State Honours for ICTP Collaborator

Ivan Güttler, a climate scientist who has collaborated extensively with researchers at ICTP's Earth System Physics (ESP) section, was the recipient of the 2013 State Award for Young Scientists (Natural Sciences). The award, given by the Republic of Croatia, recognises Güttler's work in the investigation of the climate system using regional climate models and his impressive publication record.

Güttler, who graduated in meteorology from the University of Zagreb, worked with several members of ESP, including section head Filippo Giorgi, while completing his PhD. Güttler says that his visits to ICTP helped him to focus on his research topics and afforded him the opportunity to discuss and work with some of the best Earth System scientists.

At ICTP, Güttler mainly worked on the Regional climate model, RegCM. "This type of model is used to understand and simulate the climate system on a spatial scales relevant for human activities," says Güttler. "Climate models are important tools in exploring our capabilities on understanding the climate system," he adds. Most of Güttler's research so far has focused on evaluation, development and application of such models.

In the coming years, Güttler is looking to contribute to a national project in Croatia where RegCM will be used in simulating historical and future climate over Europe.

More information about Güttler's award is available in the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Services Website. (in Croatian).

More information about the RegCM is available on the ESP Webpage.