On January 24, 2003, Joseph Tribbia and Michael Chen interviewed Ferdinand Baer for the American Meteorological Society’s Oral History Project at the Center Green facility in Boulder, Colorado. Born in Germany in 1929, Baer discusses his early childhood during the rise of the Nazi regime, detailing how his family’s escape from Germany to Scranton, Pennsylvania, shaped his upbringing. His father, involved with the Underground, was placed in protective custody by townspeople when Nazis invaded their small town, prompting the family's emigration. The interview focuses on Baer’s distinguished career in meteorology, highlighting his involvement in nonlinear processes and international collaborations. He reflects on his time working with international students and his broad perspective, influenced by his own immigrant background. Baer emphasizes the importance of diversity in scientific inquiry, both in terms of people and approaches. He recounts his professional journey, including his role as chairman of the meteorology department at the University of Maryland, where he oversaw the transformation of the program into a department in 1979. Baer also discusses his research contributions, particularly in the areas of climate modeling and radiative transfer. He recalls his work on vertical structure functions and his collaboration with Bob Ellingston on the ARM program for the Department of Energy. Throughout the interview, Baer reflects on his career philosophy, emphasizing his preference for meaningful, rather than purely prolific, contributions to the field. His reflections offer insights into the evolution of meteorological research and his personal contributions to the discipline.