Using Online Weather Forecasting Games and Data as an Educational Tool

Cantor Abstract submission: 100^th AMS Annual Conference

Using Online Weather Forecasting Games and Data as an Educational Tool

This presentation will be a follow-up to the presentation made at the 47th Conference Broadcast Meteorology, June 14, 2019, and proposes to showcase meteorologists who have either adopted a forecasting “game” as a useful public educational tool and/or believe that forecasting games are useful for an individual meteorologist’s career development.

The presentation will feature a discussion of two different forecasting games, WxChallenge and Forecaster Challenge 2.0 ("FC 2.0"). WxChallenge, offered by the University of Oklahoma since the mid-2000’s, is a non-profit inter-collegiate forecasting game that encourages students to make accurate forecasts in specific cities during the fall and spring academic seasons. FC2.0, offered by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, is a free public game designed to create public awareness around forecasted weather events. FC2.0 is an educational extension of Cantor’s weather risk management business with a focus on small business and retail consumers.

Games of this type have been successful in other verticals, most notably sports (“fantasy leagues”), politics (e.g. “PredictIt”), and entertainment (e.g. “HSX.com”). The presentation will explore how the lessons learned in these other verticals provide insight into the ways that the professional meteorology community may benefit from similar games in the weather vertical.

Specifically, the presentation will discuss how broadcast meteorologists have used or could use the forecasting games to increase their professional opportunities, expand their social media networks and expand weather awareness and will offer insights into the risk and benefits of crowd forecasted weather.

The preferred format for this presentation would be a moderated panel to include representatives from both games and two meteorologists. If such a format is not available, then a presentation will be made by a single speaker.

If the presentation is accepted, FC2.0 has offered to create a special interface for conference attendees to predict Boston’s weather during the conference.