Science Advocate, Climate Change Authority Dies

Ralph Cicerone, former president of the National Academy of Sciences, has passed away at age 73.

Written byJef Akst

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Ralph Cicerone dies MARK FINKENSTAEDT/NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCESScience advocate Ralph Cicerone, a leader in atmospheric chemistry and climate change, died unexpectedly over the weekend (November 5) in his home in Short Hills, New Jersey, of an undisclosed cause. He was 73.

More than his contributions to any one field, Cicerone was known as a true leader of science. For more than a decade, he served as president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), stepping down after his second term (the maximum allowed by the organization’s bylaws) this June. He was a regular voice in science policy debates as well as a vocal advocate for the use of scientific evidence “to inform government decision-making and public discourse,” according to an NAS statement.

“The entire scientific community is mourning the sudden and untimely loss of this great leader who has been unexpectedly removed from the forefront of the scientific issues that matter most to the future well-being of society,” Marcia McNutt, Cicerone’s successor as NAS president, said ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
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Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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