Frank Flocke, FRAPPÉ Principal Investigator, retraces his path to a career in atmospheric chemistry.
As the Operations Manager at the NCAR Wyoming Computing Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming since before the facility's opening in 2012, Gary New sees his role as being responsive to his talented team and their various work-related needs, not the other way around. Based upon his team's track record, his approach seems to be working.
Geoff Tyndall runs a chemical kinetics laboratory full of high-tech instrumentation, including reaction chambers, lasers, spectrometers, and other air sampling devices.
When Hector Socas-Navarro was 10 years old, he watched Cosmos, Carl Sagan's famous television series about the universe and our place in it. It was then that he decided to become a scientist.
Henry Boynton can tell you what the atmosphere looks like at 51,000 feet above Earth's surface, a good 15,000 feet higher than most commercial airplanes venture. "The biggest thing you notice is that the sky is a lot bluer," he observes.
James Done examines weather forecasts generated by computer models to better understand storms and other kinds of severe weather as well as long-term climate.
Jielun Sun likens data analysis to a form of meditation. "It's all about discovery," she explains. "Every time I look at data, I see something and feel like I learn things."
"It's fun to make something happen that at first glance seems impossible," says Jim Smith.
"Jacques Cousteau was my idol while growing up," confesses Joanie Kleypas. The undersea world revealed in his groundbreaking television programs inspired Joanie to become an ocean scientist.
As a field project coordinator, it's not enough for José Meitín to understand complex scientific concepts and know how to use cutting-edge instruments. He also needs a flair for foreign diplomacy, proficiency in several languages, and a capacity for great patience when dealing with customs officials.