Nelder Medrud
UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection
The NCAR/UCAR Oral History Project documents the history of NCAR/UCAR through interviews, recorded discussions, and lectures by staff and others. The project initially had a strong focus on the creation and development of NCAR, including the design and construction of the Mesa Laboratory headquarters by I.M. Pei. Over the years, the project has expanded to include a wider range of topics and experiences within NCAR/UCAR history.
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Nelder Medrud begins the interview with a discussion of his life history, education and research prior to arriving at NCAR. Medrud became acquainted with NCAR through Phil Thompson and Henry van de Boogaard while at the University of Stockholm, Sweden in the early 1960s. In the Air Force, Medrud’s specialty was applied climatology and a position opened up at NCAR focusing on applications to societal problems. The immediate focus of Medrud’s work at NCAR was on the matter of the consequences of hail to society. After the applications analysis program was dismantled, Medrud moved to the Field Observing Facility (FOF) as a project manager on field projects, the oversight of radar field projects in particular. Medrud reminisces about international travel and the satisfaction, as well of some of the hardships, of being in the field for various lengths of time and conditions. After working in the field so extensively Medrud moved to the Research Aviation Facility (RAF) where travel was less frequent. After a short time at RAF, Medrud began his tenure in the atmospheric chemistry division. Medrud speaks generally about NCAR, how its programs have developed and changed over the years, how research focuses have evolved, about the people and culture. Lastly, Medrud talks about his experience as a manager and administrator and speaks philosophically about NCAR’s noble purpose of bettering society and saving the planet.
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