Energy,
enthusiasm and unswerving directional Interests best describe
the impressive atmospheric scientist Roger J. Cheng. As an inveterate
technical scientist, a trait exhibited during his initial days
as a student, he has persisted in his chosen field on a path of
vision, dedication and achievement. Through his many years with
the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) at the State University
of New York Albany, Roger developed as an articulate spokesman
for the activities of the Center and as a guide & council to research
and technically oriented students. He has contributed enormously
to the support, the continuance and the heritage of Dr. Vincent
J. Schaefer, the founder and long-term director of the ASRC. In
wide ranging activities through the technical and scientific staff,
he has championed the Center's primary aim - 'To Discover and
Inform'!
During
his long and distinguished tenure, Roger became involved with
many educational aspects. The "Natural Sciences Institute'(NSI),
a student apprentice-training program in field research relied
on the cooperative natures of scientists like Roger Cheng. They
traveled to many of the NSI field laboratories and to the permanent
student centers. Their direct guidance and creative applications
made them popular councilors & informative visiting dignitaries.
Because of his lifelong involvement in areas of practical research,
technical application and realistic interpretation, Roger evoked
the image of a true and Inveterate leader without portfolio, who
could interact on any subject with any group peer level over years,
the students and professional scientists have given him veneration
for his candor, technical awareness and genteel manner. A true
renaissance scientist!
As
a pre-college, independent research opportunity, the NSI attracted
students that were committed to scientific futures. Many notable
scientists, in a variety of disciplines were recruited to interact
through visitations to the resident facilities or by progress
report review. Over 26 sites were used ranging throughout the
land, sea and air, from mountaintops, to ships at sea; from aircraft
to foreign lands. This 8 to 10 week self directed, intensive learning
situations were directly involved with scientific and technical
processes. Roger Cheng was always a contributing member of the
research and educational team at the ASRC and with the NSI. As
an industrious and innovative investigator in the fields of frozen
participation, atmospheric particulate structure and the many
physical and chemical attributes of related phenomena, he provided
valuable Insights into the process of investigation. Through the
manipulation of techniques, the development of new processes and
the application of state-of---the-art tools, he was always on
the forefront or even beyond the leading edge of understanding.
His
scientific discoveries have advanced the parameters of the field
and his public display and educational Interactions have provided
popular appeal and understanding to this side-bar of meteorology.
In the fields of cloud physics, aero biology, small particulate
chemistry and aerosol dynamics, Roger's discoveries and refinements
to the manipulative techniques and the aesthetic visual displays
have been legion. Throughout his professional career, he has been
a dedicated visionary, a relentless taskmaster and an enthusiastic
advocate. No one could ask for a better companion and guide, while
traveling this particular road of discovery and enlightenment.
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