"History of SCD Directors" exhibit is installed

Above left: Greg McArthur of SCD's User Support Section holds an oak-trimmed plexiglass display window, while Stan McLaughlin of the Operations and Infrastructure Support Section checks the frame for positioning. Above right: Greg and Stan ease the window into the frame—a snug fit.

Last week the empty display cases in the main SCD hall, located in the first basement of NCAR's Mesa Laboratory, gained a new set of exhibit panels. The panels tell the history of SCD directors, from NCAR's early years (when SCD was called "The Computing Facility") to the present. Greg McArthur, head of SCD's Digital Information Group, researched, designed, and produced the panels, assisted by various SCD staff in data collection and editing.

"The idea for the exhibit came to me as we were dismantling some old, out-of-date materials in the display cases," Greg says. "I thought we should show something that reflected SCD's history within NCAR, and its importance in advancing NCAR and UCAR science objectives. One requirement would be that the exhibit would have long shelf life—and history, as a matter of institutional record, doesn't go out of date."

Each panel starts with a general overview of the state of NCAR computing at the time a new director took the helm. The narrative helps readers understand the challenges and opportunities these men and women faced during their tenure, examining different periods in SCD's development. Following the introductions are photos and brief biographical sketches of the directors.

Two more panels will be installed next week: the introductory panel (an overview of the exhibit) and the last panel, which tells about current SCD director Al Kellie.

"I hope that visitors to the Mesa Lab as well as staff—particularly newer SCD staff—will enjoy the display," Greg says. "I have certainly had fun researching it and talking with people to gather personal data on the directors of SCD."

Below: "The History of SCD Directors" exhibit fills a row of recessed display cases in the main SCD hall.

Photos: Lynda Lester, NCAR/SCD