NCAR is committed to developing and enhancing public interest in and understanding of science. Toward this end, we have created science and education programs, teaching materials, and hands-on exhibits that appeal to a variety of audiences, from students to teachers, dignitaries, scientists in other fields, and the general public.

NCAR’s Mesa Laboratory, designed by architect I.M. Pei, has been joined over the years by two additional campuses: the Foothills Laboratory, consisting of five buildings, and the Center Green campus, consisting of three buildings. Maps and addresses for these buildings and our aviation facility and may be found at the “Contact” link at the bottom of this page. At NCAR’s Mesa Lab, visitors can tour our Science Discovery exhibit, which includes original (retired) weather satellites and supercomputing equipment, and interactive exhibits that offer insights on a variety of natural phenomenon, from the characteristics of lightning to a live tornado simulation and 3D demos of atmospheric circulation. Short movies and video clips, which include insights from NCAR scientists, explain weather and climate phenomena and provide overviews of how the Earth’s systems—atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere—interact.

NCAR also provides a breadth of educational materials to teachers and students through our Web site. For example, Windows to the Universe is one of NCAR's strongest tools for reaching a large, global, and bilingual audience of learners interested in the geosciences.

Students in the 2007 SOARS and RESESS programs, two UCAR-sponsored initiatives to bring underrepresented groups into careers in the atmospheric and geosciences. A critical part of our outreach efforts is fostering young scientific talent. NCAR staff and scientists mentor students and early-career scientists interested in the atmospheric and geosciences through week-long programs, summer internships, and graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. Additionally, visiting scientists come from around the world to work with NCAR scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects.