NSSL reaches out to students through mentoring

NSSL scientists mentored five undergraduate students during the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) this summer: Harold Brooks - Tracy McCormick, Lyndon State College Studied the regional and the national tornado variability in the United States to help model the variability of significant tornado occurrence in the U.S. Mike Douglas - Annaliese Sherer, Penn State University Analyzed the Pan-American Climate Studies Sounding Network data of a low-level jet over the Yucatan Peninsula in comparison with winds measured across southeastern Mexico. Kim Elmore and DeWayne Mitchell - Nicholas Eckstein, Bowling Green State University Thunderstorms producing wind, hail, and tornado damage were compared with thunderstorms that produce no damage in the Pittsburgh, PA, WSR-88D radar cover- age area by investigating various parameters in the output of the NSSL Mesocyclone and Tornado Detection Algorithms. Dave Schultz - Russ Schumacher, Valparaiso University The spatial and temporal occurrence of inertial instability in the upper-troposphere was explored, as was the hypothesis that regions of inertial instability may be related to the occurrence of severe convective storms. Dave Stensrud - Craig Lengyel, Lyndon State College Compiled a case list of 17 derechos and 26 proximity soundings and calculated and analyzed characteristics of the storm system. The REU program is designed to attract talented undergraduates to careers in mathematics, science and engineering through an active research program and the mentorship of those who work in these fields. In addition to the REU program, Bob Rabin and Daphne Zaras co-mentored Shanavia Brannam, a student from Clark Atlanta University as part of the CIRE (Collaborative Initiative for Research in Education) program at OU/CAPS. Shanavia, a computer science major, took an OU Meteorology course for credit in addition to completing her paper and presentation. She worked on a continuing project using Java applications in research. The CIRE program is a National Science Foundation-funded program intended to establish long-term research and education relationships between minority-serving institutions and NSF-supported facilities and centers. NSSL, OU and Clark Atlanta have also worked together on a program that would award students a "3+2" degree from both universities earned by spending three years at Clark Atlanta and two years at OU. This program would give NSSL additional ways to mentor students through employment as undergraduates.

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