AMS honors Dr. Amy Bower with 2025 Henry Stommel Research Medal

Woods Hole, Mass – The 2025 Henry Stommel Research Medal is being presented to Dr. Amy Bower, a Senior Scientist in the Physical Oceanography Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). This is the highest honor the American Meteorological Society (AMS) presents to oceanographers. The award is granted to researchers in recognition of outstanding contributions to the advancement and understanding of the dynamics and physics of the ocean.

Bower was selected for the award for forging an enhanced understanding of the ocean’s circulation, dynamics of deep flow pathways, and the meridional overturning. Her primary research interests are aimed at understanding the structure and dynamics of the most energetic features of the deep circulation, like boundary currents and deep mesoscale eddies. These components of the deep ocean circulation have an important role in transporting heat, salt, and other water properties long distances in the ocean. The pathways of these currents and eddies are hard to observe because they often have no expression at the sea surface.

“One of our key priorities at AMS is to recognize the work of our global weather, water, and climate enterprise for the impact they have on scientific advancement and public safety, as well as on economic growth for all communities,” said Awards Oversight Committee Chair and AMS Past President Brad Colman. “This year’s AMS honorees have done incredibly significant work. For example, they warned the public of dangerous wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma; contributed to our understanding of atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic dynamics, including climate change; refined modeling and forecasting techniques; and helped make our field more accessible and equitable.”

WHOI's Amy Bower and research associate Dave Fisichella hold a RAFOS float. RAFOS floats are designed to take measurements of temperature, salinity, and pressure in varied layers of ocean water. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

In addition to her research, Bower is an active leader in the marine science community including serving as a committee member for the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Ocean Studies Board. She has also served on a variety of local, national, and international committees and panels. Legally blind for over 30 years, Bower has learned to use several adaptive technologies to continue her research and is a major advocate for accessibility in STEM. In addition to being a role model, she regularly partners with organizations like Perkins School for the Blind, to educate blind and low-vision students on adaptive technologies such as video magnifiers for enlarging text and graphics, scanners for converting print into speech, and computer screen readers to access data and text.

“Receiving this medal is such an honor. Henry Stommel’s research and advocacy for ocean observations continues to motivate me,” Bower said. “I’m also incredibly grateful for the many productive collaborations with fellow oceanographers, engineers and technicians who have made critical contributions to our discoveries in ocean circulation.”

Recipients of the Henry Stommel Research Medal go through a nomination process and are recommended by AMS’ Oceanographic Research Awards Committee. Henry Stommel joined WHOI as a physical oceanographer in 1944, less than 15 years after the institution was founded. His work advanced theories about global ocean circulation patterns and the behavior of the Gulf Stream that form the basis of physical oceanography today. Students and colleagues referred to him as one of the most important physical oceanographers of all time.

A full list of 2025 AMS award recipients can be found on their website. They will be honored at the 105th AMS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, January 12-16, 2025.

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About the American Meteorological Society

The American Meteorological Society advances the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society. Founded in 1919, AMS has a membership of around 12,000 professionals, students, and weather enthusiasts. AMS publishes 12 atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic science journals—in print and online; sponsors more than 12 conferences annually; and offers numerous programs and services. Visit us at https://www.ametsoc.org

About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in basic and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu