NCAR Field Trip Helps Students Network

The School of Natural Resources launched a new field trip opportunity for graduate students during Spring Break 2008. A group of almost 30 faculty, staff, and students from SNR and the Department of Geosciences visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. Plans are to make this spring break field trip an annual event for SNR students and faculty.

NCAR is a scientific research lab sponsored by the National Science Foundation. NCAR’s mission is to understand the behavior of the atmosphere and related systems, and to foster the transfer of knowledge and technology for the betterment of life on Earth.

NCAR organized an outstanding program for its UNL guests. Following an overview of NCAR by Tim Killeen, Director, they had the opportunity to learn about NCAR's research programs in societal impacts, climate and global dynamics, mesoscale and microscale meteorology, and atmospheric chemistry. The group also visited the supercomputing facilities and the 3-D Visualization Lab. Students had the opportunity to learn about the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) program and the Advanced Study Program and life at NCAR as a post-doctoral research associate. This program is an opportunity for SNR Ph.D. students following graduation. One of the many highlights of the program was a presentation by Dr. Olga Wilhelmi, a former SNR graduate student, currently a project scientist working in the societal impacts program and in the application of GIS to atmospheric sciences. Olga interacted throughout the day with graduate students.

"I'm very glad I attended,” said SNR graduate student Melissa Melvin. “It was motivating and inspiring to learn about the research activities at NCAR, and networking with the scientists was a great experience too. They have amazing facilities, and we couldn't ask for more beautiful scenery. One of the most valuable parts of the trip for me was hearing about their integrated research activities. Integrated climate and social science activities are extremely important, and it was inspiring to meet people outside of UNL who are also very passionate about the topic!”

“It was nice to hear somebody besides the people in SNR saying social science and policy are a huge component of earth science and atmospheric science, more so than ever with climate change going on,” said SNR graduate student Sandra Jones.

Don Wilhite, Director of SNR, participated in the fieldtrip, and noted that he had the opportunity to meet the Founding Director of NCAR, Walter Orr Roberts, on several occasions. “One such interaction was when Walt contacted me in 1988 during the peak of the drought in the U.S. to request that I attend a meeting of governors with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to discuss the drought situation in the country,” Don said. “Walt was invited initially by the governors to talk about the future prospects for ongoing drought conditions in the country. Instead, Walt suggested that I attend and discuss the need for federal and state governments to better plan for future drought events. It was a great opportunity for me in the early development stages of my career."

More Photographs from the NCAR Tour

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is based at Mesa Lab, in a spectacular mountain park setting above the city of Boulder, Colorado (photo by Melissa Melvin).

The visit included a tour of the Atmospheric Chemistry Lab (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

The Atmospheric Chemistry Lab includes a greenhouse (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

Students learned how the Supercomputing Lab supports atmospheric research (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

Graduate student Melissa Melvin enjoyed one of many educational displays available in the publicly accessible portion of the Mesa Lab (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

SNR visitors saw NCAR’s Visualization Lab (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

Visitors benefitted from many presentations, both formal and informal, including one by Dr. Olga Wilhelmi, a former student of Don Wilhite, pictured together here. Olga is a project scientist at NCAR working in the societal impacts program and in applying GIS to atmospheric sciences (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

Students took a moment from serious inquiry to enjoy the recreation opportunities available at the Mesa Lab (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

Four deer crossed a snowy ridge behind the Mesa Lab (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).

A snowman stood guard outside Mesa Lab, along with bird deterrents in the windows (photo by Elizabeth Walter-Shea).