Steven Sherwood

Professor Steven Sherwood is a leading climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, holding the rank of Professor in the Climate Change Research Centre. He contributes to the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes through research programs on Attribution and Risk, and Weather and Climate Interactions.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1987)
• Master of Science in Engineering Physics, University of California (1991)
• PhD in Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California (1995)

Research Interests focus on moisture-related atmospheric processes, climate sensitivity, convective feedback mechanisms, and human tolerance to heat stress. His work bridges observational analysis (e.g., weather balloon data), numerical modeling (cloud dynamics, wind gusts), and policy-relevant assessments (IPCC, World Climate Research Programme).

Recent Research Trends highlight applications of artificial intelligence for climate downscaling, modeling tipping points in Earth systems, analyzing hail and wind hazards under climate change, and studying cloud albedo biases in high-latitude oceans.

Scientific Awards

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2002)
• Clarence Leroy Meisinger Award, American Meteorological Society (2005)
• Eureka Prize Finalist (2014)
• ARC Laureate Fellowship (2015–2020)

Leadership and Collaboration includes serving as a Lead Author for the IPCC 5th Assessment Report on Clouds and Aerosols, chairing the World Climate Research Programme’s Safe Landing Climates Lighthouse, and contributing to international climate sensitivity assessments. He also sits on the Science journal review board.