SMG meteorologists Doris Hood and Tim Oram work at SMG's WeatherFest booth at the AMS Meeting. Photo credit: Tammi Barreras, NWS/SMG
(Feb. 13, 2008) - The American Meteorological Society (AMS) sponsored the 7th Annual WeatherFest, an interactive science and weather fair for children of all ages. WeatherFest was the kickoff event for the annual AMS Conference at the New Orleans, LA convention center,in January. NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) staff members Doris Hood, Tim Oram, and Tammi Barreras supported the SMG booth at WeatherFest.
SMG's booth represented both the NWS/SMG and NASA/Johnson Space Center, and included models of the Space Shuttle, Ares I and Ares IV vehicles. Over 3000 people -- mostly students -- attended the 4-hour event and the SMG WeatherFest booth.
WeatherFest is an interactive science and weather fair designed to instill a love for math and science in children of all ages and to spark a young person's interest in this field. This event is designed to promote science and mathematic literacy, as well as weather safety through an understanding of meteorology and oceanography. Families and individuals will enjoy a wide variety of hands-on experiments and exhibits staffed by teachers and scientists from government, university, television, radio and private industry. The next WeatherFest will be Sunday, January 11, 2009 in Phoenix, AZ.