Professor Tim Flannery will be given the distinction of ‘Officer of Saint Charles’ by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at a ceremony at Prince Palace, Monaco on 7 October 2011.

This high distinction, a step above knighthood within the Order of Saint Charles, follows Flannery’s 2007 Australian of the Year honour and last year’s Academy of Natural Science’s Joseph Leidy Award.

An internationally acclaimed scientist, environmentalist and explorer, Flannery is the bestselling and award-winning author of The Weather Makers (2006) and Here on Earth (2010).

Flannery’s latest book, Among the Islands, will be released in November and is the third book in a loose trilogy of his adventures, along with Throwim Way Leg (1998) and Country (2004).