David R. Legates, Ph.D., is professor of climatology in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences at the University of Delaware and an adjunct professor in the university’s Department of Applied Economics & Statistics. Dr. Legates has argued for the necessity of technological progress in precipitation measurement used for validating climate change scenarios and for validation of existing data used for that purpose.
Dr. Legates co-developed methods to correct bias in gauge-measured precipitation data for wind and temperature effects, with direct applicability in climate change, hydrology, and environmental impact studies. He also developed a calibration method that validates NEXRAD radar precipitation data with gauge measurements to improve the accuracy of precipitation estimates. He is the founder and developer of the Delaware Environmental Observing System, a state-of-the-art meteorological observing network that covers the State of Delaware and surrounding counties.
Dr. Legates has earned certified consulting meteorologist status from the American Meteorological Society and in 1999 was awarded the Boeing Autometric Award for submitting the best paper in image analysis and interpretation. In 2019, he was awarded first place in the International Statistical Institute’s paper competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently, he serves on the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. He has published more than 125 articles in journals, conference proceedings, and monograph series and has made more than 250 professional presentations.
At the 10th International Conference on Climate Change in 2015, he was presented with the Courage in Defense of Science Award. He received the Frederick Seitz Memorial Award from the Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) at this conference in 2020.