Ariel Cohen (NWS Topeka, KS, Science and Operations Officer) teamed up with Brian Haines (NWS Wilmington, OH, Forecaster), Alan Gerard (Chief of the National Severe Storms Laboratory Warning Research and Development Division), Lisa Gerard (Alan’s wife), and John Banghoff (graduate student in meteorology at Pennsylvania State University) to deliver a dozen classes of instruction and hands-on severe weather forecasting activities to approximately 350 students at Ariel’s hometown schools in Worthington and Columbus, Ohio.

Ariel Cohen (NWS Topeka, KS) working with 9th grade science students and teacher Brian Luthy at Thomas Worthington
High School, Worthington, Ohio.  Photo: Lisa Gerard

At Ariel’s high school, Thomas Worthington High School, the presenters introduced ninth grade students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program and general science classes to meteorological analysis and forecasting. Students learned about the ingredients for severe thunderstorms, and how hand analysis of weather observations plays a key role in diagnosing environmental conditions potentially favorable for severe storm development. The presenters guided students through a hands-on activity, in which the freshmen manually analyzed their own surface weather maps corresponding to a tornado event. They simulated the issuance and verification of their own Tornado Watches based upon their analyses, and even experienced the importance of leading team collaboration and consensus-building for forecasts. Students gained appreciation for the importance of studying science to message potentially critical, life-saving information pertinent to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

For the students at Ariel’s elementary school, Worthington Estates Elementary School, this was an opportunity to introduce fourth graders to the basics of weather and forecasting, along with severe weather safety. Students rotated through different classrooms in which presenters showed photos and videos illustrating severe storms and tornadoes, discussed severe weather safety, illustrated remote sensing and meteorological instrumentation, and led hands-on activities in which students created their own weather instruments. The team of presenters also led atmospheric sciences students at Ariel’s and John’s alma mater, Ohio State University, through a severe weather forecasting workshop, where students used meteorological data to collaborate their own simulated outlooks in small groups, before reaching a class outlook consensus. Students learned the value of collaboration and teamwork in providing an improved, unified, and consistent message of important forecast information.

Bryan Baerg (NWS Topeka, KS) speaking to students at McPherson Middle School in McPherson, KS.

This is the second year that Ariel has worked with Alan, Lisa, and others to deliver outreach to his hometown schools. Students and teachers have shown tremendous appreciation for the meteorologists giving back to the schools, which not only strengthens bonds between the NWS and the community, but also motivates students to achieve their dreams. Yet another meteorologist at NWS Topeka has undertaken similar initiatives. NWS Topeka Meteorologist Bryan Baerg has also reached out to his middle school in McPherson, KS, McPherson Middle School, where he presented to around 300 students in the past year. He taught students about what a day in the life of an NWS employee is like, severe storm ingredients, weather safety, and career paths in meteorology. Similar to Ariel for his hometown schools, this was a very special opportunity for Bryan to inspire students at his hometown school to pursue their dreams.