News this week of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) plan to ax the Center for Capacity Building outraged the science and social science communities. The center is known for bridging the gap between climate science, policy, and society, and emphasizing developing countries’ needs in climate change response and adaptation.

Message board, blog, and discussion list postings accused NCAR of being short-sighted and unconcerned with the application of science to social issues—among other criticisms—after a New York Times article reported the $500,000-a-year program, headed by 35-year NCAR veteran Dr. Michael “Mickey” Glantz, was being cut because of budget shortfalls.

“In terms of value for money, Dr. Glantz’s science was among the best, being cutting-edge and cost-effective, yet influencing the world,” Ilan Kelman, a former colleague of Glantz and senior research fellow at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, told the Times. “He also ensured that science was used for humanity and by humanity.”

In his Radix e-mail discussion list, Kelman implored readers “not to let such appalling and destructive actions go unopposed” and asked them to write to members of NCAR, the National Science Foundation, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Board.

Kelman was far from alone in his dismay—climate scientists Roger Pielke, Jr., IPCC author Neville Nicholls and many others decried the center’s closing and Glantz’s departure. For commentary on the issue and to add your own voice to the conversation, see the Times Dot Earth blog at or Pielke’s posts on the Prometheus Science Policy blog about the original incident and what he sees as NCAR damage control. The original New York Times article can be found here.