Walter Orr Roberts

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

Walter Orr Roberts writes in a book. I.M. Pei, sitting to the right of Roberts, observes.

NCAR

Walter Orr Roberts on the design of the Mesa Lab

In this oral history, Roberts discusses working with renowned architect I.M. Pei to design the Mesa Laboratory. Roberts drew on his experience at the High Altitude Observatory in planning for the Mesa Lab, and collaborated closely with Pei to design a building that would be uniquely suited to scientific innovation and complement the natural surroundings. Photo shows Roberts and Pei leaning over a book during the design of the lab, circa 1965. Click the photo for the full interview and transcript.

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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.