Complimentary Max Training for Up-and-Coming Meteorologists

Beginning in the Spring of 2019, The Weather Company, an IBM Business launched the Max University Challenge. This is a friendly competition amongst various schools on their usage of the Max broadcast solution. The goal is to provide more in-depth training to these future meteorologists so when they graduate from college and secure a job, they will already know the technology and how to produce compelling weather graphics and presentations.

As part of this program, The Weather Company offers two tutorials covering the Max basics as well as tips and tricks and training on the most overlooked but powerful features, so they can produce a winning scene. Then a particular assignment is provided as well as a rubric that defines how they will be scored.

The judges are available throughout the challenge to answer any questions or provide guidance. At the end of the challenge, each school is given detailed feedback in terms of what they did well and what could be improved. Small prizes and a trophy are awarded to the winner.

The feedback from the professors and students has been amazing with one professor emailing to say, “Thank you so much for taking the time to host this event each semester. My students have really improved their Max skills and are even more prepared to enter the weather broadcasting world“.

It’s basically complimentary Max training from the experts in the industry. Since its inception,~88 students from 35 universities have participated including Florida State University (a four-time winner), The Pennsylvania State University, Northern Vermont University, University of Miami, Mizzou University, Rutgers University, University of Washington, Plymouth State University and others.

The benefits are mutual in that The Weather Company learns something new each semester in terms of what resonates with this younger demographic and how the Max solution can be used in unique ways. Here is a link to one of the winning videos by Florida State University.

In this AMS session, The Weather Company would like to explain the Max University Challenge to students and also offer a short Max training session to ensure they’re getting the most out of Max to create engaging, informative weather presentations.