Description:

Dr. Ira Geer was the Founding Director of the AMS Education Program. He ran it from 1991 - 2008 while continuing as a Senior Education Fellow until his retirement in 2019. Under Ira’s leadership, the Education Program pioneered the use of real-time data in the classroom. Most programs started by Ira throughout the program’s history are still flourishing today with over 23,000 teachers graduating from various programs since they began. He also spearheaded the involvement of hundreds of minority-serving colleges and universities in AMS programs. In addition to supporting teachers, he led the creation of three AMS textbooks on the topics of meteorology, oceanography, and climate science - all of which are still in publication today. Ira brought the values of work ethic (challenging but fun and rewarding work), team collaboration, treating teachers as valued professionals, and a personal touch that are still present today. 

Dr. Geer passed away in 2023. This session is to celebrate his impact and legacy on the field of Earth Science education. Talks will include:

• A History of the AMS Education Program from 1991 - 2024.
• Memories of Ira: Anecdotes and stories will be shared by those who knew Ira personally.
• The Future of DataStreme: A description of the new model and future plans of Ira’s signature educational program
• The Future of AMS textbooks: A description of the new model and future plans of the three textbooks started under Ira’s tenure
• Additional talks submitted by the public on topics related to Ira’s tenure at AMS. This includes teacher professional development, introductory course undergraduate education, use of data in the classroom, and more.  

We will end with a networking session for educators and staff who have known Ira over the years to reconnect. As part of that, we will start a giant Memorial Card where people can record memories and well wishes - which will be mailed to Ira’s family.