The NOAA Educational Partnership Program Cooperative Science Center the NOAA CENTER for ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
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Semi-Annual Performance Report for Cooperative Agreement #:NA11SEC4810003 Reporting Period: March 1, 2012 to August 31, 2012 The NOAA Educational Partnership Program Cooperative Science Center THE NOAA CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES Dr. Vernon R. Morris Director and Principal Investigator Participating Institutions Howard University (Lead Institution) Jackson State University University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez University of Texas at El Paso State University of New York at Albany University of Maryland College Park NCAS Semi Annual Report (March 1, 2012– August 31, 2012) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director Table of Contents A. Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………............2-4 I. Overview………….…………………………………………………………………………..2 II. Highlights and Major Accomplishments……………………………………………………3 III. Student Success Stories……………………………………………………………………...4 B. Performance Report.....................................................................................................................5-25 I. Cooperative Research Activities…………………………………...…………………..... 5-18 1. Climate and Weather Analyses and Prediction .............................................................. 5 2. Air Quality Analyses and Forecasting ............................................................................ 7 3. Observational Program in Support of NCAS Research in Training ............................. 13 4. Social, Behavioral and Economics (SBE) Sciences Component .................................. 16 II. Education & Outreach Efforts……………………………………………….....……….…18 1. Degree Programs and Training ..................................................................................... 18 2. Informal and Community Outreach .............................................................................. 19 3. K-12 Outreach………………………………………………………………………...19 III. Photo Gallery……………………………………………………………………………. 21 C. Appendix………………..…………………………………………………………………………..24-35 1. Detailed Breakdown of NCAS Leveraged Funding..................................................... 24 2. NCAS Calendar of Activities....................................................................................... 25 3. Publication/Presentation List ........................................................................................ 26 4. Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... 29 1 NCAS Semi Annual Report (March 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director A. Executive Summary Howard University’s NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences (NCAS) has been awarded $2.625M for year one in 2011 and up to $15 million over the next five years by the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program (EPP) to conduct research and educational efforts in weather, climate, air quality, and environmental literacy. NCAS, a consortium of six educational institutions led by Howard University, has been supported by the core funding from the Department of Commerce since 2001. The partner schools are Jackson State University, the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Texas El Paso, State University of New York Albany and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. NCAS expands the Centers research into the Social & Behavioral and Economics Sciences. Joining in this new area of research are four new faculty members from Howard University with extensive social science research expertise that will enable the Center to extend its research to include the societal dimension of environmental change, its measurement and its prediction. NCAS welcomes: Dr. Carolyn Stroman (Associate Professor of Communication and Culture), Dr. Tia Tyree (Assistant Professor of Journalism), Dr. Cynthia Winston (Associate Professor of Psychology) and Dr. Terri Adam-Fuller (Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology). The following semi-annual report details the activities conducted during March 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012 As NCAS enters its second year of its third five-year cycle, we are pleased to report achievements in both education and research. The Center maintains robust collaborations and educational partnerships with the NOAA National Weather Service (National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), Office of Operational Service (OOS), and various Weather Forecast Office (WFOs)), OAR (Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) scientists), and National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Service (NESDIS) (research and joint publications). Several of the highlights from this reporting period are listed below. NCAS performance is primarily evaluated on the basis of the following measures: A. Number of students from underrepresented communities who are trained and graduate in NOAA‐mission sciences annually [33, 3 graduated] B. Number of students who are trained and graduate in NOAA‐mission sciences annually; [41 trained, 3 graduated] C. Number of students completing experiential opportunities at NOAA facilities; [9] D. Number of EPP funded students who are hired by NOAA, NOAA contractors and other environmental, natural resource, and science agencies at the Federal, State, local and tribal levels, in academia and the private sector; [2] E. Number of collaborative research projects undertaken between NOAA and MSI partners in support of NOAA operations; [23] F. Number of students and faculty who participate in and complete postdoctoral level research programs in support of the NOAA mission; [7] G. Number of peer reviewed papers published in NOAA‐mission sciences by scientists (faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students) sponsored by NOAA EPP; [9] H. Funds leveraged with NOAA EPP funds (including student support); and, I. Number of outreach participants engaged in NOAA mission relevant learning opportunities. [5000] The performance in each category for this reporting period is listed above in the emboldened brackets. NCAS continues to be a leader on the national stage in the production and training of African Americans and Hispanics in the atmospheric sciences at all levels of education. NCAS is developing a model for public school interaction through the Adopt-a-school program and has established a national model for 2 NCAS Semi Annual Report (March 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director summer camp exposure and training in atmospheric sciences through the CAREERS middle school and high school camps. The undergraduate programs supported at JSU (Meteorology), the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (Atmospheric Sciences), and UTEP (Atmospheric Physics) lead the nation in the number of African American and Hispanic students exposed to NOAA mission relevant learning within academic degree programs. The HUPAS graduate program at HU is the national leader at the PhD level. During this reporting period, NCAS conducted a comprehensive suite of training and outreach events. NCAS sponsoring 5 summer camps, 4 Science Fests, participated in 4 science fairs, hosted 6 tours to NOAA facilities, conducted 9 interactions with public schools, conducted 2 training seminars, and presented 1 seminar at a NOAA facility. These events reached over 5000 students across thirteen states, the District of Columbia, and two US territories (Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands). Co-sponsored events (the CAREERS affiliate camps in New York, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Houston, Texas) reached an additional 70 students in an additional four states. HIGHLIGHTS AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS EDUCATIONAL MILESTONES Three NCAS supported students completed their degrees during this period, while another three students were recruited to the HUPAS programs to begin their graduate education in NOAA mission relevant disciplines. The graduates are listed below. NCAS Doctoral Recipient: Dr. Rufus White (Advisor: Dr. Vernon R. Morris). HU NCAS student Rufus White successfully defended his doctoral dissertation titled: A Statistical and Theoretical Investigation of the Chemistry of the Formation of Atmospheric Particles in Beltsville, Maryland via Observations of Physical Properties on October 27, 2011. Dr. White was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry in May 2012. NOAA employee, Ariel Stein served on the dissertation committee. Dr. White started June 18, 2012 as a Physical Scientist with the Department of Defense. NCAS Master Recipients Mariana Guereque (Advisor: Drs. Rosa Fitzgerald and Thomas Gill). UTEP NCAS student Mariana Guereque successfully defended her master thesis titled: Aerosol Particle Size Distributions Observed during AEROSE V Campaign on May 4, 2012. Ms. Guereque was awarded the Master of Science in Geological Sciences in May of 2012. NCAS Bachelor Recipient: Keyaara Robinson (Advisor: Dr. Vernon R. Morris). HU NCAS student Keyaara Robinson an active member of Dr. Morris research group received her Bachelor of Science degree in 3 NCAS Semi Annual Report (March 1, 2012 – August 31, 2012) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director Chemistry in May of 2012. Keyaara performed her undergraduate research on the flux of particulate matter at street level inside the Washington, DC urban canopy. Success Stories: The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez student Ana Patricia Torres participated in a nine- week summer internship at NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. This year she was awarded