2012 Heritage Award Winner: Kerry A. Emanuel '73

The Citation Honoring Dr. Emanuel

October 10, 2012

At Deerfield, you were known for asking questions–a lot of them. “I do not recall a student with more natural intellectual curiosity than Kerry,” a physics teacher noted. “He persistently asks questions in class, challenging me to the utmost. Because the rest of the class is often far behind him, I have to limit his questions somewhat. This does not seem to dampen his enthusiasm, however, as he usually manages to corner me at some later time.”

A“leading force” in Deerfield’s weather club, you eagerly shared your forecasts with faculty and friends. Your passion for meteorology compelled another teacher to enlist you as a co-instructor for a mini-course on the subject: “He quickly gained the full respect of his peers,” this teacher wrote, “and . . . was able to communicate to the class some rather difficult concepts.”

The curiosity and earnest inquiry that defined your Deerfield days have become hallmarks of your professional life. As a professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT since 1981 and a leading expert on hurricanes, you have authored over one hundred peer-reviewed papers and several books, including Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes, for which you received the Louis J. Battan Author’s Award.

“In scientific debates,” you once said,“the goal is to always find the truth.”Your career has been a testament to this ideal. You defended the science of climate change at a House Committee on Science and Technology. Along with other researchers, you have called upon government and industry leaders to “undertake a comprehensive evaluation of building practices, and insurance, land use, and disaster relief policies” to address an increase in hurricane activity and the risk of devastating human and economic loss.

The recognition of your work in the areas of global climate change and tropical cyclone activity has been remarkable: In 2006, you were named one of Time’s most influential people of the year. In 2007, you were elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences and received the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an atmospheric scientist by the American Meteorological Society.

Through outreach, teaching, and research, you are in continuous pursuit of scientific truth, driven by a passion awakened at Deerfield so many years ago.

Your considerable accomplishments truly exemplify the Academy’s motto, BE WORTHY OF YOUR HERITAGE.

Deerfield is proud to count you among its alumni and honored to present you with the Heritage Award.

Read Dr. Emanuel’s Heritage Award acceptance speech.

Past Heritage Award Recipients:

• 2011 - Eric Widmer ’57: Education, Former Deerfield Headmaster
• 2010 – William Zinsser ’40: Writer – “On Writing Well”
• 2009 – Ambassador Ralph Earle II ’46, P’75,’78, G’10,’12: Government – Salt II Treaty
• 2008 – Brian A. Rosborough ’58, P’03,’06: Public Service – Environmental Conservation and Education
• 2007 – Michael K. Frith ’59: Public Service – Children’s Educational Entertainment
• 2006 – Father Thomas Keating ’40: Public Service – Philosophy and Mininstry
• 2005 – Thomas C. Reed ’51, P’86: Public Service – National Security
• 2004 – Frederick D. Barton ’67: Public Service – Humanitarian
• 2003 – James W. Symington ’45, P’75, G’0: Public Service – Politics
• 2002 – Christopher J. Waddell ’87: Athlete – Paralympian
• 2001 – Dr. John Chittick ’66: Public Service – HIV/AIDS Education
• 2000 – The Hon. Nathaniel P. Reed ’51, P’84: Educator – Environment
• 1999 – Dr. Francis A. L’Esperance Jr. ’49, P’75, G’13: Medicine
• 1998 – The Rev. Robert E. Ives ’65: Public Service – Alternative Ministry
• 1997 – David M. Childs ’59: Arts – Architecture
• 1996 – Dr. William M. Boyd II ’59: Education
• 1995 – John A. McPhee ’49: Arts – Writing
• 1994 – Michael B. Mayor M.D. ’55: Medicine
• 1993 – Warren Zimmermann ’52: Public Service – Diplomacy
• 1992 – Dr. Robert B. Binswanger ’48, P’78,’80,’84: Education
• 1991 – Henry W. Kendall ’45: Science
• 1990 – Henry P. Becton Jr. ’61: Arts – Television
• 1989 – Gilbert M. Grosvenor ’49: Arts – Publishing
• 1988 – Senator John L.H. Chafee ’40, P’69: Public Service – Politics
• 1987 – Dr. Bruce McClellan ’41: Education
• 1986 – Seymour (Budd) W. Schulberg ’32: Arts – Literature
• 1985 – Robert M. Morgenthau ’37, G’08,’12: Public Service – Law
• 1984 – John L. Ashbery ’45: Arts – Poetry
• 1983 – Edward P. Bullard IV ’53: Public Service – Philanthropy