This year’s medallists are two researchers whose work contributes to both scientific breakthroughs and important discussions in public debate. The medals will be presented at the University’s annual academic ceremony on 23 January 2026.
Read more about the annual academic ceremony: Lund University’s annual academic ceremony 2026 (in Swedish).
Markku Rummukainen – climate scientist with a global influence
Markku Rummukainen is recognised for his excellent climate research and his commitment to national and international organisations working to understand and deal with climate change – one of the most burning issues of our age. By awarding him the Silver Medal, the University hopes to highlight the work of a researcher who has not only delivered valuable scientific insights but also worked to ensure that the research is deployed in solutions to one of today’s greatest challenges.
As well as his academic achievements, Markku Rummukainen has played a significant role in public debate and in politics. He has been a member of the Swedish Climate Policy Council, served as Sweden’s representative in the UN’s IPCC climate panel and played an active role in UN climate negotiations. He is often consulted as an expert on climate policy issues, both nationally and internationally, making him a key voice in the work for a sustainable future.
Markku Rummukainen, who was pleasantly surprised by news of the award, says that the most important issue he is currently working on is how forests can deliver climate benefits.
“It concerns the interface between forests and the climate. The development of society’s climate work has given rise to new issues and the question of how society deals with them, including policy aspects. It might, for example, be about forests’ capacity as carbon sinks, the use of wood products from forests and related side benefits and conflicting interests.”
When asked what he is particularly proud of in his career to date, he replies:
“I spearheaded the early efforts to establish advanced climate modeling as a field of research in Sweden in the early 2000s. That led to a great deal of knowledge dissemination, enabled studies of climate effects, and provided a basis for strategies and decisions at several levels. It continues to provide benefits within research and beyond.”
Markku Rummukainen has been a professor of Climatology at Lund University since 2011. His research concerns advanced climate and Earth system models, among other things.
Read more about: Markku Rummukainen | Research portal
Cecilia Jarlskog - international leader in particle physics
Cecilia Jarlskog is recognised as an international leader among theoretical particle physicists. Her research on electroweak interactions and CP symmetry breaking, including the influential Jarlskog invariant, is fundamental to understanding why the universe looks the way it does.
Cecilia Jarlskog has been a professor of mathematical mhysics at Lund University since 1994. She has played a central role in international research, including as chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics from 1989 to 2000 and as an advisor at CERN.
With this medal, the University wishes to honour a researcher who has contributed at the highest international level to developing our knowledge of the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
Read more about: Cecilia Jarlskog | Research portal