12 October 2016
Dr. Karen Rosenlof of CSD was selected by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to receive the 2016 Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish Cooperation in Research Award. Anyone that has had opportunities to work with Karen know that 'exceptional creativity, inspiration of younger scientists, mentoring, international collaborations, and unselfish cooperation in research' are highly appropriate words to describe her career. Her outstanding contributions to modeling, data analysis, and field activities inside and outside CSD have always included a strong focus on the people involved. She is exemplary in making large investments in communication, collaboration, cooperation and inclusion to enhance scientific and personal outcomes in all her activities.
The Atmospheric Sciences Section of the American Geophysical Union established the Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish Cooperation in Research Award in 2009. This award is named in honor of Yoram J. Kaufman, an outstanding atmospheric scientist, mentor, and creator of international collaborations who worked on atmospheric aerosols and their influence on the Earth's climate for his entire 30-year career. Yoram was tragically killed in a bicycle accident just at the peak of his career at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He grew in the 1990s to be a leading light in aerosol research, both as an author of many new theoretical ideas and as a leader of field campaigns like SCAR-B. He also captained the first NASA Earth Observing System platform, Terra, as its Project Scientist. He advised and mentored a large number of students and junior scientists, and was known for his quick insight, great heart, deep wisdom, and outreach to national and international collaborators.
The Kaufman Award recognizes "broad influence in atmospheric science through exceptional creativity, inspiration of younger scientists, mentoring, international collaborations, and unselfish cooperation in research." The award is presented to Karen by William K.M. Lau, AGU Atmospheric Sciences Section President, during dinner at the Section Banquet at the AGU Fall Meeting, held in San Francisco 12-16 December 2016.