Walter Orr Roberts

Building HAO, NCAR, and a Foundation for Scientific Innovation in Boulder

High Altitude Observatory

Proposal for the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Research

In 1953, Roberts proposed the establishment of the Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Research at HAO. This proposal represented a shift towards the study of the Sun's effects on Earth's climate and weather, as well as a move towards increased collaboration with industries interested in scientific research. Roberts proved to be very skilled in building partnerships with allied commercial enterprises and would continue this effort throughout his career.

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Home High Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research

University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, Colorado Writings and Achievements

Walter Orr Roberts was a renowned scientist, leader, and pioneer in the fields of solar-terrestrial study, astronomy, and climate science. He established and directed the High Altitude Observatory (HAO); founded the Department of Astro-Geophysics at the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU-Boulder); served as the first director of the National Center for Atmopheric Research (NCAR); the first president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), and led the Program on Food, Climate, and the World’s Future at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies. He was a tireless advocate for an active response to climate change, international scientific collaboration, and science education. Beyond these individual accomplishments, he built a scientific community in Boulder, creating long-lasting partnerships, including those between NCAR, HAO, and CU-Boulder that continue to grow and thrive today.

This exhibit brings together material from the NCAR Archives and the Special Collections, Archives, and Preservation at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries to tell the story of Walter Orr Roberts and his significant impact on the institutions he was involved with, and his lasting legacy in the scientific enterprise.