During the Seventeenth IAMC Annual Meeting held online on 11-13 November 2025, the Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium was proud to honour Mark Dekker (PBL) with the Early Career Researcher Award.

Mark Dekker was awarded the prize for his fundamental and innovative contributions to advancing integrated assessment modelling, particularly through the development of new methods to disentangle uncertainty in climate policy scenarios. His work has significantly strengthened the analytical foundations of IAM-based climate assessments, enabling clearer interpretation of model behaviour and more transparent communication of scenario outcomes.

A central element of his research has been the introduction of energy model fingerprints, a methodological breakthrough that allows researchers to diagnose IAM behaviour, quantify structural differences between models, and assess the robustness of policy-relevant insights. This work has pushed the field toward greater transparency, comparability, and scientific rigor—addressing long-standing challenges in the IAM community.

Mark’s research is widely recognised for its impact, with publications in leading journals such as Nature and Nature Energy. Beyond academic excellence, he has taken on prominent roles in European modelling initiatives including ECEMF, ELEVATE, and NewPathways, where he contributes to shaping modelling strategies, strengthening community coordination, and supporting the development of next-generation scenario frameworks.

Demonstrating strong interdisciplinary skills, Mark actively promotes equitable and accessible approaches to climate modelling, helping broaden participation in the field and ensuring that methodological innovation is shared openly across research communities. His work exemplifies the strengths and values of the emerging generation of IAM scholars—scientifically rigorous, collaborative, transparent, and committed to driving the field forward.

Ultimately, his contributions are helping advance the methodological foundations of integrated assessment modelling, enabling more robust, inclusive, and policy-relevant climate scenarios for researchers and decision-makers alike.