UCSD Chancellor to Guide Prestigious Scientific Group

UC San Diego Chancellor Richard C. Atkinson has become the university’s fourth faculty member to be elected president of the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science.

Atkinson, 58, will take over the largest scientific organization in the United States on Feb. 16.

Atkinson joins UCSD founder Roger Revelle, former Chancellor William McElroy and E. Margaret Burbidge, director of the university’s space sciences center, as faculty members to have held this distinction.

He will serve one year as president-elect, followed by one year as president and another year as chairman of the board, the university announced Wednesday.

All Fields Represented

Founded in 1848, scientific association represents all fields of science. Its objectives are to further the work of scientists, to improve the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare, and to heighten public awareness of the importance of science in progress.

A member of the group since 1968, Atkinson is among the 5 million scientists, engineers and scientific and engineering societies that are members of the organization. He will serve his term from San Diego and continue as the school’s chancellor.

Atkinson joined the university in 1980, replacing William D. McElroy as chancellor. He came from Washington, where he was director of the National Science Foundation for five years.

Before 1975, Atkinson was on the faculty of Stanford University for 20 years.

He is an experimental psychologist and applied mathematician specializing in problems of memory and cognition. He has written more than 140 scientific articles and has authored or co-authored seven books.