Emily Laidlaw
Summer 2006 WAS*IS
WAS*IS Webmaster

I am an associate scientist for the Societal Impacts Program (SIP) within the Institute for the Study of Society and Environment (ISSE) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. I manage SIP's information resources, including the Extreme Weather Sourcebook, the Societal Aspects of Weather page, and the SIP and WAS*IS Web pages, among other resources. I also manage, design and help edit SIP's Weather and Society Watch newsletter. My current research involves projects on the value of weather forecasts to U.S. economic sectors, as well as a project in conjunction with the National Weather Service examining disaster loss data collection and reporting.

I have a master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in science/technical writing and editing from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Rochester. As you might guess from my degree combination, I believe there is a strong need for science-trained communicators who can bridge the gap between atmospheric and social science research and the policy makers, media members, and general citizens that research was intended to serve.

My past science communications work includes positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the University of Colorado Environmental Center. My professional writing, editing and design experience includes positions with the University of Rochester Office of Communications, the Denver Business Journal, SKI Magazine, the Fort Morgan Times, and the Hampton Group, as well as several freelance Web design projects.