Public Service Awards of Excellence - 2008

(Awards were presented during Public Service Week in mid-June 2008)

   
(left) Paul Joe and Ray Desjardins / (right) Paul Joe, George Robertson and Ray Desjardins.

Paul and Ray were presented with the Public Service Award of Excellence for their pioneering research in Doppler weather radar and in atmospheric impacts on agriculture, respectively.

Citation Information (courtesy of the CMOS Bulletin and George W. Robertson)
During the afternoon of June 16, 2008 there was a presentation of the Public Service Awards of Excellence at the Hilton Lac Leamy Hotel and Conference Centre in Gatineau, Québec.  Among the 40 recipients, two CMOS members received awards.  CMOS members would like to congratulate Dr. Raymond Desjardins and Dr. Paul Joe on receiving this coveted award and wish them well in their future endeavours.

Dr. Desjardins is a pioneer and a leading researcher of the impact of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions.  Among other things, his work has helped establish the scientific basis for today’s main network of sites for measuring carbon dioxide and water vapour exchange in Canada, the United States and Europe.  He spearheaded many research projects that have not only served to advance knowledge, but also enabled Canada to play a leading role in international efforts to fight climatic change.  Over the past 45 years, Dr. Desjardins has passed on to his colleagues his enthusiasm and determination to understand and learn agriculture’s impact on the atmosphere.  Throughout his career he has been a mentor to many young Canadians and foreign researchers.  Dr. Desjardins is admired for his originality, his influence and the quality of his research.

Dr. Joe’s innovations have placed Canada as a world leader in using radar systems for determining and predicting highimpact and severe weather. Dr. Joe is a Doppler Radar Scientist.  He led the National Radar Science Program at Environment Canada, overseeing the development of a national radar network made up of single radar stations spread across the country.  This revolutionized the way forecasters observe, detect and predict severe and hazardous weather, and issue advance warnings to Canadians about such events.  He is recognized internationally for his innovative work in this field.  He has also dedicated an enormous amount of time and effort to training others from Canada and elsewhere in the use of the doppler radar network and in evaluating and applying the new knowledge so gained about weather systems.  As an example of the modern application of doppler weather radar knowledge, Dr. Joe is heavily involved in the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Weather Forecast Demonstration Project.

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