February 10, 2009 | Last fall, Morris Weisman
took a leave for three
and a half months, trading his daily routine
in ESSL/MMMM for the University at Albany, State University of New York
(SUNY). There, he taught a graduate-level course in atmospheric convection,
served on the doctoral committees of two students, and collaborated with Albany
faculty.

Morris Weisman

“Getting out on a sabbatical is always a good thing every once in a while,”
Morris says. “It’s incredibly valuable to interact with different people and
go through the process of teaching students—it gives you a fresh perspective
and refocuses your own understanding
of your science.”

UCAR’s Leaves of Absence Policy (6-11) states that the organization may “provide
paid scientific leaves of absence to eligible employees to pursue research
and professional development.” According to Human Resources, about two dozen
individuals have taken advantage of this benefit over the past few years.

The visit to Albany was Morris’s third semester-long teaching leave, as he has
a prior stint at Albany under his belt and another at the University of Washington.
An expert in severe weather, he was able to fill a special niche at Albany,
whose medium-sized atmospheric sciences department does not have a faculty
member with expertise in convective storms. “It’s our responsibility as UCAR
employees to contribute to the university programs, plus it’s just a wonderful
experience,” Morris says. He adds that NCAR scientists are uniquely positioned
to bring the latest research into classrooms years before it might otherwise
appear in textbooks.

“It’s good to see that the scientific seeds of university-NCAR exchanges that
were envisioned in the original NCAR charter are still bearing fine fruit many
years later,” says Morris’s host Lance Bosart, a professor at Albany and MMM
affiliate scientist.

NCAR covered Morris’s salary and benefits during his visit, while SUNY paid
travel and living expenses—a standard practice throughout the community for
a leave lasting less than six months. For a year-long sabbatical, the host
or a grant typically covers the scientist’s salary after the first six months.

The Leaves of Absence Policy categorizes scientific leaves as either sabbaticals
or collaborative leaves. A sabbatical, which normally lasts six months to one
year, allows a scientist or engineer to pursue independent
study or research at other institutions engaged in research activities related
to UCAR’s objectives. A collaborative leave allows a scientist or engineer
to work at the home institution of a colleague to pursue research related to
UCAR objectives that cannot be met by bringing visitors to UCAR. Their duration
varies
depending on the nature of the activity.

ASP’s Faculty Fellowship Program (FFP) helps facilitate exchanges between
NCAR and universities lasting 3−12 months by providing funding to cover travel,
relocation, and living expenses associated with taking a leave. “It is a terrific
opportunity for NCAR staff to get teaching experience and to develop research
collaborations with students and university faculty,” says Maura Hagan, ASP
director.

Last year’s FFP alums include Phil Rasch, who was with ESSL/CGD at the time
and visited the University of Washington, and Susi Moser, who was with ISSE
at the time and visited Clark University. In 2007, Markus Jochum (CGD) visited
the University of Hawaii and Chin-Hoh Moeng (MMM) visited the University
of California, Los Angeles.

On the Web

UCAR Leaves of Absence Policy (6-11)

ASP Faculty Fellowship Program

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