Services to Meteorology, Defence Science and Technology, as well as Climate Science recognised in New Year Honours for two leading Met Office staff.
The Met Office is celebrating the accomplishments of two of its leaders in the New Year Honours with recognition of their exemplary leadership and achievements across science and technology.
Professor Penny Endersby CBE
Professor Penny Endersby, Met Office Chief Executive, who has been awarded a CBE for her services to Meteorology, Defence Science and Technology, has been recognised for her contribution to the advancement of science and technology both while at the Met Office and previously in her career at Defence Science and Technology Lab (Dstl) leading the organisation’s cyber and information division.
As the first female Chief Executive at the Met Office, she has led the organisation to expand the horizons, reach and development of its science, technology and life-saving services, driving forward positive change and direction in the organisation, while maintaining a keen focus on business delivery to customers. Penny is a strong advocate for innovation and academic collaboration in science both across the UK and globally, with a real passion for STEM education and outreach, and diversity in science.
Rob Woodward, Met Office Chair said: “Penny is a wonderful role model for female STEM orientated specialists. She has devoted her career to the delivery of high impact science in her public service roles and is deservedly recognised by this honour.”
Professor Endersby CBE said: “The Met Office is a fantastic organisation, and leading it is a joy and a privilege. It is a huge honour to be recognised for my work here. Every achievement has been by standing on the shoulders of giants: the superbly talented and dedicated team of Met Office staff who work round the clock to create the weather and climate predictions which help you make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.”
Professor Peter Stott MBE
Professor Peter Stott, Met Office Climate Science Fellow, has been awarded an MBE for services to Climate Science and International Climate Action, for his work at the Met Office and Exeter University.
Peter has been a significant contributor to the progression of Climate Science nationally and globally, being the first to link an individual weather event to climate change (the 2003 European heatwave). He is seen as a pioneer in establishing the scientific case for action on climate change, with his crucial attribution work providing evidence and advice to Governments and the public, supporting policy making and decisions.
Peter has played a major role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a leading public role in rebutting climate denial and defending the integrity of climate science. Peter’s book countering the narrative of climate denial, was recently shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Christopher Bland Prize and for the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize. He is passionate and creative about climate science communications, working extensively in the media as well as being a mentor to encourage young scientists in their climate communications.
Stephen Belcher, Met Office Chief Scientist, said: “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of an honour than Peter. By developing event attribution, he has made a substantial contribution to the scientific case that human activities are causing climate change. Many congratulations!”
Professor Peter Stott MBE said: “I am delighted and immensely proud to have received this honour recognising my work researching and communicating the causes and nature of climate change. I have been privileged to collaborate with many inspiring colleagues from the Met Office, Exeter University and internationally, including with the International Detection and Attribution Group.
“I am also very grateful to the people who have shared my passion for storytelling and bringing our vital findings to a wider public including those who helped bring my book Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial to publication. My interest in bringing the arts and climate science together stems from the pioneering ideas of my wife, artist and musician Pierrette Thomet Stott. As well as our inter-disciplinary collaborations, I owe her huge thanks for her wonderful support throughout my career.”
Detailed biographies
Professor Penny Endersby CBE
Professor Penny Endersby is an outstanding government scientist and inspirational leader who has made significant contributions to the delivery of life-saving science and services in defence and security and weather and climate, both in the UK and internationally. She was appointed as Chief Executive at the Met Office in 2018, the first woman to fill that role. Prior to joining the Met Office, she had a distinguished career at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, where she led the organisation’s cyber and information division and became acting Chief Technical Officer.
She has an impressive track record of delivering improvements in complex organisations needing change. At the Met Office she has set out a clear strategic direction so that every employee understands how their work contributes to the Met Office’s purpose and vision. She supports the delivery of her strategy through inspirational leadership, creating the conditions wherein scientists and scientific excellence can thrive, while maintaining a keen focus on business delivery to customers. Her skills as a global leader in weather and climate science have been recognised through her recent appointment as President of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Through her leadership she has helped the Met Office embrace new technologies and developments in science, enabling the organisation to stay at the forefront of weather and climate science. She has demonstrated exceptional commitment to enriching weather and climate science by leading unprecedented investment in the Met Office’s IT systems, which brings enormous potential for driving innovation and academic collaboration in science both within the UK and internationally.
She has demonstrated a long-term commitment to education and the development of world-class scientists. Under her leadership, the Met Office has developed a vibrant STEM education outreach programme and is actively involved in initiatives to build the South West region’s science and technology skills for the future, developing apprenticeship schemes with the University of Exeter and Exeter College, and participating as an employer partner in The South-West Institute of Technology. Penny holds visiting professorships at both Southampton and Exeter Universities.
She strongly promotes diversity in science. She is mindful and passionate about equality of all varieties and is committed to be seen as an ally in the workplace for under-represented groups, personally sponsoring the Met Office’s EM-Power network for ethnic minority staff.
Her outstanding achievements have been recognised through external awards. For example, she was awarded the 2021 Society Medal by the British Computer Society in recognition of her outstanding contribution to making digital technology good for society and the environment. She was elected an Honorary Fellow by Institute of Physics in 2021, recognising her inspirational leadership and exceptional contribution to the advancement of physics.
Voluntary – Independent chair of Dartmoor National Park Steering Group, Canon Scientist Exeter Cathedral
Professor Peter Stott
Peter Stott is a Science Fellow in Climate Attribution at the Met Office and Professor in Detection and Attribution at the University of Exeter. He has made a significant national and international contribution to the development of climate science and to establishing and supporting the scientific case for action on climate change, marking him out among his peers.
He is globally recognised as a pioneer and leader of scientific research in the attribution of climate change and has built a leading research group at the Met Office and partner universities. He led the first study to link an individual weather event (the 2003 European heatwave) to human induced climate change. in 2012 he launched a highly influential annual report explaining extreme events of the previous year from a climate perspective.
He has published 200 papers with over 20,000 citations, reflecting the importance of his research to the scientific community. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather-related events linked to climate change, climate attribution is an important area of science. His work is crucial to the Met Office, supporting the evidence and advice it provides to inform Government’s policy development and decision making around Net Zero, as well the delivery of UK Government funded work to strengthen the weather and climate resilience of vulnerable communities.
He has played a major role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supporting international climate action. He has led contributions to 3 IPCC Assessment Reports, providing definitive evidence to 195 member governments and supporting HMG negotiations on climate change at COP meetings.
He plays a leading public role in rebutting climate denial and defending the integrity of climate science. He embarked on this when climate change was the subject of fierce criticism, acting selflessly in knowledge of the personal and reputational risks he faced. He has written an acclaimed book to counter the narrative of climate denial, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Christopher Bland Prize and for the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize.
He has played an outstanding and innovative role in the communication of climate science. He has worked extensively in the media and as a mentor to young scientists wanting to act in the media. He is passionate about arts-based storytelling and has worked with teams internationally to engage and inspire audiences at international climate negotiations, in schools and colleges, and in local communities in the UK and beyond.
