NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory Senior Scientist and Acting Director Roger Pulwarty named 2025 AAAS Fellow
Roger Pulwarty, senior scientist and acting director of NOAA Research’s Physical Sciences Laboratory, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This lifetime honor, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the scientific community, recognizes individuals for their extraordinary efforts to advance science and its applications. He is the 31st AAAS Fellow from NOAA since 1976.
Pulwarty is a leading expert in weather, water, and disaster science and services. He was elected for his outstanding contributions in geophysical sciences, scientific integrity, and research leadership in weather, climate dynamics and societal impacts; science and decision making; and dedication to outreach and public engagement.
Over the course of his over-30-year career at NOAA, first through the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and then through federal service, Pulwarty has helped design and lead significant NOAA research and applications initiatives. These include the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISAs) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), both of which he previously led as Director. He has also served as the Senior Scientist and Acting Director of the NOAA Climate Program Office.
Pulwarty’s expertise is reflected in over 130 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited books. He has been a lead author for United Nations and U.S. scientific assessments, testified before the U.S. Congress, and served on various interagency, state, and National Academy committees. Additionally, he has provided scientific and technical advice to U.S. and international bodies, including the Western Governors Association, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, World Meteorological Organization, and the World Bank, on critical issues such as extreme events, early warning systems, water resources, and disaster risk management.
In addition to this new honor, Pulwarty is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union. He has received NOAA and Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medals, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, the American Geophysical Union Science Ambassador and Gilbert F. White Awards, and invited Distinguished Lectures, among other recognitions.
The 2025 AAAS Fellows class will be celebrated at a forum in Washington, D.C. on May 29, 2026, and will also be featured in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science in April 2026.
Posted: April 1, 2026
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