SEMINAR: AMS chapter and science fairs

["Neal.Dorst" <Neal.M.Dorst@noaa.gov>]

Our Greater Miami chapter of the AMS has been judging science fairs for several decades now and some may wonder if it is worth the effort.

A recent winner was Edumin Corrales who won, along with a NOAA Weather Radio, a tour of Miami NWSFO/NHC provided by Rusty Pfost.  His

interactions with AMS chapter members encouraged him to pursue a career in science.  Below is an article written by Gail Derr for the AOML

Keynotes and I thought I'd share it with the chapter in hopes you will consider judging future science fairs when the opportunity arises.  Thanks.

Neal Dorst

Begin forwarded message:

AOML Intern to Pursue Career in Meteorology
    AOML student intern Edumin Corrales developed a fascination for hurricanes at an early age. As an 11th grade student at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School in 2009, Edumin competed in the Miami-Dade County Science Fair with a presentation entitled “Which Atlantic factors have caused hurricane seasonal patterns to change in the last 50 years?” Judges Shirley Murillo, Bachir Annane, and Xuejin Zhang, all researchers with AOML’s Hurricane Research Division (HRD), awarded Edumin first place as the best high-school level display about the weather.

    Edumin subsequently applied to the Miami-Dade School Board for a student internship at a NOAA facility and spent the duration of his high school senior year working with HRD researchers. Under the tutelage of Michael Black, Edumin studied dropsonde data from Hurricane Bill (2009) to analyze whether the Saharan Air Layer was a factor in Bill’s weakening. After graduating from high school this past June, Edumin continued working with HRD researchers as one of AOML’s 2010 summer student interns. Alongside Drs. Sylvie Lorsolo and John Gamache, Edumin reprocessed NOAA tail Doppler radar data from Hurricanes Wilma, Rita, Jeanne, Bill, and other storms using new algorithms.

    He is now preparing for his freshmen year at the University of Miami, attending on a half-scholarship to study meteorology.  “I feel that working at AOML better prepared me for college. It gave me hands-on experience. I’m more confident, more organized.  I’ve had to pay attention to details, so I think this will help make the transition easier,” Edumin said in reflecting upon his time at AOML. “It’s also helped me to define my goals for what I need to do to become the best meteorologist I can become.”

    Edumin’s goals are to obtain a Ph.D. in meteorology and one day return to work for HRD as a meteorologist. “It’s the perfect environment for me. I really enjoy research and look forward to flying into hurricanes.  I hope to give back what’s been given to me.”

South Florida Science and Engineering Fairs