10 January, 2025 News stories

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has awarded the 2025 Chapman Medal to Dr Nigel Meredith for his world leading and transformative research on plasma waves in magnetospheric physics. The announcement was made at the Ordinary Meeting of the Society held today (10 January 2025).  

The Chapman Medal is awarded for investigations of outstanding merit in the science of the Sun, space and planetary environments or solar-terrestrial physics. Dr Meredith, a Space Weather Research Scientist at British Antarctic Survey, was recognised for his transformative surveys of plasma waves and wave-particle interactions in Earth’s radiation belts, which have had a significant impact on the fields of modelling and space weather forecasting.  

One of Dr Meredith’s key findings is that geomagnetic substorms can temporarily boost the power of whistler mode chorus waves, significantly accelerating and removing electrons from the radiation belts. His extensive studies of these and other wave types have become essential to many of the leading models used to understand and predict radiation belt behaviour, including those used in space weather forecasting. 

In addition, his groundbreaking work on assessing the risks spacecraft face during extreme space weather events has had a major influence, serving as a key reference for space weather preparedness strategies in both the UK and US.  

Dr Nigel Meredith said:

“I am both delighted and deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Royal Astronomical Society. The research and outreach on which this award is based is the result of many successful collaborations with colleagues and friends from around the globe. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one and, in particular, my nominators for putting me forward for this medal.”

A man standing in front of a sign
Nigel Meredith at the launch weekend of Our Place in Space.

Each year the RAS recognises significant achievement in the fields of astronomy and geophysics through a number of awards, medals and prizes, encompassing different types of talent from research to education and outreach.  

Alongside his achievements in research, the citation for the Chapman Medal paid tribute to Dr Meredith’s significant work on public outreach through the innovative Sounds of Space Project. Using electromagnetic wave data captured by spacecraft and the VLF receiver at the BAS Halley VI Research Station in Antarctica, Dr Meredith has worked with a range of artists to create new music collaborations inspired by and using these unique recordings. All of the Sounds of Space Project albums can be found on Bandcamp.