ANNOUNCEMENTS
AASC Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The AASC stands in solidarity with all who are affected and outraged by racism, institutional violence, and systemic bias directed toward Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and all marginalized people. In advancing the development and delivery of science-based climate services1, diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential values that produce the best science and ensure its broadest applications.
We are committed to promoting and enhancing an inclusive culture in the AASC and are taking action to increase participation in climate science by populations historically underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. We advocate for improved access to climate services by BIPOC communities and those disproportionately vulnerable to climate risks.
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2021 AASC New Scientist Award in Applied Climatology
We are happy to announce that nominations are now being accepted for our 12th annual competition, which is meant to encourage and recognize research significant to the field of applied climatology. This year, the award has been expanded to include research in applied climatology as a part of either a masters degree-level thesis or a doctoral-level dissertation. With the academic year just underway, this is the ideal time to identify promising candidates for this competition.
The winning nominee will receive an award plaque, a cash award of $1000, one year of Associate Membership in the AASC, and will be invited to present their research at the next Annual Meeting of the AASC. The award includes waiving of the registration fee to present their research at the Annual Meeting of the AASC and up to $1000 of out-of-pocket travel expenses for that purpose.
Nominations are solicited on behalf of any graduate program in North America and the U.S. Territories. The nominator must be an active member of the American Association of State Climatologists (e.g., State Climatologist, Regional Climatologist, Department Chair, or other professional colleague). The nomination package must include an original letter of nomination, along with a summary of the research (as published in a refereed journal, in galley-proof format, or a summary manuscript limited to no more than 20 pages, including figures), and the research must be in the field of applied climatology.
To be eligible for AASC’s New Scientist Award in Applied Climatology, a nominee’s degree must have been awarded within the last three calendar years prior to the award nomination submission deadline (Sunday, 28 February 2021).
See the Award Program web page for full details, to include all requirements, deadlines and evaluation considerations.
AASC Mesonet Committee Members Published in AMS Journal
Chris Fiebrich, Kevin Brinson, Rezaul Mahmood, Stu Foster, Megan Schargorodski, Nathan Edwards, Christopher Redmond, Jennie Atkins, Jeff Andresen and Xiaomao Lin recently published the article, Towards the Standardization of Mesoscale Meteorological Networks in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology.
This article builds on work the Committee began in 2016 to assemble mesonet operators and assess current practices and capacities of US mesonets with the goal of identifying best practices and developing guidelines for effective mesonets. Subsequent workshops and writing sessions led to creation of the AASC Recommendations and Best Practices for Mesonets guide presented to and approved by AASC membership at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Santa Rosa, California.
Chris Fiebrich presented on this work at the AMS 25th Conference on Applied Climatology in Boston in January 2020. Our Mesonet Committee is planning next steps to continue this work to better support our growing Mesonet Community. If you missed the Mesonet Townhall portion of AASC Climate Fridays in June of this year, where we discussed some of the priority topics for the community, you can go to the AASC YouTube Channel and check it out here.
The 2018 Edition of The State Climatologist Is Now Available
You can download a pdf of the entire report here. Published each June for the prior year, The State Climatologist is AASC’s annual compendium describing the programs and activities of all state climate offices throughout the United States who have achieved designation as an AASC-Regcognized State Climate Office (ARSCO). These are state climate offices that have demonstrated the highest standards for applied climate service, as outlined by the AASC. Reports from state climate offices aspiring to achieve ARSCO designation are also included, as well as a report from our federal partners at NCEI.
The American Association of State Climatologists advances the development and delivery of science-based climate services at the state and local levels. AASC works to support a society in which climate-sensitive decisions are guided by science-based information derived from historical and current observed climate and scenarios of future climate.
STATE MEMBERS
