Participants
The Summer 2007 WAS*IS
July 2007
WAS*IS Organizers' Biographies
 Eve Gruntfest
I have been a Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CO since 1980. My career is based on what we can learn from the Big Thompson Flood. That catastrophic flash flood occurred in July 1976 and 144 people were killed. I have published widely and I am an internationally recognized expert in the specialty areas of warning system development and flash flooding. I am now completing a four year National Science Foundation project evaluating warnings for short fuse weather events, particularly tornadoes and flash floods.
As a social scientist in a world of engineers and physical scientists I recognized the need to bring social science methods into meteorology and to develop cadre of physical scientists who understand the benefits and tools of social science. From June, 2005 most of my passion has been dedicated to a project that began during a one year stint at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO: WAS * IS, Weather and Society Integrated Studies.
 Julie Demuth
I am an Associate Scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Societal Impacts Program (SIP). Much of my current research is on communicating weather forecast uncertainty information, particularly the public's understanding of, use of, and preferences for uncertainty information. I'm also working on an assessment of the value of weather information to the transportation sector by evaluating its sensitivity to weather. My other research interests include whether and how people use weather information in their decision-making, what other non-weather-related factors affect decision-making, and risk communication to the public. Of course, in addition to my research, I've also had the great opportunity to work on WAS*IS for nearly the past two years! I've learned a lot during that time, and it's been such a wonderful opportunity to meet others who are passionate about the integration of meteorology and social science. Prior to my work at NCAR, I spent a couple years working in science policy in Washington, D.C. at the National Research Council's (NRC) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) as a Program Officer where I worked on a myriad of congressionally mandated and agency-requested studies.
 Jeff Lazo
I am the Director of the Collaborative Program on the Societal Impacts and Economic Benefits of Weather Information (i.e., the SIP) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. I am an economist with extensive experience in nonmarket valuation of environmental and natural resource commodities. I am a Colorado native, have worked as a dishwasher, parking lot attendant, and chimney sweep (all pre-grad-school), still play soccer for fun, and I like to travel.
 Sheldon Drobot
I am a Research Associate with the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (CCAR), housed within the Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Colorado–Boulder. My research interests lie in two geographic regions: (1) in the Arctic, I am investigating the recent decline in Arctic sea ice, and more specifically, developing seasonal forecasts of sea ice conditions; and (2) in the continental US, I am researching public decision-making in the face of hazardous weather conditions, and more specifically, assessing whether certain characteristics predispose people to make certain choices related to vehicles and hazardous weather. Before coming to CU, I worked for two years at the National Research Council's (NRC) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) and Polar Research Board (PRB) as a Program Officer. My formal education is in geography and climatology, and I received degrees at the University of Manitoba and the University of Nebraska.
2007 Summer WAS*ISers' Biographies
 Walker Ashley
I'm an atmospheric scientist and physical geographer with primary research interests in atmospheric hazards and societal interactions, severe storms, and applied meteorology/climatology. I've been an assistant professor at Northern Illinois University since receiving my Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia in 2005. In the past few years, my research has moved away from examining the specific atmospheric patterns that produce extreme thunderstorm phenomena to, instead, trying to reveal the unique “relationships” that exist between storms and humans that ultimately lead to casualties. More specifically, I have applied a spatially explicit approach to examine casualty patterns associated with U.S. Through this research, I have revealed geographic patterns of risk and vulnerability that are intrinsic to weather-related hazards.
 Andrea Bleistein
Andrea's career in Meteorology began as an undergraduate student at Penn State University. While enrolled at Penn State, she interned with NWS Eastern Regional Headquarters in their Scientific Services Division and then became a SCEP at the State College WFO and MARFC, splitting her time as a weather and hydrologic forecaster. Upon graduation with her Bachelor's, Andrea accepted a position with NESDIS Satellite Operations and became a GOES satellite controller supporting 24/7 real-time operations. She then took an opportunity with the private sector as an Observation Systems Analyst with Itri Corporation and supported some projects with NESDIS/OSDPD by helping to coordinate efforts between U.S. and Canadian Ice Services as well as develop the requirements for an automated Volcanic Ash Advisory alert system for the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. Andrea was also a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin with Itri Corp. supporting the GOES-R Program Design Risk Reduction phase. Currently, Andrea works for the National Weather Service, Office of Science and Technology, supporting the Science Plans Branch. Out of a recent NRC report, “Completing the Forecast: Characterizing and Communicating Uncertainty for Better Decisions Using Weather and Climate Forecasts", Andrea supports a Forecast Uncertainty team's efforts to improve NWS products and services. She is also working on a study of High Impact weather in the Sterling WFO County Warning Area (CWA).
Andrea's interest in WAS*IS stems from recognizing how the atmospheric and social science fields must work together to improve the lives of people. It is her hope that WAS*IS teach her how to work with these social science professionals and also learn what questions are needed to ask in order to help develop the best uncertainty products and services for the users. By including the social science, there is a greater probability that the meteorological community will develop higher quality, more useful and understandable products and services.
Andrea has been highly involved with AMS Annual Student Conference Planning Committees as a participant, speaker, co-chair, and organizer from 2003 through 2006. She is an alumna of the 2006 AMS Summer Policy Colloquium and she has also just recently been elected Vice-Chairperson of the DC-AMS Local Chapter for the 2007-2008 chapter year.
 Laura Clemente
I recently graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in meteorology and minor in environmental inquiries focusing on biodiversity. I also took a variety of classes regarding marine environments and obtained my open, advanced, and nitrox SCUBA certifications as an undergraduate. My research experiences have taken place in several scenarios – through class work at Penn State, opportunities in the work place, and while studying abroad. I took a class that spent the semester studying coral reefs and culminated with a trip to San Salvador in the Bahamas. On this trip, we used SCUBA to survey specific reefs around the island, identifying fish, coral types, algae, and diseases in order to provide Reefcheck, an organization dedicated to saving coral reefs, with an indication of the state of the reefs around San Salvador. I have worked at Meso, Inc., a wind forecasting company, where I spent a summer researching various meteorological forcings off the coast of California to find a signal that would improve morning forecasts for the wind farms. By finding a way to predict the drop-offs, better power output forecasts could be supplied to energy companies. While abroad at Monash University in Australia, I was able to do some research regarding the presence of an urban heat island in Melbourne, Australia. Through a very small science diving class this past semester, we researched the presence/absence of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in Pennsylvania lakes by looking at water quality measurements, population density, genetics, and the knowledge of individuals using the lakes regarding the mussels. I am excited about WAS*IS because I enjoy the science, but have continually been looking for a way to combine the science with societal needs. I am particularly interested in making the science understandable and usable to the general public and across various disciplines.
Heather Conley
When I was in high school, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. However, I got to college and found geography suited me particularly well, and I have never looked back. In graduate school at the University of Iowa, I became interested in the relationship between climate and human health, particularly looking at emerging infectious diseases and anomalous climate patterns. My dissertation examined the relationship between climate variability and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the western United States using Self-Organizing Maps to characterize sequences of wet- and dry-spells related to ecological changes in deer mouse habitat. I currently hang my hat in the Department of Geography-Geology at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, where I am an Assistant Professor of Geography.
One of my primary reasons for attending the WAS*IS Workshop is to find new ways to integrate risk perception and subsequent decision-making into studies of climate-health relationships. My current research project investigates West Nile Virus activity in Idaho. This summer, I plan to focus on the role of Mosquito Abatement Districts (MADs) in mosquito control activities, so I will be switching my focus from climate to scales more consistent with meteorology. I will spend much of this summer interviewing people involved in mosquito control about the impact that meteorological and climatological events have on mosquito population dynamics. I hope to incorporate that stakeholder knowledge into a tool to help decision-makers determine when and where they should focus mosquito control efforts. My other research interests right now examines how small rural municipalities, given limited resources, cope with and respond to extreme weather events.
 Todd Crane
Being a native of Indiana, I did my undergraduate degree at Indiana University, graduating with a BA in anthropology and certificates in journalism and African studies. After graduating, I worked an organic farm, a daily newspaper, a garden center, a weekly newspaper and I did a fair bit of travel and backpacking. Then I decided to go back to school. I have recently completed my PhD in anthropology at the University of Georgia. I did my dissertation research in the West African nation of Mali, looking at farmers' and herders' local ecological knowledge and changes in their subsistence adaptations under the condition of environmental change.
I am currently working as a post-doc in the Southeast Climate Consortium, a NOAA-funded Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments project, examining the opportunities and constraints around farmers' use of seasonal climate forecasts for risk management. While this may sound like a far cry from my work in Mali, the two projects are united by my interest in human adaptation to climate variation and climate change, as well as connections between scientific research and rural resource management, particularly in the sphere of agriculture.
While my interests have thus far been oriented more towards climate than weather, learning more about meteorological forecasting can only advance my overall understanding. On the flip side, I hope to contribute my knowledge of social processes and structures that shape people's ability to process, absorb and use information such as meteorology offers.
 Jeffrey Cupo
I was born in New York City during the disco decade. Growing up in and around “the city that never sleeps” gave me a passion for never slowing down. It shows through in everything that I do, from the way that I walk to the way that I work. I developed a passion for meteorology at an early age. In 1995, I received my B.S. in Meteorology from Rutgers University. Immediately following graduation, I attended Florida State University where I worked closely with the NASA Langley Research Center to calculate air parcel trajectories over the North and Central Pacific. This work culminated in determining air source regions over a relatively data-sparse ocean. I completed my M.S. in Meteorology in 1998.
After graduate school, I was hired in 1998 by PRC, Inc. to train Weather Forecast Office (WFO) forecasters on the use of the newly-disseminated Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) platforms as part of the National Weather Service (NWS) modernization effort. Later that year, I was hired by the NWS Meteorological Development Lab (MDL) in Silver Spring, MD as a Techniques Development Meteorologist (TDM) where I helped further refine, develop, and implement the Local AWIPS MOS Program (LAMP) incorporated within the AWIPS platform at each local WFO.
In 2000, I was offered a position as a TDM at the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, OK where I developed new software to improve SPC forecasts. Most notably was a web-based text-generation system that revolutionized the way the SPC disseminates its forecasts, including its flagship severe thunderstorm and tornado watch products.
Toward the end of 2003, I was selected for a Science and Operations Officer (SOO) position for the Midland, TX WFO where I have taken my considerable knowledge working in national centers and applied it to the local office setting. After working for three and a half years in Midland, TX, I figuratively found greener (and more humid) pastures and was promoted to SOO for the San Juan, Puerto Rico WFO where I am enjoying becoming proficient in marine and tropical meteorology as well as the Spanish language.
With every great stride the NWS makes with science and technology, we often forget how the public will ultimately see and use our changes. What we do has a direct impact on the lives of many people. I am excited to be a part of the WAS*IS discussion and hope to facilitate discussion on what we can do to better integrate and align ourselves with the people we serve.
 Frank Davenport
I received my bachelors degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Redlands in Spring 2002. From 2000-2005 I held various positions at the Redlands Institute for Environmental, Design, Management, and Policy- a GIS research/consulting group based at the University of Redlands. My work was split between spatial analysis and modeling to support desert tortoise translocation, analyzing indicators of child development in San Bernardino County, and enterprise GIS design and implementation for both a California Regional Water Board and the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative.
Following Redlands I worked in Panama on the NASA/USAID sponsored Central American Regional Monitoring and Visualization System (SERVIR http://servir.nsstc.nasa.gov/ ). I spent extensive time working with the World Food Program defining the decision requirements for disaster responders concerned with food aid and how we could tailor a product around those requirements. It was through this work that I discovered the tremendous importance of better tools, methods, and data in improving our understanding of interactions between weather and society.
I'm currently a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). I am interested in integrating weather and socioeconomic spatial datasets to improve famine and food security early warning systems. To this end I am working with the Climate Hazards Group (CHG) here at UCSB. The CHG supports the weather forecasting and modeling needs of the FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning System Network http://www.fews.net/ ) program. My interest in WAS*IS stems both from my interest in Food Security and my desire to be more familiar with the unique technical and computational challenges that arise from trying to model complex phenomena like weather patterns and coupled social-ecological interactions.
 Eleonora Demaria
Currently, I am a PhD student in the Hydrology and Water Resources program at the University of Arizona with a minor in Global Change. Long ago, I gained an Associate Degree in Sanitation from the Biochemistry Department at the National University of the Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina. After working as a sanitation technician in a State Environmental Lab for one year I went back to college for a degree in Water Resources Engineering and I got side tracked and became interested in hydrological processes. In 2001 I come to the USA to pursue a Master's degree in Meteorology at the University of Utah where I studied a Low Level Jet which brings moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon forest into the one of the most fertile regions in the planet: the Pampas in south east Argentina.
In 2003 I moved to Tucson for Doctoral studies in the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources. For my dissertation, I will focus on the use of satellite obtained precipitation data for flood forecasting in large basins located in developing regions.
I believe WAS*IS workshop will provide me with useful tools on how to make weather and climate science more accessible to the general public. It will help me to make connections with researchers from multiple backgrounds and understand how they relate to climate/weather research. I will gain insight in how various segments of society utilize forecasts and how we, climate scientists, can make those forecasts more accessible to a larger audience other than academics and scientists.
 Katrina Frank
I have a Master's in geography from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in climatology from the University of Delaware. Next, I held a post-doc at the University of Delaware on a Forest Service project exploring the connection between upper-level circulation patterns and the introduction of white pine blister rust, a fungus that can lead to the death of trees, into previously uninfested forests. I am a member of the Center for Climatic Research at UD. My current projects include investigation of the rapid spread of the gypsy moth in Wisconsin since its introduction in the mid-1990s and a cold weather warning system for cow/calf producers in Montana. I also serve as webmaster for the International Society of Biometeorology (http://ags.ou.edu/~isb/home.html).
Having been a part of several interdisciplinary research teams, working on problems ranging from livestock response to climate change to atmospherically-driven transport of fungal spores, I understand that cooperation between disciplines is essential to our complete understanding of the Earth system and how we interact with our environment. I hope that the workshop will help me to better integrate ideas in my future work. I believe my background in geography allows me to apply the unique perspective of a social scientist to problems that would be considered ‘hard science' and I think my experience with interdisciplinary research means that I have a lot to contribute to the workshop.
 Barry Goldsmith
After two years of undergraduate coursework (and a modest GPA) at Penn State, I got my first big break: The National Weather Service was recruiting students to train at national headquarters. There were only three openings, but, as luck would have it, only two of us applied, and having met the minimum GPA and coursework prerequisites, we were in!
The rest, one might say, is history. I began my career in January, 1986, with the Techniques Development Laboratory of the Office of Systems Development, where I assisted the staff with statistical guidance equations based on numerical weather prediction models. Evaluating these equations, used by NWS forecasters as guidance, was equivalent to holding the golden key to the kingdom of modern, routine weather forecasting; by noting the tendencies and biases in tests, I was able to gain invaluable knowledge about the forecast process that I continue to use today! After graduation, I remained at National Headquarters, but was hired as a Verification Specialist with the Services Evaluation Branch. This career moved meshed with my previous experience, as I was tasked with evaluating and comparing the actual forecasts produced by humans and computers! In 1993, I became a general forecaster at the local office in Sterling, VA, where I was able to apply my weather knowledge with the tools I acquired as an equation developer and verification specialist. Issuing forecasts and warnings for weather ranging from hurricanes to heat waves, for up to 120 counties, including four states and the District of Columbia, was certainly a challenge, but I was up to the task. By the end of 1998, I was promoted to senior forecaster at the local office serving Florida 's Suncoast, where I continue today.
During my more than 21 years as a NWS meteorologist, I have never forgotten the lessons of one of my mentors, who always said that a good forecast should pass the public service test: If the public understood the message, and took appropriate action based on the message in a timely manner, your forecast was a success. Whether I'm forecasting, leading teams of my peers, or communicating with my staff or external partners, I never forget that my mission isn't complete when I hit the “send” button on a forecast or have the last word in a meeting. Rather, satisfaction comes from the response elicited, from a neighbor taking cover in a safe shelter when the tornado warning is received, or my colleagues working trouble-free with programs that I created or adjusted. I am coming to WAS*IS to meet with like-minded professionals to help those in the weather enterprise to pass the public service test with flying colors!
 Lauren Hand
I am currently a graduate student working towards my Master's degree in Geography at the University of Georgia. My research focuses on urban precipitation anomalies, specifically those over Oklahoma City. Last year, I was awarded the AMS Industry Graduate Fellowship to pursue my graduate work. As a fellow at last year's AMS annual meeting, I was introduced to the WAS*IS program and knew that the program's focus on applied meteorology would perfectly compliment my research. Not your typical meteorology student, I decided to move into the field after completing undergraduate work in chemical engineering and environmental science. I received my BS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where I was a Meyerhoff scholar. I have held internships at Patuxent River Naval Air Base and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. My interest in hydrology and streamflow modeling with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study naturally progressed to include flash flood monitoring and intense rainfall events.
 Redina Herman
I received my BS degree from Florida Institute of Technology from the Physics Department. I then went to graduate school at the University of Illinois in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and received my PhD in 2003. After completing my PhD, I stayed on at the University of Illinois for two years as a post doctoral associate studying climate change. I am now an Associate Professor at Western Illinois University in the Department of Geography, where I teach introductory classes in Weather and Climate and the Dynamic Meteorology series. My current areas of research include contrails and the public response to and understanding of hazardous weather alerts. In the Fall 2007 semester I will administer a survey for incoming students at Western Illinois University to see how much they know about hazardous weather in central Illinois. I expect this survey to suggest a need for more education of incoming students. I also plan to administer a public survey to determine how the public receives, interprets and reacts to hazardous weather alerts. This project will involve collaboration between the Western Survey Research Center, and Departments of Sociology, Psychology and Geography.
 Mark Hoekzema
Since I was a child, weather has been a fascination to me. I spent many mornings pouring over the weather page in the newspaper and posting the days forecast on the refrigerator before the rest of the family was out of bed. I had always known I was going to be a meteorologist. I went to the University of Maryland to study Meteorology and quickly began a quest to land a job working for my idol Bob Ryan at the local NBC station in Washington. When I was a junior I finally got the job at WRC-TV/NBC4. I worked through undergraduate school while obtaining my degree in Meteorology. I continued working full-time while I completed my graduated course work at Maryland as well.
From 1986-2000, I worked as a Meteorologist/Weather Producer producing weather graphics and forecasts for the on-air forecasters. In 1996 we became the first local TV station to debut a weather web site. It was called "WeatherNet4"and it quickly became the #1 TV weather web site in the country. This public/private partnership with NASA was used to promote space and science via the Internet and over the broadcast airwaves. From 1996 to 2000 I performed the duties of webmaster for this successful web site. From 1997-2000 I also performed on-air duties as a vacation fill-in meteorologist. In 2000, I moved to AWS (now WeatherBug) with whom NBC had been a client since the start of the company. I moved to become the technical product manager/meteorologist. I began by overseeing the debut of the new TV web offering WeatherNet Plus and also as a product manager for WeatherBug. As the company meteorologist I also oversaw the development of nearly every product developed by the company. In 2002 I became the Chief Meteorologist for WeatherBug and among my many duties I oversee the development and distribution of the weather content seen in the WeatherBug products. I lead a team of meteorologists that write editorial content and oversee the meteorology and content development for WeatherBug and all other products developed by the company. In the Spring of 2006 I lead a team to design and staff a multimedia studio which now handles all of the WeatherBug video and audio production for our web products. In the summer of 2006 I was made director of the yet to be formed Meteorological Operations Center at WeatherBug. Over the past year I have built the department staff to 15 meteorologists who perform a wide range of forecasting and content development tasks.
One of my highlights here at WeatherBug was heading up a team to chase hurricanes in the WeatherBug StormTracker. In 2001, we had the opportunity to experience the landfall of Hurricane Gordon that came ashore in the Big Bend area of Florida. I also spent two week in both 2004 and 2005 on a tornado chasing trip supplying images and content to our web products.
 Rebecca Jennings
I am a local product manager at The Weather Channel, responsible for the local weather information seen on the Local on the 8s, Weatherscan, and other interactive applications. In my current role, I provide meteorological consultation in the development of new forecast products, provide operational support for our affiliates, and lead the management of various datasets and products. As part of our hurricane coverage, one of my major responsibilities is to coordinate our partnership with emergency management agencies, providing detailed emergency information during hurricane season.
I have an educational background in meteorology as well as communication. I obtained my Master of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Prior to joining The Weather Channel as an intern in the Global Forecast Center, I also worked in the interactive consulting field, participating in the launch of projects for clients such as American Cancer Society, UPS, and Symbol Technologies.
I am an active member of Women in Cable Telecommunications, and recently joined the American Meteorological Society Board on Women and Minorities.
I'm excited to be joining WAS*IS, and look forward to learning from our community to and further improving our understanding of the role of the media in communicating weather information, as well as building relationships to continue to integrate meteorology and social sciences.
 Heather Lazrus
I am currently working toward a PhD on cultural perceptions of global climate change in Environmental Anthropology at the University of Washington. While climate change is a global phenomenon, its effects are being felt initially and most acutely in smaller social arenas and fragile environments. In my dissertation research I investigate culturally specific understandings of weather, climate, and disasters associated with atmospheric hazards in the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. My objective has been to employ an actor-oriented model to examine local understandings of vulnerability and resilience – understood to be functions of cultural, social, economic, and political variables. In doing so I analyze how traditional knowledge and resource management systems of freshwater and marine resources as well as political activity (such as infrastructure and policy development) may be seen to build or reduce capacities at household, community, and national levels in the face of severe ecological change.
In addition to my dissertation research, I have been involved with professional projects closer to home. I have worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) at both the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Anthropologists at these Centers are working successfully with other social scientists and physical scientists to promote important interdisciplinary research on critical resource management issues. I am encouraged by WAS*IS that similar interdisciplinary synergy will become common in fields such as meteorology, climate science, and weather-related disaster management. I look forward to exploring creative and promising ways of realizing this synergy with other WAS*ISers!
 Chris Maier
I serve in NOAA National Weather Service's (NWS) Headquarters as our National Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM), and our StormReady and TsunamiReady Program Manager. Donna Franklin, our fantastic WCM Program Coordinator, and I, strive to do our best to provide support to all 130 of our Regional and Field WCMs. They are our organization's leads for education and outreach, as well as customer service. Here at NWS Headquarters we do work directly with our customers and partners at the national level. That mainly involves coordinating NOAA NWS services, national programs, and new initiatives.
A 1987 graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Meteorology, I began my NWS career shortly thereafter as an intern in Kalispell, MT. I then spent eight years in our Salt Lake City, UT Forecast Office, primarily supporting our land management agencies as Utah 's Fire Weather Program Manager. My next stop prior to last year's move to NWS Headquarters was to our Juneau, AK Forecast Office. I served there for four years as the WCM and learned a great deal about our marine customers and tsunami science. My most meaningful career experiences took place in the decade that I served as an Incident Meteorologist (IMET). NWS IMETs support Incident Management Teams with on-site forecast and warning services pertinent to their operations. Everything from wildfires to oil spills, working as an IMET is one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding positions in our organization.
By attending WAS*IS, I want to become more capable of leading the integration of social science into the global ‘hazards' enterprise. I hope to learn viable socio-economic methods and infuse them into our current NWS paradigm. I want to be able to better facilitate among the various folks that have a passion for, and contribute to the hazards enterprise. Call me crazy but I simply believe we need to partner together more effectively on implementation strategies for community resilience to natural hazards to become more viable in the U.S.
 Julie Malmberg
I am an atmospheric scientist and am working on becoming a social scientist! I have my BS (2001) and MS (2003) in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am now working on my doctorate in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado at Boulder. My main research area is perceptions and memories of weather, climate, and climate change. I am particularly interested in perceptions and recollections of droughts along the Colorado Front Range – including drought warnings, impacts, and implications. While working on my MS in Atmospheric Sciences, I started studying the interactions between people and weather. This led me to pursue research in atmospheric sciences education both at the National Weather Service as a SCEP and at the University of Illinois. While talking with NWS Cooperative Observers and my students, I always found it interesting how each person had a weather memory to share. Each person also had unique perceptions about weather, climate, and climate change. This has been the reason why I am particularly interested in studying memories and perceptions of weather, climate, and climate change. In order to conduct my research, I have been learning a lot about the social sciences. The WAS*IS conference will be extremely valuable in helping me to bridge the area between the physical and social sciences.
 Jenifer Martin
Currently, I’m in my 2nd year in the doctoral program in the Communication Department at the University of Colorado. My studies are in an area called Discourse Analysis that seeks to understand how language, talk, voice, gesture and written texts shape meaning-making. This area emphasizes a commitment to qualitative study of social life in its complex, and context-sensitive uniqueness that lends itself well to interdisciplinary studies. that makes LSI work so distinctive and recognizable.
 Sam Ng
Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Meteorology at Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD). I received my Ph.D. from Saint Louis University during the summer of 2005 under the direction of Doctors James T. Moore and Charles E. Graves. My dissertation topic dealt with developing a dynamical conceptual model of processes associated with heavy banded snowfall in the central United States. My other research interests consist of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) associated with flash flooding, continental rapid cyclogenesis, extratropical cyclone occlusion processes, Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting (QPF), and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) techniques. At MSCD, I teach Synoptic Meteorology, Mesoscale Meteorology, Weather and Climate, Introduction to Atmospheric Science, Weather Analysis Techniques, Forecasting Laboratory, and Senior Research Seminar.
Teaching at a higher education level, I take pride in my ability to explain the fundamental aspects of atmospheric science in a manner in which students can understand. However, in my general education classes, discussion of the societal impacts associated with various weather phenomena is mainly an afterthought. Therefore, my primary motivation for attending 2007 Weather and Society * Integrated Studies (WAS*IS) workshop is to develop a more comprehensive section on the societal impacts into my general education courses. Furthermore, I want to develop a new writing intensive course based on public perception and the social impact associated with world-wide weather phenomena.
I am an active member of several professional organizations such as the National Weather Association (NWA), American Meteorological Society (AMS), and American Geophysical Union (AGU). In 2007, I was invited to serve on the NWA's Weather Analysis and Forecasting (WAF) committee. The goal of the WAF committee is to “promote the development and implementation of improved analysis and forecasting techniques and methodologies to benefit operational hydrometeorology.”
 David Novak
I am a meteorologist and product developer at AccuWeather Inc. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania where I learned to love the weather and my favorite mesoscale weather phenomenon – lake-effect snow. In 1996 I graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in meteorology. After graduation I accepted a position as an operational forecaster with AccuWeather. In my time spent as a forecaster at AccuWeather I have produced forecasts for a variety of media and commercial sector clients which have covered a wide range of meteorological events and circumstances. I created web based tools to aid operational forecasters and prepared interactive weather stories for AccuWeather's public and private web sites. In recent years I have moved from operational forecasting into system engineering and product development. I work with a team of engineers to develop and maintain a data ingest, storage and display system for meteorological data. I provide consultation to current and future clients and help to develop custom datasets and data feeds to meet their weather information needs. I'm currently a member of a team of meteorologists and programmers working to integrate weather data into geographic information system enterprise applications. I'm ecstatic to be part of the 2007 WAS*IS summer workshop. One key lesson I have learned from working in the private sector of operational meteorology is the importance and need of properly communicating forecasts. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with a dedicated group who share the same interest in improving how weather information is communicated to the end user.
 Chad Omitt
Born and raised in Wisconsin, I attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with my degree in AOS in 1993. I joined the operational world operational world of weather at WeatherData Inc. in Wichita, Kansas. Here I was exposed to a wide spectrum of users of weather information. Some used weather information provided by WeatherData to reduce weather related disruptions, while others used it to improve economic decisions. A common theme for users was to maximize profits and safety. We provided the information both verbally and with text and graphical products. The most effective way to convey risk and hazards nearly always proved to be verbal…over the phone when voice tempo and inflections said more about forecast confidence than a text product or graphical product could have.
After several years with WeatherData Inc. I joined the National Weather Service. After my experience at WeatherData when we routinely communicated with users of weather information, I naturally took an interest in finding ways to improve the ways in which the NWS conveyed weather related risk and hazards. I've been active in the outreach program with the NWS with the goal of attempting to improve awareness of weather related risk while increasing exposure for the NWS. At WFO IND, this has resulted in creation of a Tactical Meteorologist position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during major events including the Indianapolis 500 race. This effort has also lead to a relationship with the Indianapolis Colts who have helped the NWS gain exposure in the community. I've also been busy with severe weather research including the study of cool season severe weather outbreaks across the Ohio Valley http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/ind/cool_season.pdf These events are interesting in that they produce a greater threat for nighttime tornadoes during a time of year when the public across the Ohio Valley perceives the risk to be low.
I'm always thinking of ways we can improve how we convey weather related risk and hazards going beyond the traditional text and graphical warnings. I hope to brainstorm with other members of WASIS on this and other subjects.
 Wendy Pearson
I recently completed a Masters in Business Administration with a Certificate in Project Management in June 2006. I have completed several graduate courses in Hydrology and my under graduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Iowa State (1993). I have worked for the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) for over 15 years. In those 15 years, I have worked in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Missouri. For the last eight years I have been the NWS Central Region Headquarters, Regional Service Support Hydrologist. I am currently leading several exciting projects involving Flood Inundation Mapping, NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) Web Page design and implementation, GIS and Internet Map Service integration with NWS operations, and incorporating societal impacts into weather and water resource forecasting and service product development. Over the last seven years, I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Shripad Deo, a Social Scientist with Colorado State University, on improving NWS customer interaction through AHPS Customer Focus Groups and NWS web page Usability Testing. I am looking forward to participating in WAS*IS for the opportunity to network and collaborate with other people interested in integrating social science into the Weather Enterprise and NWS Weather, Water, and Climate service programs.
 Ivan Ramirez
Ivan is a second year doctoral student in the Department of Geography at Michigan State University (MSU). He has a M.A. in Climate and Society from Columbia University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Hunter College of the City University of New York. His research interests are related to health, climate, and weather extremes. He is particularly interested in weather events related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation and how they impact human and ecosystem health. Ivan is also interested in understanding population vulnerability and why certain populations or groups of people are more susceptible to the untoward effects of these climatic events compared to others who live in similar locations. His regional study area of interest is northwestern South America.
At MSU, Ivan works as a research assistant in the Medical Geography Laboratory and studies a range of health problems from health disparities in Michigan to vector-borne diseases in Africa. This past February he traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to conduct research on African sleeping sickness.
Ivan is also a remote research associate for the Center for Capacity Building at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). During the summer of 2006 he worked with Dr. Lino Naranjo Diaz (MeteoGalicia, Spain) and Dr. Elsa Galarza (Universidad del Pacífico, Peru) under the guidance of Dr. Michael H. Glantz to develop an El Niño Affairs program that enhances institutional, community, and individual capacities in Latin American populations so they can better understand and respond to extreme weather events related to El Niño and La Niña. Ivan has continued to develop the El Niño Affairs website and will be returning this summer to work at NCAR.
 Craig Schmidt
I have spent 20 years in the National Weather Service, working my way across the west as an operational meteorologist in Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon before settling in as a regional program manager for the NWS Western Region in Salt Lake City UT. My educational background includes a B.S. from the University of Missouri in Atmospheric Science, and some graduate work in Meteorology at the University of Utah during my intern days. I have also enjoyed numerous leadership and customer service courses both in and out of the NWS; I am a graduate of Western Region's Leadership and Innovation for Tomorrow program, will be returning as a facilitator for a new class this fall.
My most rewarding professional experience was being part of the weather forecast team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Our team of 15 meteorologists from the NWS, Canada, and Australia used experimental technology to create detailed weather information for dozens of event venues, while providing information to security interests and international media. We took great pride in knowing that no event suffered a weather delay or major health issue, even though we had plenty of thunderstorm and extreme heat activity during the Games.
I am currently working on a number of projects aimed at improving the service provided by our organization, especially for high-impact events, and look forward to bouncing ideas off the WAS*IS group. I am especially interested in finding better ways to provide services to our partners and customers, and to find effective methods to measure the impact of those services.
 Andrea Schumacher
I am currently a Research Associate at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) in Fort Collins, CO specializing in tropical cyclone formation. I earned an M.S. in Atmospheric Science in May 2004, and my graduate research focused on idealized modeling of tropical cyclone genesis. After spending 2 years pursuing a career in small business ownership, I decided to return to my true passion of hurricane research.
I have been working at CIRA since July 2007 under the direction of Dr. Mark DeMaria. My current project entails extending a tropical cyclone formation probability product originally developed for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basin to the Central and Western Pacific basins. This product will provide real-time, objective guidance to forecasters who are responsible for predicting tropical cyclone formation in those regions.
I was drawn to hurricane research because it gives me the opportunity to use my scientific background to solve problems and help people. Although the science I do is interesting in itself, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of why my work is so important. Professionally, I am attending the WAS*IS workshop because it is crucial for scientists like me to understand the potential societal impacts our work has so that we can better prioritize our projects and appropriately tailor them to the end user. Personally, I am attending WAS*IS to build a better foundation for why I do what I do and to connect with others who share in my desire to bridge the gap between weather research and societal needs.
 Russ Schumacher
I am currently a PhD student in the atmospheric science department at Colorado State University, hoping to finish within the next 6-12 months. I received my B.S. degree in meteorology and humanities from Valparaiso University ( Indiana ) and an M.S. in atmospheric science at Colorado State. My research interests include midlatitude convection, precipitation systems, and flash floods. Most of my research to this point has dealt with the meteorological aspects of flash-flood-producing storms. However, other disciplines such as hydrology and engineering are just as important in understanding and predicting where and when a flash flood will occur. I look forward to participating in WAS*IS where people from these different backgrounds can work together to conduct research that is not only scientifically important but socially relevant as well.
 Mike Seaman
I am currently a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, UT. After receiving my Bachelor's of Science in Meteorology from the University of Utah in the spring of 2000, I began my NWS career as an intern in Elko, NV. I moved to Kansas City, MO as a journeyman forecaster in the summer of 2001, and was promoted to a lead forecaster in Kansas City in the spring of 2003. I moved back to Salt Lake City during the summer of 2005, where I currently reside.
My interests in weather primarily center on severe weather and convection. Through my career with the National Weather Service, I've focused many of my efforts on outreach and education, particularly with regards to fostering stronger relationships with our customers and partners. Much of my research and developmental work has revolved around warning verification, and how to improve overall NWS warning performance. I'm also interested in how to better public response to high impact weather events, as well as the potential impact of significant weather events at large venues and gatherings.
 Kathleen Sherman-Morris
I am an assistant professor at Mississippi State University in the department of Geosciences. I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and went to Mansfield University for my BS. After I graduated, I came to MSU to work on a master's degree in Broadcast Meteorology (with the intention of going into TV weather). I changed career goals, but have remained in the south, returning to MSU as an instructor while finishing a PhD in Geography from Florida State.
Over the past few years, I have taught our Broadcast Meteorology practicum classes, along with courses in our two distance learning programs. I've also been able to teach a number of field courses, mostly across the Western US. During the spring and fall, I teach primarily distance learning classes while also working on research. Some of my recent projects have included the relationship people develop with their TV weathercaster, local news coverage patterns and hurricane evacuation fatigue in FL newspapers. In general, my research focuses on hazards and mass media.
I am looking forward to participating in the WAS*IS workshop and the opportunity to meet all of the other participants. I hope to gain some insight into the decisions made by the different users and producers of weather information, and hopefully to get some new ideas while I'm there.
 Dan Stillman
As science communications manager at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Arlington, Virginia, I write educational Earth science and space science stories for the NASA Web site. I also develop various education and outreach publications for NASA and NOAA, write articles for publications such as Imaging Notes about the application of environmental information for societal needs, manage and support student photo and art contests with Earth science themes, and recently led a BBC project on the public's perceived impacts of climate change on local environments.
In my role as executive editor and lead meteorologist for CapitalWeather.com, I forecast weather for Washington DC and vicinity; communicate the forecast to the general public and convey forecast uncertainty; edit Web site content for accuracy, style and appearance; and help guide the strategic direction of the site.
As a freelance writer, I have written numerous articles for various publications, including the Washington Post and Weatherwise magazine, that explain the science of weather and weather forecasting to kids and adults.
Previously, I was an editorial assistant for the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and before that a meteorologist at Earth Satellite Corporation in Rockville, Maryland. I have an M.S. in meteorology from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences from the University of Michigan.
My interest in WAS*IS stems from my fascination with how the general public interprets elements of the weather forecast. Also, I believe that the potential exists for greater communication and coordination among those within the research and operational meteorology communities. I hope that I can be a part of fostering this through WAS*IS, and I look forward to working together with WAS*IS participants during the workshop and in the months and years that follow.
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