The Cyprus Institute is pleased to announce that  Prof. Jonathan Williams, Adjunct Professor at The Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C), has been awarded the 2026 Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), in recognition of his leading, significant and sustained contributions to the understanding of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the outdoor and indoor atmosphere.

 

The Vilhelm Bjerknes Medal is awarded annually by the EGU to scientists who have made outstanding contributions to atmospheric sciences. Prof. Williams is recognised for his pioneering work on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and their role in atmospheric chemistry, air quality, and climate processes.

 

His research has significantly advanced understanding of how BVOCs are emitted and transformed through ecosystem-atmosphere interactions, including key studies over the Amazon rainforest. He has also contributed to major advances in atmospheric measurement techniques, including the development and application of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) for fast in situ VOC measurements, now widely used in the field.

 

Prof. Williams has a BSc and Ph.D. from the University of East Anglia, England and he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the NOAA Aeronomy laboratory in Boulder, USA. Alongside his role at The Cyprus Institute, Prof Williams acts as a Group leader in the Atmospheric Chemistry Department at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, specializing in measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. His research group investigates the chemical processes occurring indoors and how humans influence the indoor environment. He has participated in many international field campaigns on aircraft, ships and at ground stations. He is editor on several journals and recently co-authored the textbook “The atmospheric chemist/s companion.”

 

Upon receiving the award, Prof. Williams thanked The Cyprus Institute for its support and collaboration, highlighting his strong connection to the Institute’s research community.

 

The Cyprus Institute warmly congratulates Prof. Williams on this distinguished international recognition, which highlights his long-standing contributions to atmospheric chemistry and his impact on advancing the understanding of air quality and climate-relevant processes.