Var Limpasuvan, Kearns Palmetto Professor of applied physics and coastal and marine systems science at Coastal Carolina University, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to conduct research on the atmospheric tidal behaviors under conditions of major stratospheric sudden warming (SSW). Limpasuvan's award, which will enable him to work with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and atmospheric physicists across Norway, was recently announced by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Limpasuvan's grant will extend from late fall 2017 through spring 2018. He joins 17 current CCU faculty and 12 retired CCU faculty who have also received Fulbright awards.

"Understanding the impacts of tides after SSW may improve our knowledge of polar ozone variability and spurious charge fluctuations in the ionosphere," said Limpasuvan. "This research thus has the potential to help forecast global communication failures and stratospheric ozone loss." Limpasuvan has worked with scientists around the world to study atmospheric dynamics above 10 km and their connection to the climate system.

Prior to joining CCU in 2000, Limpasuvan earned bachelor's degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Occidental College and the California Institute of Technology, respectively. He earned a doctorate degree in atmospheric science from the University of Washington. He was CCU's Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 2000-2001, South Carolina's Distinguished Professor in 2001, the 2007 recipient of the South Carolina Governor's Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, and CCU's 2009 HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar.

Limpasuvan is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2017-2018. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.

"Dr. Limpasuvan's award reflects one part of the campus internationalization of CCU's strategic plan, and his award builds on earlier grant work in which CCU worked with the Norwegian government to explore potential partnerships of which mutual interest in marine science and physics was noted," said Darla Domke-Damonte, associate provost for global initiatives at CCU. "Over the last seven years, seven Coastal Carolina University professors have received this award to work in Austria, Turkey, Czech Republic, Madagascar and now Norway."

Information about Global Initiatives at CCU: Contact Darla Domke-Damonte, associate provost for global initiatives, at 843-349-2129 or ddamonte@coastal.edu or visit Global Initiatives

Information about the Fulbright Program: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. The program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given over 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, visit Fulbright or contact Elaine Clayton at 202-632-6445 or ECA-Press@state.gov.