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 AfricanAmerican, American Indian or Alaska
Native, Hispanic or Latino, female, and firstgeneration 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
Of the 114 Protégés who have participated in SOARS
since its inception in 1996





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
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
Hurricane Research
Katrina 8/28/05 1515GMT
Hurricane Katrina Sunday 8/28/05
Katrina: A storm of superlatives
 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
FEMA
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
1979
 Glacial recession
 Arctic sea ice changes
 Changes in precipitation
 Sea-level changes
 Temperature records
2003
NASA-SSMI Composite Data
Past and future rise in sea level
20,000 years ago
2200? ( + 5 meters)
Slide from Warren Washington
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
Mexico City Pollution
NSF/NCAR C130
 Understanding the extent,
persistence, and impacts of
air pollution
Global Societal Impacts
 500-800 natural disasters per
year 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
FEMA
• Half of these deaths
due to flooding
Images: NCAR
Data from Rischard, J.F., 2002
Diversity of Research at NCAR
Meteorologists
Engineers
Chemists
Environmental Scientists
Physicists
Computer Scientists
Social 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
PEER
MENTOR
RESEARCH
MENTOR
SOARS PROTÉGÉ
COMMUNICATIONS
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 Boshell
Mathematics and Physics
Humboldt State University, CA
Return Levels Under a Changing Climate
Marcus Walter
Meteorology
The Pennsylvania State University
Stabilization Scenarios:
Sensitivity of Resulting Emissions Pathways to
Experimental Carbon Turnover Rates for Ocean
Circulation, Vegetation Growth and Soil Respiration
Preliminary Results: A2 Scenario - 800 ppmv by 2100
VegetationSoil Sink
Ocean Sink
ZiZi Searles
Geology
San Francisco State University
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.edu
http://resess.unavco.org/
Thank you !
SOARS Program
soars@ucar.edu
303-497-8622
www.soars.ucar.edu