Major award for global climate change scientist

The ability of a world-renowned ocean scientist to inform the media and the wider community about his work has won him a prestigious international award.

Winthrop Professor Carlos M Duarte, Director of The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute, has been awarded the Special Prize of Scientific Communication of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology.

Professor Duarte led the Malaspina 2010 Expedition, a Spanish circumnavigation voyage that sailed the world’s oceans to examine the impacts of global change on ocean ecosystems and explore their biodiversity.

The citation of the foundation’s jury states: “Professor Duarte’s outreach efforts through the Malaspina Expedition have provided a wealth of information to journalists and media, and he is a reference person to inform the public on global change issues and its effects in the Arctic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and seagrass meadows.

“Professor Duarte’s frequent contributions to different media are remarkable in the independence and rigour of his thought and arguments, which promote public debate on the role of science in society.”

Professor Duarte has received many other honours for his work, including the National Science Award of Spain (2007) and the King James I Award for Research on Environmental Protection (2009). In 2009, he also received the Silver Medal Cross of Merit from the Guardia Civil, Spain, for his service to environmental protection.