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News From the Department

Library Workshops in February for Graduate Students

Compiling a Literature Review: Atmospheric Sciences
Sessions will cover the literature search process and are intended for those starting a research project, dissertation, or publication. We'll cover resources, techniques, and key databases that are important for effectively searching the literature of the atmospheric sciences.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1-2 PM in Room 823
*NEW TIME* Feb. 16, 11-12 in Room 1411
Thursday, Feb. 23, 3:30-4:30 PM in Room 823
For more information, Schwerdtfeger Library, Room 317

Professor Ackerman named Interim Associate Dean for the Physical Sciences

Steve Ackerman, Professor of atmospheric & oceanic sciences and the director of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) has been named interim associate dean for the phyiscal sciences. He started with his new post in the UW Graduate School on Jan. 13.
Congratulations Steve!
For more information, http://www.news.wisc.edu/20263

Satellite Renamed to Honor Verner Suomi, UW Satellite Pioneer

(Photo Courtesy of NASA/Ball Aerospace)

NASA has renamed its newest Earth-observing satellite in honor of the late Verner E. Suomi, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin who is widely recognized as "the father of satellite meteorology". The announcement was made Jan. 24 at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society in New Orleans.

For NASA Press Release: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/jan/HQ_12-026_NPP_Name.html

NASA Webiste for SuomiNPP: http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/photos.html

Professor Martin receives Vilas Distinguished Service Professorship

AOS Department Chair and Professor Jonathan Martin has been awarded the Vilas Distinguished Service Professorship. The award recognizes professors whose distinguished scholarship has advanced the confines of knowledge, and who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and/or service. He will carry the title of Vilas Distinguished Service Professor for the duration of his career at UW-Madison. Congratulations Jon!

UW-AOS Alumni Reception at 2012 AMS Annual Meeting - UPDATE - Change of room

If you are attending the AMS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, please join us for the fifth annual UW-Madison Alumni Reception! It will be on Tuesday night, Jan. 24, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 in the STARBOARD Room, Riverside Building. Don't forget to pick up your Bucky Badger pin when you stop by for food, drinks, and reminiscing with old friends and current collegues.

AOS Fall/Winter 2011 Newsletter

You can download our most recent bi-annual newsletter in PDF format. Read about all the recent and upcoming events at UW-Madison AOS. Download the Fall/Winter 2011 newsletter now.
Earlier newsletters are still available on the Alumni Page

AOS Adjunct Professor Recipient of NOAA Award

Dr. Jim Kossin, AOS adjunct professor, will be picking up his NOAA Gold Medal in DC "for excellence in research and data stewardship leading to a more confident assessment of the influence of human-induced climate change on hurricanes".

SSEC's Tim Schimit will also be receiving the NOAA Silver Medal "For revolutionizing NOAA Science Tests for geostationary satellites, significantly reducing the likelihood of a single satellite configuration."

Congratulations Jim and Tim!

Professor Steve Ackerman inducted as Fellow to the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters

On Sunday, November 6, 2011, Professor Ackerman was inducted as a fellow, along with six other inductees. The Wisconsin Academy of Science , Arts and Letters was founded in 1870 to "bring context, civilized discussion, and meaningful action to the most important issues and ideas of today". The Academy is also featuring Prof. Ackerman in their Member Spotlight. To read more about the induction ceremony, check out Dave Zweifel's column in the Capital Times

Beyond the Edge of the Sea Exhibit and Reception with artist Karen Jacobson and Dr. Cindy Lee Van Dover, Director Duke University Marine Laboratory

Beyond the Edge of the Sea...will be showing at the Ebling Library for the Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from September 28, 2011-January 31, 2012.Beyond the Edge was brought to UW in conjunction with UW-Madison's Geology Museum, with funding provided by the NASA Astrobiology Institute. A reception featuring Dr. Cindy Lee Van Dover and Karen Jacobsen will be held Friday, November 11, 2010 from 3:00-6:00 in the Ebling's 3rd floor galleries. For information contact: Micaela at msullivan@library.wisc.edu.
For more about the exhibit: Link

Professor Desai's Outreach Class Featured by UW Communications Slideshow

Professor Desai, his graduate students, and participants from several Universities and labs conducted a field course, Forest and Climate Leaders in Menominee and the Environment, with Native American students from the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, WI. The course was made possible with funding from National Science Foundation (NSF), Prof. Desai's Lab, and the Center for Climatic Research (CCR). It was held at both Professor Desai's field sites in Northern Wisconsin and at the UW-Madison Kemp Natural Resources Station in Woodruff, WI. UW Madison Communications featured the course in one of their slide shows:
  http://www.news.wisc.edu/slideshows/59/slides/447

Schwedtfeger Library Photo Contest Winners

The Schwerdtfeger Library annouced the winners to the 2011 Photo Contest. Congratulations to Professor Grant Petty for winning first place, and AOS Graduate students, Dima Smirnov (2nd place) and Matt Sitkowski (3rd place). Visit Photo Contest website to view the winning photos and all of the beautiful entries: http://library.ssec.wisc.edu/photo_Contest/

Graduate Students Sitkowski and Roubert Join Hurricane Hunter Mission

Graduate students Matthew Sitkowski and Lisha Roubet, along with CIMSS Researcher Chris Rozoff joined the NOAA Hurrican Hunter to fly into the eye of Hurricane Irene. See the NOAA News Article.

2011 Student Awards

Congratulations to the following outstanding AOS students (view pictures):

• Matt Rydzik – Schwerdtfeger Award for excellent performance in first year graduate studies
• Hester Leung – Lettau Award for outstanding performance as a Teaching Assistant
• John Sears and Brent Maddux – Colloquium Student Service Award for creative dedication to the department's intellectual life
• Tim Wagner – Wahl Award for outstanding performance as a Teaching Assistant
• Andre Perkins – Horn Award for excellence in overall performance as an undergraduate
• Zachary Gruskin – Sunkel Award for exceptional scholarly potential as an undergraduate

AOS Affiliated faculty Holloway and Williams named Leopold Leadership Fellows

AOS Affiliated Professor Tracey Holloway and AOS Adjunct Professor Jack Williams have been awarded Leopold Leadership Fellowships for 2011. Congratulations to both!

Galen McKinley to receive Distinguished Teaching Award

AOS Professor Galen McKinley has been selected to receive this year's Class of 1955 Distinguished Teaching Award! The award will be bestowed at a ceremony on April 27. Congratulations!.

UW-AOS alum Louis Uccellini voted the new AMS president-elect

Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of NOAA/NWS/NCEP, and UW-Madison AOS alum (B.S. '71, M.S. '72, and Ph.D. '77), is now president-elect of the American Meteorological Society. He will take over as President of the AMS in January, 2012. Congratulations!

2011 AMS Solstice party - Friday Feb. 4

The 2011 AMS Solstice Party will be Friday, February 4th from 5:30-9:00pm at the Lowell Center. Similar to last year, the evening will feature an Italian Buffet (including a vegetarian option) followed by a Variety Show of different skits performed by students, professors,and anyone else interested in showing off their talents! Those interested in preparing a skit can contact an AMS officer at ams@aos.wisc.edu.

Tickets for the event are $25 for AMS chapter members and $30 for non-members. AMS chapter members can bring up to one additional guest at the discounted price. The cost covers the buffet, dessert, beer (for those of age), and a non-alcoholic beverage option. A cash bar will also be available for those who prefer another drink of choice. Dress for the event is semi-formal.

A sign-up sheet is available in room 849. Please sign up by Friday, January 28th and pay by either check or cash when you sign up. Checks can be made out to 'AMS'. We are all extremely excited about the event and hope that you will join us at this yearly celebration!

Prof. Galen McKinley featured in NASA TV video

AOS Professor Galen McKinley was featured in a NASA TV video about the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in December 2010. In the video, Professor McKinley describes her research on the global carbon cycle, as well as her experience at AGU. View the video on youtube!

Emeritus Prof. Donald Johnson receives award

AOS Emeritus Professor Donald Johnson received the 2010 Excellence in Geophysical Education Award from the American Geophysical Union! The award was presented at the Honor Ceremony during the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2010. Congratulations, Dr. Johnson!

Prof. Liu elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union

AOS Professor Zhengyu Liu has been elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union! This election puts Liu in a rarified group, as only one in a thousand members is elected to Fellowship each year. Liu received his Fellows certificate at the Honor Ceremony during the AGU Fall Meeting in December 2010. Congratulations, Liu!

Check out Prof. McKinley's Carbon Cycle web site

AOS Professor Galen McKinley maintains a website that explains the global carbon cycle and its links to climate change. The centerpiece of the site is a java applet in which users define the future trajectories of carbon sources and sinks, and quickly see the impact on the atmospheric CO2 concentration.

Check out the Carbon Cycle web site at http://carboncycle.aos.wisc.edu - Spanish version also available.