of geophysicist Harald Sverdrup’s work with outstanding contributions to the basic science of the atmosphere and the oceans and/or unselfish service promoting cooperation in atmospheric and oceanographic research. Seitzinger’s nomination reflects her significant contributions to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and landmark contributions to nutrient cycling in a changing world. Seitzinger’s lecture will be on the topic of nitrogen sources, effects and fate from land to open ocean. The AGU is an international not-for-profit, scientific organization representing nearly 60,000 members in 139 countries.
“One key aspect of the scientific community I value deeply is collaboration—collaboration moves ideas forward,” said Seitzinger. “Many of the solutions to the world’s scientific challenges require global information sharing. I’ve had the privilege of working with highly-motivated teams of people around the world to advance scientific research of environmental problems. I’m honoured to be selected to give this year’s Sverdrup Lecture.”
Seitzinger is a steering committee member of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), a unit of the United Nations World Meterological Organization. In the past, GCOS primarily focused on observations to understand the physical climate system. As a member of a new task force, Seitzinger will explore observations for climate mitigation and adaption in support of the Paris Agreement. She also advises the BC government as a member of the Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council. Seitzinger joined PICS in 2015 from her position as executive director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) based in Stockholm, Sweden. Prior to that, she was director of the Rutgers/NOAA Cooperative Marine Education and Research Program and visiting professor at Rutgers University in the US. She served as president of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography from 2006 to 2010.
PICS is an independent, policy- and technology-neutral, research and knowledge network focused on developing climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions. A four-university organization that includes UVic, Simon Fraser, University of Northern British Columbia and University of British Columbia, PICS interacts with university researchers, policymakers, industry, communities and other stakeholders in the development of climate solutions. PICS was created by a BC government endowment in 2008.
Media contact: Robyn Meyer (PICS Senior Communications Officer) at 250-588-4053 or picscomm@uvic.ca
