OIL & GAS

BOULDER--The Chinese government has honored Richard Anthes, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), with the highest award it bestows on foreigners. Anthes is the first atmospheric scientist to earn this recognition, called the Friendship Award. He traveled to Beijing for a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on September 30. Established in 1991, the Friendship Award honors outstanding contributions made by foreign experts to the development of Chinese society, economy, technology, science, and education. Of the 240,000 foreign experts who work in China, 50 win Friendship awards each year. "As the Chinese saying goes, 1 out of 100 is the cream of the crop," vice premier Wu Yi told the recipients. "And you have been selected by a ratio of 1 to 5,000." The Chinese Meteorological Administration (CMA) nominated Anthes for the award. "You have devoted yourself to the active promotion of Sino-American cooperation in the field of atmospheric sciences and technology for many years," Qin Dahe, administrator of the CMA, told him. Dahe said that the Penn State/NCAR Mesoscale Model, Version 5, developed under Anthes’ leadership, has been widely applied in China’s weather and climate research. He cited Anthes’ work with the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences in conducting joint research on new numerical weather prediction technology. Anthes has also made a great contribution to the cultivation of China’s young scientists, Dahe said. The Chinese government invited the 50 recipients and their spouses to Beijing during China’s National Day festivities to attend an award ceremony, meet with Chinese leaders, and participate in a banquet to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Anthes received a book of antique Chinese coins, a plaque, and a gold medal as part of the award. "I am deeply honored by this award. Since my first visit to China in 1982, I have become colleagues and friends with many Chinese scientists. Together we’ve helped advance atmospheric science and weather forecasting in China and in the United States," Anthes said. "I look forward to many more years of close collaboration between U.S. and Chinese scientists. I thank my Chinese colleagues for nominating me for this award." Other Friendship Award winners included a physician from the World Health Organization who led the battle against SARS; the head engineer of the Three Gorges hydroelectric dam project; a researcher of Tibetan medicine; and experts of highway construction, international banking, and more. Wu Yi stressed the importance of the winners’ contributions to China. "Thanks to you, China has been able to avoid some mistakes, quicken the pace of national growth, and improve the overall level of development," she told them in a speech at the award ceremony. "We sincerely hope that you, as friendly envoys, may introduce China to your friends, to your countrymen, and to the whole world." Anthes has been president of UCAR since 1988. He is an atmospheric scientist, author, educator, and administrator who has published more than 100 articles and books. He holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison that reflects his interest in hurricanes and tropical cyclones. Before coming to UCAR in 1981, Anthes was a professor at The Pennsylvania State University.