Canadian scientist wins prestigious award for aurora borealis researchUniversity of Saskatchewan professor Kathryn McWilliams hopes her research will one day help to predict the northern lights, like the weather.

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Kathryn McWilliams hopes her research will one day help to predict the northern lights, like the weather

CBC News(Chris Putnam/University of Saskatchewan)commentsThe Current8:49Canadian scientist lauded for aurora borealis research

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A Saskatchewan scientist says it's "hard to believe" that her research on the aurora borealis has been recognized with an honorary fellowship from the U.K.'s Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).

"I looked at the list of other people who have got this award, and there are some giants in my research field on this list," said Kathryn McWilliams, a professor in the department of physics at the University of Saskatchewan.

"It's unbelievable — it's very humbling as well," she told The Current'sMatt Galloway.

McWilliams is director of SuperDARN Canada, the Canadian arm of the Dual Auroral Radar Network. The organization has radar sites in 10 countries, studying the effect of space weather on the Earth's atmosphere. 

She first became involved with the organization in 1992 as a summer student, when she helped to build the radar towers and some of the electronics at its first site, east of Saskatoon. She's been studying the aurora borealis ever since.

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