Background
Roberts, Walter Orr was born on August 20, 1915 in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Ernest Marion and Alice Elliott (Orr) Roberts.
Roberts, Walter Orr was born on August 20, 1915 in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Ernest Marion and Alice Elliott (Orr) Roberts.
AB, Amherst College, 1938. Honorary Doctor of Science, Amherst College, 1959. Master of Arts, Harvard, 1940.
Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard, 1943. Honorary Doctor of Science, Ripon College, 1958. Honorary Doctor of Science, Colorado College, 1962.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Commonwealth Post College of Long Island University, 1964. Honorary Doctor of Science, Carleton College, 1966. Honorary Doctor of Science, Southwestern at Memphis, 1968.
Honorary Doctor of Science, University Colorado, 1968. Honorary Doctor of Science, University Denver, 1969. Honorary Doctor of Science, University Alaska, 1975.
Operator, High Altitude Observatory, Climax, Colorado, 1940-1947;
director, High Altitude Observatory, Climax, Colorado, 1940-1960;
director charge solar research program, High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, Colorado, 1947-1950;
instructor, Harvard University, 1947-1948;
instructor, Radcliffe College, 1947-1948;
research associate, Harvard College Observatory, 1948-1973;
founder, director, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1960-1968;
research associate, National Center for Atmospheric Research, from 1975;
professor astro-geophysics, U. Colorado, Boulder, 1957-1988;
professor emeritus astrophysical, planetary and atmospheric science, U. Colorado, Boulder, 1988-1990;
director program in food, climate and world's future, Aspen (Colorado) Institute Humanistic Studies, 1974-1981. Trustee University Corporation Atmospheric Research, 1959, president, 1960-1973, pres.emeritus, 1980-1990, president Foundation, 1986-1987. Trustee Mitre Corporation, 1960-1987, Upper Atmosphere Research Corporation, 1971-1974.
Chairman of Commission on arctic science and technical NAS, 1972-1973, member commission on international environmental programs, 1971-1977. Member committee consultant Report on State of Human Environment, United Nations Stockholm Conference, 1972. Member United States National Common for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1964-1967.
Member defense science board Department Defense, 1972-1975. Member of advisory panel for National Science Foundation Journalistic History, 1972. Member of advisory committee World Meteorological Organisation, 1963-1968.
Member bureau committee effects solar terrestrial disturbances in lower atmosphere Special Committee Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 1972-1977. Member subcommittee United States-Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics cooperative program man's impact on environment Department State, 1973-1980. Member visiting committee Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1975-1978.
Member founding board, chairman task force science and technical Civilian/Military Institute, Air Force Academy, 1975-1983. Member Council on Science and Technology for Development, 1977-1984. Pres.U. Corporation for Atmospheric Research Foundation, 1986-1987.
Board directors WeatherTechs.
Trustee Max C. Fleischmann Foundation, 1967-1980, Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 1964-1970, Amherst College, 1964-1970. Member American council United Nations University. Trustee Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, 1970-1990.
Secretary Marconi International Fellowship Council, 1974-1986. Trustee International Federation Institutes Advanced Study, 1971-1981, chairman program committee. Board directors International Institute Environment and Development, 1971-1976, Worldwatch Institute, 1975-1985.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (director 1963-1970, president 1967, member committee on arid lands 1973-1983), American Academy Arts and Sciences, Royal Astronomical Society. Member Academy Indiana Scholars, Aspen Society Fellows, American Rocket Society, American Astronomical Society (member council), American Meteorological Society, International Astronomical Union, Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Sciences, American Geophysical Union, American Philosophical Society, Federation American Scientists, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, International Academy Astronautics, Council Foreign Relations, Royal Society Arts, Explorers Club, Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma. Clubs: Rocky Mountain Harvard.
Married Janet Naomi Smock, June 8, 1940. Children— David Stuart, Alan Arthur, Jennifer Roberts McCarthy, Jonathan Orr.