We have terrific news on the national scene.  Claire L. Parkinson (PhD, 1977), who graduated from our department and the Atmospheric Science Program, has just been elected as a new member of the National Academy of Sciences. She is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.  Claire is a climate change senior scientist, in the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.   Some will recall that Claire presented “Satellite Passive Remote Sensing of the Earth/Atmosphere System” to a departmental colloquium on October 21st 2004. She is also a 2004 recipient of the Goldthwait Polar Medal from the Byrd Center. Claire’s advisor was John Rayner who now has the distinction of advising two members of the National Academy (the other of course is Ellen Mosley-Thompson). This is a terrific recognition and honor for our Atmospheric Science program.

We are delighted to congratulate Distinguished Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, Clark Larsen, who has also been elected to the National Academy.