Developing Science’s Next Generation

Projections for the Science Labor Pool Half of our job growth since 1945 can be attributed to our

investments in science and technology.Source: National Academy of Sciences

25% of the current science and engineering workforce is more than 50 years old and will retire by the end of this decade.

Source: National Science Board

By 2050, the United States will be a majority-minority Nation.

Source: US Census Bureau

SOARS Mission

Broaden participation in the geosciences by increasing the number of Black or African-American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, female, and first-generation college students who enroll and succeed in graduate school in the atmospheric and related sciences.

Contribute to “a diverse, internationally competitive, and globally engaged workforce of scientists, and engineers.”

- National Science Foundation Strategic Plan

SOARS Values

Authentic research experience

Multidimensional mentoring

Supportive community

Professional development

Comprehensive financial support

Multi-year experiences

SOARS Success

6 earned their PhD in Science or Engineering 19 currently in PhD graduate programs 43 earned their MS in Science or Engineering 17 currently in MS graduate program 76 have earned undergraduate degrees in Science or

Engineering 17 are presently undergraduates 30 protégés entered the science and engineering workforce,

including at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) laboratories

Of the 114 Protégés who have participated in SOARS since its inception in 1996

SOARS Sponsors and Partners

National Science Foundation, ATM Division of the GEO Directorate

Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences

NOAA, Climate Program Office NOAA, Oceans and Human Health Initiative CSU, Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric

Processes UNAVCO, RESESS Program

Katrina 8/28/05 1515GMT

Hurricane Katrina Sunday 8/28/05

Hurricane Research

Katrina: A storm of superlatives

FEMAFEMA

Most expensive disaster in U.S. history—$300 billion

Deadliest U.S. storm disaster since at least 1928

Record U.S. storm surge(> 9 m)

Largest weather-related U.S. mass migration since Dust Bowl (1930s)

First near-total closure of U.S. city in modern times

Oceans are warming, will hurricanes intensify?

Number of Cat. 4-5 systems globally has nearly doubled in last 30 years

Will changing risk of catastrophic systems be integrated into disaster planning?

Webster et al.

Researching a Changing Climate

Glacial recession Arctic sea ice changes Changes in precipitation Sea-level changes Temperature records

NASA-SSMI Composite Data

1979

2003

20,000 years ago 2200? ( + 5 meters)

Slide from Warren Washington

Past and future rise in sea level

Modeling Climate Change to understand Observations

Climate models with natural forces do not reproduce warming When increase in greenhouse gases is included, models do

reproduce warming

Slide from Warren Washington

Solar Physics

Air Chemistry

MIRAGE - Megacities Impact on the Regional and Global Environment- Mexico City March 2006

Understanding the extent, persistence, and impacts of air pollution

Mexico City Pollution

NSF/NCAR C130

Global Societal Impacts

500-800 natural disasters peryear in 90’s $600 billion lost

• More than all losses from 1950-1990

• 45% lost in Asia, 30% Europe, only 10% in USA

2 billion people affected• More than 66% in Asia

Half million killed• Half of these deaths

due to flooding

Data from Rischard, J.F., 2002

FEMAFEMA

Images: NCAR

Diversity of Research at NCAR

Meteorologists EngineersChemists

Environmental ScientistsPhysicists

Computer ScientistsSocial Scientists

1. Research During the 10 week SOARS/RESESS

experience at NCAR, UNAVCO, NOAA Labs protégés: Conduct original research Prepare a scientific paper Deliver a 30 minute oral presentation at

closing colloquium

2. Mentoring

SOARS PROTÉGÉ

COMMUNICATIONS MENTOR

PEER MENTOR

RESEARCH MENTOR

COMMUNITY MENTOR

3. Community

Peer mentoring Workshops and seminars Shared living/transportation

Conferences!!

Help with your poster Conference travel funding Get to know graduate schools Professional development

What else can you get from summer research with SOARS?

Writing & Communication Skills In depth Mentoring Networking Perks

Housing, stipend (always) Conference travel Undergraduate and graduate school support

Plate tectonics and seismology in the Koryak Region:A perspective on the 20 April 2006 Kahilino-Tilichiki, Russia Earthquake

Cynthia BoshellMathematics and PhysicsHumboldt State University, CA

Return Levels Under a Changing Climate

Marcus WalterMeteorologyThe Pennsylvania State University

Stabilization Scenarios:Sensitivity of Resulting Emissions Pathways to Experimental Carbon Turnover Rates for Ocean Circulation, Vegetation Growth and Soil Respiration

ZiZi SearlesGeologySan Francisco State University

Vegetation-Soil

Sink

Ocean Sink

Preliminary Results: A2 Scenario - 800 ppmv by 2100

The Intern who became a Hurricane

Hunter Shirley Murillo: in SOARS for 3 years Today: Meteorologist and ‘hurricane

hunter’ with the Hurricane Research Division at (NOAA) in Miami, FL.

In special storm planes, she flies straight into the earth's deadliest storms to collect life-saving information

“I study winds inside of hurricanes, which can reach speeds up 150 mph! My job is to collect and analyze wind data from satellites and aircraft that monitor hurricanes.”

“Using a computer, I generate maps of wind patterns in the storm, and pass them on to forecasters who warn residents of brewing hurricanes.”

How to apply

Application requires: Transcripts 2 letters of

recommendation, 3 essay questions Deadline Feb 1

Websites:www.soars.ucar.eduhttp://resess.unavco.org/

Thank you !

SOARS Programsoars@ucar.edu303-497-8622www.soars.ucar.edu