Dr. Richard (Rick) Anthes has demonstrated his commitment to inclusion and importance of science education at all levels. His philosophy is that any significant, long-term progress in solving the array of problems facing the world hinges on the education of the next generation. This philosophy is reflected in multiple education and outreach programs and initiatives at UCAR, as well as the influence on the atmospheric and related sciences community during his 24-year tenure as President of UCAR. For example, in 1996, he initiated the highly successful SOARS (Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science) program, which addresses the under-representation of minority professionals in the atmospheric sciences. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring was awarded to SOARS in 2001. It was during his UCAR presidency that the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) opened its doors and today serves forecasters, students, practitioners, and educators from 200 countries with broad range of subject material. One of the most significant achievements exemplary of his desire for inclusiveness was the creation in 1990 of the UCAR Academic Affiliates Program, at the time a non-voting membership status for non-Ph.D. granting institutions with programs that align with the UCAR mission. The AAP gave voice to these institutions that wanted a professional forum to discuss issues and challenges, lend their perspective to the debates affecting the community, and participate in the governance of UCAR by serving on committees and attending the October Members Meeting. In time, AAP membership grew to 25 institutions and one AAP member representative was elected in 2009 to serve on the UCAR Board of Trustees as an at-large trustee. Rick’s legacy of inclusiveness carried on after his retirement in 2012 as President of UCAR. At the 2014 Members Meeting, regular members voted to have a single member status, thereby dissolving the AAP program and issuing the right to vote for all UCAR members regardless of their institutional status.
Another aspect of his philosophy of sharing and transparency, Rick was a strong proponent of community models, including MM5 and the Community Climate model, not only making the model codes freely available to the community, but involving the community in developing, evaluating, and improving the models. Similarly, he is a strong advocate for free and open sharing of science data as exemplified by his leadership role in the GPS/MET and COSMIC radio occultation programs.
His leadership abilities, administrative talent, drive for inclusion, and vision for the future of the atmospheric and related sciences and the broader community carry-on to this day with thousands of students as beneficiaries. His impassioned interest in and enthusiasm for science, and his commitment to scientific community and its broader impacts through education and outreach, continue to stimulate discussion about the future of our planet.
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