| Dr. Nordberg joined the Goddard Space
Flight Center in 1959 and moved up in the ranks from
Head of the Physical Measurements Section to the
Director of Space Applications in January of 1974. He
was a true pioneer in using remote sensing to
investigate Earth and its environment. He led an
instrument team in developing an electrically scanning
microwave radiometer, flown first on the Nimbus-5
satellite in 1972. He coordinated the specification
and implementation of advanced remote sensors which
were proved out on ERTS-1. This led to the Earth
resources detection and monitoring spacecraft series
called LANDSAT. Among his many awards were the NASA
Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal and the NASA
Distinguished Service Medal. The William Nordberg Memorial Award for Earth Science is given annually to a GSFC scientist who best exhibits the characteristics of Dr. Nordberg's career: broad scientific perspective, enthusiastic programmatic and technical leadership on the national and international level, wide recognition by peers, and substantial research accomplishments in understanding Earth System processes. |
 Dr. William Nordberg (1930- 1976) |
| YEAR |
AWARD
RECIPIENT |
NORDBERG LECTURER |
|
YEAR | AWARD
RECIPIENT |
NORDBERG LECTURER |
| 1994 |
Joanne Simpson |
William L Smith |
2008 |
Wei-Kuo Tao |
Susan Solomon |
|
| 1995 |
Compton J. Tucker |
Jean-Bernard Minster |
2009 |
William Krabill |
William Krabill |
|
| 1996 |
James E. Hansen |
Mario Molina |
2011 |
Paul Newman |
Paul Newman |
|
| 1997 |
Robert A. Langel, III |
David Pimentel |
2012 |
Elizabeth M.
Middleton |
Elizabeth M.
Middleton |
|
| 1998 |
Mark R. Schoeberl |
Lonnie G. Thompson |
2013 |
Anne R. Douglass |
Anne R. Douglass |
|
| 1999 |
William K. M. Lau |
Richard Williams |
2014 |
Scott Luthcke |
Scott Luthcke | |
| 2000 |
Yoram J. Kaufman |
Lynn Margulis |
2015 |
Claire Parkinson |
Claire Parkinson |
|
| 2001 |
Michael D. King |
Michael D. King |
2016 |
Piers Sellers |
Piers Sellers | |
| 2002 |
Vincent V. Salomonson |
Eric G. Adelberger |
2017 |
Anthony Del Genio |
Anthony Del Genio |
|
| 2003 |
Pawan K. Bhartia |
Robert James Gurney |
2018 |
Anne Thompson |
Anne Thompson |
|
| 2004 |
Robert Bindschadler |
Soroosh Sorooshian |
2019 |
Ralph Kahn |
Ralph Kahn |
|
| 2005 |
Brent N. Holben |
James E. Hansen |
2020 |
Joanna Joiner |
Joanna Joiner | |
| 2006 |
Charles R. McClain |
Vincent Salomonson |
2021 |
Randy Koster |
Randy Koster |
|
| 2007 | Robert Adler |
Louis W. Uccellini |
2022 |
George Huffman |
George Huffman | |
| 2023 |
Steven Platnick | Steven Platnick |