On June 20 2017, Dr. Antonio Busalacchi Jr., President of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research(UCAR) visited Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Accompanied by Prof. WU Guoxiong and Prof. ZHOU Tianjun, Dr. Busalacchi visited the State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG). Prof. ZHU Jiang IAP Director chaired the seminar that followed. Dr. Busalacchi delivered a lecture entitled “The future of forecasts: earth system prediction in the 21st century”, highlighting UCAR framework and latest advance in the earth system prediction research. The seminar attracted around 50 scientists and students and was well-received. After the meeting, Dr. Busalacchi, and the IAP research team led by Prof. ZHU Jiang and Prof. LU Riyu had in-depth academic discussion. Participants recalled the history and achievements in bilateral collaboration in the past few years. All agreed that IAP and UCAR had formed good bond in the past and should be strengthen. It is decided that both sides will work together to draft an IAP-UCAR Memorandum to define future collaboration mechanism including research collaboration, scientists visiting and students exchange. Once finalized, the MOU will be signed in Beijing.

Dr. Antonio Busalacchi Jr. is the eighth president of the Boulder, Colorado-based University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Prior to joining UCAR, Busalacchi was a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, director of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) and Chair of the Council on the Environment (ConE) at the University of Maryland. He has served as chair of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme and co-chair of the National Research Council's Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space. He has also served as a head scientist of a division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.