• A Prize for Innovation in Meteorology

    The goal of this prize competition is to present an idea that is innovative, practical, realizable and brings Meteorology forward in society.

    Learn more

  • 15 September 2026

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    Start of application submission

  • 10 March 2027

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    Deadline for application submission

  • End of June 2027

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    Decision on finalists

  • 05-10 September 2027

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    Prize awarded to the winner

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A substantial part of the national gross product in many countries is weather dependent. National weather services and the private sector have been innovative for more than a century to make better use of our meteorological knowledge. However, large gains are still to be made and the prize encourages individuals and groups to propose ideas how meteorology in a practical way can further move society forward. Meteorology can make society safer, can deliver costs savings, and improve the lives of large groups of people.

Harry Otten Prize 2025 awarded to Assaf Shmuel for his idea “Listening to the Forest: AI-Driven Meteo-Acoustic Early Warning System for Wildfire Detection”

The Harry Otten Prize for Innovation in Meteorology has been awarded for the seventh time. During the Annual Meeting of the European Meteorological Society currently taking place in Ljubljana, the jury announced that Assaf Shmuel (Weizmann Institute of Science) has won the first prize of 25,000 Euro. His idea, Listening to the Forest: AI-Driven Meteo-Acoustic Early Warning System for Wildfire Detection, entails that that fire has unique sounds, such as the crackle of embers or the snap of dry wood, which can be detected by AI-enhanced acoustic sensors. The system represents a new class of meteorological sensors that couple atmospheric conditions with AI-driven acoustic sensing to detect ignition events and dynamically assess fire risk. By deploying a network of low-cost acoustic sensors in wildfire-prone areas, this system can significantly enhance early detection capabilities.

Previous awardees

On September 8th 2025 the Harry Otten Prize, worth €25,000 has been awarded for the seventh time. The winner is Assaf Shmuel (Weizmann Institute of Science ) for the idea “Listening to the Forest: AI-Driven Meteo-Acoustic Early Warning System for Wildfire Detection”. The next Harry Otten Prize will be awarded at the EMS Annual Meeting in 2027 in Krakow. The next round will open for submissions on 15 September 2026.

Application

To apply click on this link: application procedure. It is easy and helps you to provide all necessary information. The exact rules of the contest and additional guidance can also be found on this site.