Ramanathan Establishes SoMAS Scholarship in Tribute to Mentor Robert Cess

For Veerabhadran "Ram" Ramanathan, PhD '74, life has unfolded through what he calls "happy accidents."

From growing up in small towns in South India to discovering atmospheric science almost by chance, to working under the late Distinguished Professor Emeritus Robert Cess at Stony Brook University, Ram's path has been shaped by curiosity, courage and a willingness to step into the unknown. Even his most celebrated achievements, including receiving the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, began with moments of uncertainty that pushed him to find what he truly loved.

And now, Ram is honoring Cess, the mentor who shaped that journey.

Now a distinguished research professor of climate sciences at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, Ram has received numerous honors for his contributions, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.

For Ram, every achievement traces back to Stony Brook, more specifically to Cess. "Bob made fundamental contributions to climate and energy balance. Had he been alive now, he would have shared the Crafoord Prize with me," he said.

To honor the mentor who shaped his life, he established the Robert D. Cess Memorial Scholarship to support students in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

Read the full story by Christine McGrath in SB Matters.