Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Awards

The Executive Council established the Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for an Outstanding Research Paper on Instruments and Methods of Observation in 1985 and the Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for the Development and Implementation of Instruments and Methods of Observation in 2004.

This 2nd award focuses mainly on encouraging instrument work in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Both Awards are granted on a biennial basis. 

The Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Awards consist of:

• A medal
• A sum of US$ 10 000
• A diploma

Guidelines for Dr. VILHO VÄISÄLÄ AWARD for an Outstanding Research Paper on Instruments and Methods of Observation

1.  Purpose 

The purpose of the Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for an Outstanding Research Paper on Instruments and Methods of Observation is to encourage and stimulate interest in research in the field of instruments and methods of observation in support of WMO Programmes.

2.  Criteria for granting awards 

The award shall recognize an outstanding paper published in a scientific journal, or a summary of a successfully defended Ph.D. thesis for:

1. The significance of its topic;
2. The novelty of its ideas and methods;
3. The value of its results to WMO Programmes.

3.  Methods of submission

(a)   The Permanent Representatives of Members of WMO will be invited to submit to the Secretary-General not more than two nominations and the corresponding papers/reports for each award that were published during the 24-month period preceding the year in which the award is granted and that have not previously won an international prize, indicating the title of the award for which each submission is being made;

(b)   Papers/reports for each submission shall be provided in electronic format and in a WMO working language (original or translation). Submitters are strongly encouraged to provide these papers/reports in English. If that is not possible, they shall submit an extended précis in English to facilitate assessment of their merit.

4.  Method of selection 

(a)   The chair of the Standing Committee on Measurements, Instrumentation and Traceability (SC-MINT) of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM), in consultation with the president of INFCOM, invites three distinguished scientists in the field of instruments and methods of observation, who would serve as assessors for both awards;

(b)   For each award, each assessor should allot a mark to each paper, which should be in the range of 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest) and submit the evaluation to the Secretary-General. The evaluation should be based on the criteria defined above with equal weight being assigned to each of the three criteria mentioned under 1 and 2 above;

(c)    The final selection of the winner, or winners, for each award, is made by the Selection Committee established for this purpose by the Executive Council for a period of four years. The Committee consists of three members and, ex officio, the president of INFCOM;

(d)   The Executive Council Selection Committee may decide not to recommend an award if the papers/reports submitted are not of a sufficiently high standard.

5.  Nature of the award 

Each award consists of a diploma, a medal and a sum of US$ 10,000; the latter could be shared between co-authors. The award is granted on a biennial basis.

6.  Award ceremony 

The award ceremony shall normally take place during the conjoint WMO Technical Conference on Meteorological and Environmental Instruments and Methods of Observation and the exhibition of meteorological and environmental instruments, related equipment and services.

Guidelines for Dr. VILHO VÄISÄLÄ AWARD for the Development and Implementation of Instruments and Methods of Observation in Developing Countries

1.  Purpose 

The purpose of the Professor Dr Vilho Väisälä Award for the Development and Implementation of Instruments and Methods of Observation in Developing Countries is to encourage and stimulate capacity development in instruments and methods of observation for the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) in developing countries.

2.  Criteria for granting awards 

The award shall be made for an outstanding paper published in a scientific journal, or a significant technical report, a project report or a summary of a successfully defended Ph.D. or MSc. thesis for:

(i)    The significance of its contribution to the long-term stability and reliability of meteorological and related environmental observations in developing countries;

(ii)   The relevance to the observing systems in developing countries;

(iii)  The value of its results to, and their impact on, WMO Programmes and key priority areas.

3.  Methods of submission

(a)   The Permanent Representatives of Members of WMO will be invited to submit to the Secretary-General not more than two nominations and the corresponding papers/reports for each award that were published during the 24-month period preceding the year in which the award is granted and that have not previously won an international prize, indicating the title of the award for which each submission is being made;

(b)   Papers/reports for each submission shall be provided in electronic format and in a WMO working language (original or translation). Submitters are strongly encouraged to provide these papers/reports in English. If that is not possible, they shall submit an extended précis in English to facilitate assessment of their merit.

4.  Method of selection 

(a)   The chair of the Standing Committee on Measurements, Instrumentation and Traceability (SC-MINT) of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM), in consultation with the president of INFCOM, invites three distinguished scientists in the field of instruments and methods of observation, who would serve as assessors for both awards;

(b)   For each award, each assessor should allot a mark to each paper, which should be in the range of 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest) and submit the evaluation to the Secretary-General. The evaluation should be based on the criteria defined above with equal weight being assigned to each of the three criteria mentioned under 1 and 2 above;

(c)    The final selection of the winner, or winners, for each award, is made by the Selection Committee established for this purpose by the Executive Council for a period of four years. The Committee consists of three members and, ex officio, the president of INFCOM;

(d)   The Executive Council Selection Committee may decide not to recommend an award if the papers/reports submitted are not of a sufficiently high standard.

5.  Nature of the award 

Each award consists of a diploma, a medal and a sum of US$ 10,000; the latter could be shared between co-authors. The award is granted on a biennial basis.

6.  Award ceremony 

The award ceremony shall normally take place during the conjoint WMO Technical Conference on Meteorological and Environmental Instruments and Methods of Observation and the exhibition of meteorological and environmental instruments, related equipment and services.