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Items 2007 Mentors open student's eyes to severe weather research
Pairing undergraduate students with weather experts for a summer has proven to be an effective way to provide exposure to severe weather research.
Each summer, government and university scientists at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma serve as mentors for undergraduate students from across the country for 9 or 10 weeks to conduct research on a variety of topics including severe weather, tornadoes, numerical weather prediction, climatology and hydrometeorology. Students prepare and present papers reporting the results of their research. Their experience is supplemented by tours, field trips and lectures, all designed to help determine whether they want to pursue a future career in research.
The locally-organized, National Science Foundation-sponsored National Weather Center Research Experiences for Undergraduates program has been held in Norman for more than 15 years. During that time, over half the participants have gone on to graduate school and almost 20 percent work for NOAA. This year, the REU program hosts 13 students.
The Hollings Scholar program has brought additional students to the federal agencies in Norman for the past two summers. Currently, four students are working with NSSL researchers on phased array radar, numerical weather prediction and hydrometeorology projects.
Background: NSSL has mentored 61 or about two-thirds of the 93 National Weather Center REU students since 1991. In addition, NSSL hosted four Hollings students last summer and another four this summer.
Significance: Inspiring students to be the next generation of research scientists will ensure the continuation of severe weather research and environmental stewardship.
6/25/07