J9 Mind the Gap I: Preparing the Next Generation of Atmospheric Science Students for Careers in the Private Sector

Wednesday, 31 January 2024: 8:30 AM-10:00 AM
308 (The Baltimore Convention Center)
Hosts: (Joint between the 33rd Conference on Education; and the 12th Symposium on the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise )

In many meteorology and atmospheric science programs, students interested in private sector careers experience a gap between the curricular examples and pedagogical tools they see, and the skills and background needed for employment. The 2019 NSF-sponsored workshop titled “Mind the Gap” developed a set of recommendations to address this gap. One key recommendation was to develop pedagogical tools or modules that could be implemented in preexisting atmospheric science core courses to be designed in partnership with relevant private and academic sector representatives and to be integrated into existing course syllabi, preferentially in core courses identified by the AMS standards. This session highlights some of the burgeoning ideas and efforts accomplished in closing the gap.

Papers:
8:45 AM
J9.2
Being Agile in the Environmental Sciences in a Data-driven World
Steven A. Lack, United States Air Force, Offutt AFB, NE; and J. Smith

9:00 AM
J9.3
An Update on Scenario-based COMET Training for Careers in the Weather, Water, and Climate Industry
Adam Hirsch, COMET, Boulder, CO; and A. Smith, C. L. Walker, S. B. Bennett, S. E. Haupt, and E. Page

9:15 AM
J9.4
University of Maryland College Park Preparing Students for Careers in the Private Sector
Stephen B. Bennett, Demex Group, Raliegh, NC; and R. F. Brammer

- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner