 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Governance Update
Relocation of NCAR chemistry labs
The focus of the UCAR Board of Trustees’ winter meeting, 25–26 February, was implementation of the strategic plan for UCAR space needs. The plan, approved by the board last June, included five-year estimates of space needs and three options for locating UCAR and NCAR programs among the main campuses (Mesa, Foothills, and Center Green).
Improved lab space for NCAR’s Atmospheric Chemistry Division is a critical piece of the puzzle. Now housed on the mesa, the chemistry labs are in need of a safety upgrade. External consultants concluded that the best option in terms of time, expense, and safety was to house the labs in a new building on the Foothills campus. The board adopted resolutions to approve construction of the new building and arrange for its financing. The plan now awaits approval from NSF and the city of Boulder. More details will follow in an upcoming issue of the Quarterly.
New affiliate scientists
The board approved five new NCAR affiliate scientists: Stephen Bougher (University of Michigan), Haosheng Lin (University of Hawaii), David Rees (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sydney), Michael Thompson (Imperial College, London), and Fortunat Joos (University of Bern).
The NCAR Affiliate Scientist Program allows qualified university and research-community scientists to carry out highly interactive, collaborative work with NCAR scientists. Terms are for three years, with the possibility of renewal.
Board leadership and membership
Trustees elected Leo Donner (Princeton University) as their new chair. For the full slate of new officers and committees, see “On the Web.”
The board also welcomed three new members: Lynne Talley (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Eric Barron (Pennsylvania State University), and Len Pietrafesa (North Carolina State University).
Outgoing trustees Ron Smith (Yale University), Charles Kennel (Scripps), and Otis Brown (University of Miami) were bid fond farewell. As a retiring board chair, Otis will serve one additional year as an ex-officio member. UCAR thanks Otis for all of his work chairing the board during three very busy years.
Advocacy
The board approved UCAR’s advocacy plan for fiscal year 2004 in support of the federal science budgets. Given the country’s economic situation, the threat of terrorism, and the volatile state of world affairs, discretionary dollars outside of national defense are likely to be far more limited than in recent years. Thus, UCAR will work more closely than ever with member universities and will limit its advocacy activities to those that have highest priority for the community and reasonable potential for real influence.
The enhancement of NSF’s budget is UCAR’s highest advocacy priority. UCAR will advocate for the continued enhancement of the NSF budget overall (with the goal of doubling in five years), and for the Geosciences Directorate and the Education and Human Resources Directorate specifically. Advocacy efforts will also focus on programs in NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as the Climate Change Technology and Research Initiatives.
Other activities
Many of you soon will receive an e-mail soliciting nominations for trustees and trustees-at-large to be elected at the UCAR Annual Meeting in October. Please send any nominations to Susan Friberg, friberg@ucar.edu. The Members Nominating Committee, chaired by Mary Jo Richardson (Texas A&M University) will meet on 20 May to choose a slate.
Also in this issue...
How random is our winter weather?
North America's ozone: a closer look
Super-sizing a community data trove
Larry Winter: NCAR's new Deputy director
President’s Corner: University roles in the weather and climate services partnership
