European Meteorological Society

European Meteorological Society
Name	European Meteorological Society
Abbreviation	EMS
Formation	1999
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Zurich
Region served	Europe
Field	Meteorology, Atmospheric sciences

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European Meteorological Society

The European Meteorological Society is a learned society dedicated to meteorology and atmospheric sciences in Europe, fostering collaboration among researchers, operational services, and educators. It operates across national and transnational institutions such as the World Meteorological Organization, European Commission, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, European Space Agency, and interacts with agencies like the Met Office, Météo-France, and Deutscher Wetterdienst. The Society engages with academic bodies including University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, University of Reading, and research centers such as the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, CNRS, and Institute of Atmospheric Physics (Czech Academy of Sciences).

History

Founded near the turn of the 21st century, the Society emerged from collaborations among national meteorological services exemplified by Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Serviço Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (Iceland), and regional networks like EUMETSAT and COST. Early meetings connected researchers from universities such as University of Cambridge, Utrecht University, University of Helsinki, and Sorbonne University with operational forecasters from Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Finnish Meteorological Institute, and AEMET. Influential conferences and workshops referenced work presented at gatherings associated with American Meteorological Society, Royal Meteorological Society, and European Geosciences Union. Over successive presidencies and steering committees including figures associated with Paul Emile Victor Polar Institute, ZAMG, and KNMI, the Society expanded its remit to include outreach to bodies like UNESCO and European Environment Agency.

Governance features a council and executive board with representation from national organizations such as Met Éireann, MeteoSwiss, SMHI, and AEMET. The structure mirrors governance models found at Royal Society, Académie des sciences (France), and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, with committees overseeing variants of science policy, education, and diversity similar to committees at European Research Council and European Science Foundation. Legal registration and administrative headquarters have been associated with entities in Switzerland and Belgium, coordinating with legal advisors experienced with European Patent Office and Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs when engaging in partnerships with organizations like World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Membership spans individual scientists, national services, and learned societies including Royal Meteorological Society, Deutsche Meteorologische Gesellschaft, Polish Meteorological Society, Hellenic Meteorological Society, and Nordic Meteorological Society. Affiliated institutions include university departments at University of Vienna, University of Warsaw, University of Lisbon, and research institutes like Met Office Hadley Centre, ECMWF, AEMET, and DWD. The Society maintains links with organizations oriented to specialized fields such as European Severe Storms Laboratory, European Flood Awareness System, and networks like COST Action groups, while engaging early-career networks similar to Young Earth Scientists and collaborations with professional bodies like International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences.

The Society organizes peer-reviewed publications and newsletters equivalent to journals published by Cambridge University Press, Springer Nature, Elsevier, and collaborates with editorial boards drawing members from Nature Geoscience, Journal of Climate, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, and Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Activities include coordinating training courses with providers such as ECMWF Training, EUMETSAT Training, and summer schools hosted at universities like University of Reading, Université Grenoble Alpes, and ETH Zurich. Outreach programs partner with cultural institutions like Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia and science festivals such as Euroscience Open Forum, while producing technical reports used by Copernicus Climate Change Service, IPCC, and European Environment Agency.

The Society administers awards and prizes mirroring honors from International Meteorological Organization Prize, Bjerknes Medal, Fridtjof Nansen Prize, and national awards from Royal Meteorological Society awards and German Meteorological Society awards. Recipients have included researchers affiliated with Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, NOAA, University of Cambridge, Princeton University, and University of Colorado Boulder. The Society’s recognition amplifies careers of scientists who later receive accolades from bodies like European Research Council Grants, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and Wolf Prize in Physics.

Annual assemblies and congresses bring together delegates from European Geosciences Union General Assembly, American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, World Climate Research Programme, and regional meetings hosted in cities such as Paris, Geneva, Lisbon, Vienna, and Tallinn. The Society co-sponsors topical sessions with institutions like ECMWF, EUMETSAT, Copernicus, and organizes workshops paralleling events at World Weather Open Science Conference and IPCC Lead Author Meetings. Training symposia and early-career forums are held alongside exhibitions featuring vendors such as Vaisala, Raytheon Technologies, and Leonardo S.p.A..