Challenges Facing Atmospheric, Earth, and Space Science Departments in Higher Education

Abstract

In final form 14 June 2007 © 2007 American Meteorological Society he 15th biennial meeting of the heads and chairs of programs in atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, and related sciences was held in the fall of 2006. The intent of these meetings is to provide a forum for heads and chairs to come together to share and discuss experiences, concerns, and trends of broad relevance to university geoscience programs. The 2006 meeting was held jointly between the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and American Geophysical Union (AGU), with sponsorship from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). The meeting addressed several contemporary departmental issues and challenges with presentations and breakout sessions. Science presentations provided heads and chairs with a look at new directions in the geosciences. Archives of the meeting presentations are available on the UCAR Web site (online at www.ucar.edu/governance/meetings/ oct06/followup/ams.html). Rick Anthes (incoming AMS President and UCAR President) welcomed meeting attendees and encouraged everyone, especially those representing minority-serving institutions, to become academic affiliates of UCAR and active members of the community. Anthes also informed attendees that the National Research Council (NRC) decadal study Earth science and applications from space: Urgent needs and opportunities to serve the nation was complete. Recommendations from an interim report were incorporated and the final report was released in December 2005. Gene Bierly of AGU described AGU’s work in building stronger partners outside of science via their involvement in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellows Program and Congressional Science Fellowship. Outgoing AMS President Franco Einaudi [National Challenges Facing Atmospheric, Earth, and Space Science Departments in Higher Education