Professor Peter Wadhams

Professor of Ocean Physics at Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), University of Cambridge

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Professor of Ocean Physics, and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge

Peter Wadhams Sc.D. is Professor of Ocean Physics, and is an oceanographer and glaciologist involved in polar oceanographic and sea ice research and concerned with climate change processes in the polar regions. He is also an associate professor at the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche in France, run by the Université Pierre et Marie Curie. He leads the Polar Ocean Physics group studying the effects of global warming on sea ice, icebergs and the polar oceans. This involves work in the Arctic and Antarctic from nuclear submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), icebreakers, aircraft and drifting ice camps. He has led over 40 polar field expeditions.

Professor Wadhams' first degree was a BA (Hons.) in Physics at Churchill College, University of Cambridge. While at college he was an assistant on the "Hudson-70" Expedition, an 11-month Canadian cruise which accomplished the first circumnavigation of the Americas. This included multidisciplinary oceanographic and marine geophysical work in South Atlantic, Antarctic, Chilean fjords, S and N Pacific, Beaufort Sea and NW Passage. Later he was Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge (1987-92) before moving to his present position. He has been awarded the Polar Medal by HM the Queen, and the Italgas Prize for Environmental Sciences. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, and a Member of the Finnish Academy.

  • 4 February 2016

    2016 Christ's College Climate Seminars

    Professor Charles Kennel returns to Cambridge to present a series of seminars, 'Bending the Curve on Climate', exploring practical solutions to climate problems in the wake of Paris 2015.

  • 31 October 2011, 5pm

    The first chief scientific adviser in the foreign office

    The first Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was appointed in 1782. It took another 227 years for the Foreign Office to appoint its first Chief Scientific Adviser. We are delighted that CSaP's sixth Distinguished Lecture will be given by the first holder of this historic post, Professor David Clary FRS.

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