UNIVERSITY PARK Pa. — Warren M. Washington, acclaimed climate science pioneer and Penn State alumnus, died on Oct. 18 at the age of 88. He graduated with his doctorate in meteorology from Penn State in 1964 and was the second African American to earn a doctorate in meteorology nationwide.

Washington was a trailblazer in climate science and atmospheric modeling. In the early 1960s, he recognized the potential of computers to revolutionize understanding of Earth’s climate and helped develop the first-ever computer models to study the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations on global temperatures. His groundbreaking work advanced the field of numerical climate modeling, allowing scientists to predict future atmospheric conditions and better understand climate change.  His research contributed to the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

In 2019, Washington became the first “innovator and pioneer” to be recognized by Penn State by having the Warren M. Washington Building named after him.

“We asked the deans to nominate pioneers and innovators so the buildings at Innovation Park have names and not numbers,” Penn State President Emeritus Eric J. Barron said in a 2019 interview. Barron said he was very pleased that Washington was the first nominee and was honored with the first named building. “He was an inspiration, an internationally recognized expert in atmospheric sciences and climate research, and a mentor who has long helped individuals live the life within them.”

After graduating, Washington worked at the National Center for Atmospheric Research where he was engaged in research for more than 50 years before retiring in 2018. Throughout his career, he valued serving as a mentor to underrepresented members in the field.

In an interview in 2018, Washington said, “I felt that I really had to give back not only to the field but to the African American community. Over the years, I’ve visited Black colleges; I’ve mentored graduate students; and I helped to form a program at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) that encourages underrepresented minorities and women into the field. I’ve always felt compelled to increase diversity.”

In 1999, Washington won the Dr. Charles Anderson Award from AMS “for pioneering efforts as a mentor and passionate support of individuals, educational programs and outreach initiatives designed to foster a diverse population of atmospheric scientists.”

Washington was the first African American to serve as president of AMS. In 2020, the AMS created a national award in honor of Washington. The Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal will be presented to individuals who are recognized for the combination of highly significant research and distinguished scientific leadership in the atmospheric and related sciences, according to AMS.

Washington received many other accolades. He was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Science — the nation’s highest science honor — from former President Barack Obama for his “development and use of global climate models to understand climate and explain the role of human activities and natural processes in the Earth’s climate system,” and for his work to support a diverse science and engineering workforce. In 2019, he received the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement with Michael Mann, former Penn State professor. The Tyler Prize — often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for the Environment" — remains the premiere international award for environmental science.