2024 Emerging Leaders Prize - Highly Commended, £10,000: Dr Eunice Lo, Research Fellow, University of Bristol

Dr Eunice Lo is investigating the human health impacts of extreme weather events, both now and in the future, under different climate change scenarios. Her research has provided important scientific evidence for climate change adaptation and mitigation, in the UK and abroad.

Dr Lo has shown that up to thousands of excess deaths in England are associated with heatwaves every year, and that even more deaths are associated with cold. Her work has highlighted the serious consequences of extreme temperatures to UK policymakers. It has also improved the way that our public health agency monitors temperature-related deaths in the national Adverse Weather and Health Plan.

Furthermore, Dr Lo has estimated the number of future heatwave deaths that will be avoided in the United States, if global warming targets are met. Dr Lo’s future heat-mortality projections have been used in a historic climate court case, where the judge described the scientific evidence as 'indisputable'. Her research has received widespread media coverage.

Now, leading an inter-disciplinary team to understand extreme weather impacts on illnesses and aspects of daily life, Dr Lo will use the ELP prize money to expand her collaborative network of health researchers, data providers, and policymakers. She will also strengthen her expertise through additional training.