Sara Pryor, a leading researcher in wind energy, was named the Outstanding Accomplishments in Science and Public Policy Award in a ceremony Nov. 5 celebrating research, extension and staff excellence at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Pryor is professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Her projects to harness the power of wind include the development of computational tools to predict annual electricity output from wind farms and a collaboration to create the world’s most-detailed wind maps. The ambitious project in Portugal requires massive instrumentation and simulations to measure how wind and turbulence behave in complex, mountainous terrain.
"Sara’s research to develop wind energy has been described as utterly transformative. Her work embodies the college’s vision to change the world one idea at a time," said Boor.
Pryor was lauded for her highly collaborative approach. Her research with colleagues in the College of Engineering on offshore wind resources and wind turbines is at the forefront of sustainable energy development, noted Boor.
In 2014, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society, recognized Pryor's work by electing her a fellow.
This year, Pryor is one of three Cornell professors to help lead a national wind research consortium. The project earned $18.5 million in federal funding to enhance the U.S. wind-energy economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
► Meet all of our 2018 Research, Extension and Staff Award winners
