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August Monthly Highlight- Welcome Back

August 28, 2019

The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department has a long history on the UW Madison campus. Founded in 1948, our not-so-small building is often considered the birthplace of satellite meteorology. Some of the first experiments took place in 1959 under the direction of Dr. Verner E. Suomi, a member of the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and often considered the ‘Father of Satellite Meteorology’.

These days, faculty, undergrads, and graduate students alike participate in a wide variety of research, stretching from synoptic scale meteorology to the impacts of climate change. We now have a number of partners both within the building and around campus, including the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), the Nelson Center for Climatic Research (CCR), and the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE).

The department has been recognized across the nation for strong undergraduate and graduate programs, seeing a close-knit group of students graduating each year. As part of an effort to stay connected within the community, the department also has a local chapter of the Atmospheric Meteorological Society. The undergraduate branch meets twice a month, hosting talks and calls with professors and alumni alike, as well as a handful of events throughout the year.

On behalf of the AOS department, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone coming back to campus for the start of the semester. Whether you are a prospective student or have been with us for many years, I hope this year will be a good one.

-Megan Caldwell