A team, including Pakistani academic Dr Zubair Khalid, has received the ‘Nobel Prize for super-computing’ for their climate predictive modelling.
The Gordon Bell Prize annually recognizes exceptional high-performance computing achievements and contributions to climate crisis solutions.
Dr Khalid, an associate professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), is the first Pakistani awarded this honour.
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) honoured the team for their project titled “Boosting Earth System Model Outputs and Saving PetaBytes in Their Storage Using Exascale Climate Emulators.”
Dr Khalid described their project as a ‘smart climate model’ that outperforms traditional models, which are slow and generate hard-to-manage data.
“Our emulator acts like a compact, intelligent version of traditional models,” he explained, noting it also cuts the energy use in climate modelling.
“Rather than full simulations, it quickly and accurately predicts climate patterns with less data and sophisticated algorithms.”
Dr. Khalid mentioned that as extreme weather becomes more common, traditional models fail to deliver precise, localized forecasts.
“The ExaScale Climate Emulator significantly boosts forecasting accuracy and speed, enabling timely, precise predictions of floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves.”
It also offers detailed climate data, aiding disaster preparedness in smaller communities often ignored by larger models.
The tool helps farmers tailor planting and irrigation based on precise local climate forecasts.
Dr. Khalid highlighted the emulator’s potential to make a real difference in Pakistan by enhancing practical climate solutions that safeguard lives and livelihoods.
He shared that his role involved integrating spatial data analysis and modelling tools for faster, more accurate emulation.
This award is an incredibly humbling honour and a significant representation of Pakistan on a global stage.
He hopes this accolade inspires young Pakistani scientists to engage in research that can impact globally.
