[Nsa] Qualifications for the NCAR Director and draft set of questions for candidates

[Tom Wigley]

I'd like to know how one measures/judges integrity.

Tom.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

B.C. Low wrote:
> Dear Rick,
> 
> I do resonate with the inputs from Beth Holland.  There are two aspects 
> that seem very important to me.  What we lay down as criteria and who 
> happen to have applied for the position can be quite separate.  A search 
> process can be very successful if the applicant pool is sufficiently 
> rich for us to see the actual dimensions of these criteria through the 
> real people who have applied.  From that perspective, I feel the 
> following considerations are essential.
> 
> I would like to see an NCAR Director who is foremost an accomplished 
> scientist, having done first class scientific work and being recognized 
> for it.  The single central criterion for being a Senior Scientist at 
> NCAR is scientific excellence, and the NCAR Director should meet that 
> criterion at the highest level among us.  Such a Director will bring the 
> scientific best out of us.
> 
> Beth's concern about scientific integrity is worth watching out for. 
> Integrity is harder to practice than people are willing to admit and in 
> the complexity of our evolved scientific community, we are actually 
> easily challenged on it by the things we run into each day.  Having the 
> talents and opportunity to have done first class scientific work is the 
> base upon which an individual sees directly the value and motivation to 
> practice integrity.  An NCAR Director of well known integrity can bring 
> the best out of us on this count.
> 
> We of course want more than an excellent scientist for a Director.  He 
> or she must have a broad vision of what our scientific institute is 
> about; an understanding of how that vision might be realistic in the way 
> things are; and, an outstanding set of demonstrable leadership and 
> administrative abilities the job demands.  We cannot compromise on 
> either counts, (a) scientific accomplishment and (b) community and 
> administrative leadership.
> 
> Global Change is now accepted to be real by the world community.  There 
> is a lot of hard core science to do and a lot of interaction with policy 
> bodies and the public to conduct.  If we think all that is important, 
> neither of the two counts can be compromised.  We also want someone 
> young, in my opinion, so that our future is all wrapped up with the 
> Director who too has a future to think about.  I would rather count on a 
> demonstrable promise of a great leader.  I hope the Search Committee 
> will have the good fortune of making a careful but bold recommendation, 
> and you as UCAR President will have the privilege of making a bold but 
> well calculated decision.
> 
> I recently sat down with a Director of an NCAR sized Institute and he 
> happily spent 45 minutes talking about an MHD problem, coming into it 
> cold but nevertheless giving it undivided attention.  That day, he was 
> going to deal with a theoretical exercise about what he would do if his 
> budget was to be cut by a sizable proportion.  Maybe he was dreading the 
> rest of that day!  We want a Director who has not lost the scientific 
> passion that brought most of us into this profession?
> 
> Regards and good luck to our search,
> BC
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> Rick Anthes wrote:
>> Thanks Beth,
>> We will be sure to include the questions you ask, though they are 
>> certainly part of Q3 which I sent around:
>>
>> 3. The NCAR program comprises a broad range of research areas and a 
>> number of different community facilities. The research areas include 
>> atmospheric sciences broadly defined, weather prediction, climate, 
>> atmospheric chemistry, oceanography, solar physics and others, and the 
>> facilities range from the development, provision, and maintenance of 
>> observing and computing facilities, to developing community models. 
>>  What do you think are the appropriate balances among the various 
>> research areas and among the community facilities? As NCAR Director, how 
>> would you go about evaluating the appropriate balances, and how would 
>> you go about achieving them?
>>
>> Regarding scientific integrity, I think that goes without saying as an 
>> essential criterion--and someone at the NSA meeting mentioned this.   
>> Like honesty.  If the search committee or I find out that this is 
>> lacking in a candidate you can be sure we will disqualify the candidate 
>> from further consideration.
>>
>> Finally, regarding the criteria, I mentioned that they are very easily 
>> derived from the duties and requirements.  For example, the first 
>> requirement "demonstrated ability to lead on a broad intellectual front" 
>> is a criterion--the search committee will be using this and the other 
>> requirements as their criteria.
>>
>> You can be sure we take your last point very seriously.
>>
>> We have not had much input from the NSA about suggested names--there is 
>> still time!
>> Thanks again.
>> Rick
>>
>> Dr. Elisabeth(Beth) A. Holland wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Rick,
>>>
>>> Thank you for the opportunity to provide input to the director search 
>>> process.  I think it is important to provide a voice for the 
>>> scientific leadership of NCAR.
>>>
>>> I have a few concerns based on your recent e-mail.
>>>
>>> First, during your meeting with the NSA, I thought we had come to an 
>>> understanding that we, the NSA, would have the opportunity to review 
>>> the criteria that would be used to evaluate the director candidates.  
>>> I found the discussion concerning the need for an emphasis on 
>>> scientific integrity particularly compelling.  Referring us to the web 
>>> site, the description, duties and requirements does not address the 
>>> values and criteria that will be used for selection, nor does it 
>>> address the issue of scientific integrity.
>>>
>>> Second, I would like to see more focus on the candidate's view on the 
>>> balance between conducting science and providing facilities. It is 
>>> really important for the committee to get a sense of the candidate's 
>>> vision for NCAR. I suggest:
>>> 1) What is your vision for NCAR's evolving role in atmospheric 
>>> SCIENCES in the US and internationally?
>>>
>>> Among the particular questions I would include:
>>> In your view, how should NCAR balance using external and core funds to 
>>> pursue its mission?
>>> What is NCAR's mission?
>>>
>>> I am ccing the NSA on this to invite their input and discussion.  The 
>>> decision itself of who will be the next NCAR rests with you and the 
>>> search committee.  I trust that you will choose a person who will lead 
>>> NCAR to continue to  realize its tremendous scientific potential.
>>>
>>> Beth Holland
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 16, 2008, at 9:59 AM, Rick Anthes wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> <Possible Questions2008.doc>
> 
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