Six Stanford researchers were recognized on Friday as lead contributors to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a branch of the United Nations that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with former Vice President Al Gore.

IPCC, which was formed to evaluate the risk of climate change caused by human activity, included Stanford researchers Chris Field, Thomas Heller, Michael Mastrandrea, Terry Root, Stephen Schneider and John Weyant.

“The IPCC is an organization composed of volunteer scientists and government delegates,” said Weyant, a management science and engineering professor. “Though the work that we do for the IPCC is immensely gratifying, nonetheless it is very hard work.”

Mastrandrea B.S. ‘00, Ph.D. ‘04 is a research associate at the Woods Institute for the Environment and lecturer in the School of Earth Sciences, and he agreed with Weyant.

“To have that effort recognized in this way is very gratifying,” Mastrandrea said.

All of the Stanford researchers said they were surprised to hear that IPCC would share the award.

“I’ve always imagined recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize to be individuals like Nelson Mandela or Gandhi,” Weyant said. “I was surprised first that they gave the award to an organization and, second, that they decided to give the Peace Prize to an environmental cause.”

“I think the committee was originally going to give the prize to the chairman of the IPCC,” he added, “but I’m glad they decided to award it to the entire organization.”

Root, a senior fellow at the Woods Institute, said he hoped the prize would raise awareness about the climate crisis.

“I think this award legitimizes IPCC in many peoples’ minds,” she said. “I hope this will take wind away from many of the naysayers.”

Asked about Gore and his environmental impact goals, the researchers spoke positively about the former vice president.

“Al Gore is an extremely talented and gracious individual,” Root said.

Weyant recognized Gore’s ability to think on a global scale.

“Al Gore is a vital leader for the climate change cause,” he said. “Scientists have a tendency to get lost in the details. Gore is talented in that he keeps all levels of the issue, including the big picture, in mind.”

In the end, speculation about Gore’s political future overshadowed the focus on science at Friday morning’s press conference in Palo Alto.

“Al Gore’s statement at the conference was that this Nobel recognition should be used to re-energize the cause even further,” said Field Ph.D. ‘81, a professor in the biological sciences. “But I was highly disappointed with the press coverage after, which was only interested in whether Gore was running for president.”