THE PUERTO RICO WEATHERCAMP 2014

The Puerto Rico Weather Camp 2014 was held at the facilities of the Department of Marine Sciences, University Of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. For this 8th edition of the weathercamp, 17 high schools students in the different educational activities that focused on the fields of meteorology, atmospheric sciences and oceanography. The student experiences included conferences, laboratories, workshops and field trips with topics in tropical meteorology, climate change, atmospheric research, and coastal observing systems. For this edition of the WeatherCamp a marine robotics workshop was integrated to enchanced the student expereinces in oceanography. This Puerto Rico WeatherCamp was sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). More information on the PR WeatherCamp 2014 in the UPRM News (click on image).

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PUERTO RICO 
WEATHERCAMP 2011

This year 15 students participated in the Puerto Rico Weather Camp 2011 from July 10-16, 2011 at the facilities of the Department of Marine Sciences, University Of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. These high school students from sophomore to seniors had a an educational experience focused on the fields of meteorology, atmospheric sciences and oceanography. The student experiences included conferences, laboratories, workshops and field trips with topics in tropical meteorology, climate change, atmospheric research, and coastal observing systems.

This weathercamp was organized by Yasmin Detres, NOAA-NCAS coordinator for the weathercamp, and was sponsored by Educational Partnership Program for Minority Serving Institutions and the Center for Atmospheric Science of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-NCAS). The weathercamp was also sponsored by the Caribbean Integrated Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS).

For more highlights of the weathercamp, click of this video provided by UPRM News (Prensa RUM )

For more information of the weathercamp, please visit the following link.

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STUDENT RECEIVES NOAA-EPP SCHOLARSHIP

Alexandra Ramos, UPRM student that recently received the EPP Undergraduate Scholarship. Alexandra participated in the Puerto Rico Weather Camp 2008 and is an active member of the American Meteorological Society (UPRM student chapter). She is an undergraduate student at the Physics Department and is completing the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology certification.

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FORMER NCAS WEATHER CAMP STUDENTS PURSUING THEIR GOALS

Former NCAS Weather Camp students are completing undergraduate education at UPRM in various disciplines that includes Physics, Geology and Mathematics.  They are all active members of the American Meteorological Society (UPRM student chapter) and are actually working to acquire the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology certification from the Physics Department.

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The Puerto Rico Weather Camp (PRWC) 2010 was held from June 6 - 12, 2010 at Isla Magueyes Field Station in La Parguera, Lajas (southwestern Puerto Rico). This residential summer camp was sponsored by the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences at UPR Mayaguez and co-sponsored by the Caribbean Integrated Ocean Observing System (CarICOOS, NOAA IOOS). A total of 15 high school students from public and private schools across the Island had the opportunity to explore the diverse academic and professional opportunities in the fields of meteorology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography. These exiting week integrated numerous seminars, workshops and interactive activities to educate about fundamental concepts of meteorology, extreme weather, remote sensing, space weather, coastal weather and Caribbean oceanography, atmospheric aerosols, and climate change, among others.

During the course of the week students also had the opportunity to find out about different careers in these fields by interaction with the invited speakers and through the participation in a videoconference with Scott Stripling (National Hurricane Center), as well as visits to the National Weather Service (San Juan Office) and UNIVISION Puerto Rico Weather Bureau (invited by broadcast meteorologist, Ada Monzon).  CarICOOS at-sea training incorporated a visit to the NOAA ICON CREWS station at Cayo Media Luna, La Parguera, deployment of oceanographic instruments, and on-board seminars about waves, wind and currents. Throughout the week students met Dr. Hector Jimenez, director of UPRM Physics Department, who shared information about the UPRM Program in Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology. The American Meteorological Society (UPRM student chapter) students were in charge of interactive activities during the week. The PRWC was coordinated by Dr. Yasmin Detres from NCAS-UPRM. The UPRM Theoretical Physics students, Alexis Orengo and Janice Maldonado, worked as summer camp assistants.

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THE NOAA CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES (NCAS) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT UPR MAYAGUEZ

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The goals of this program are:

• To provide research experience to undergraduate and graduate student in NOAA related sciences.
• To provide broad exposure and training for local high school students in weather forecasting, environmental modeling, and measurements
  
• To encourage bright underrepresented students to consider science and engineering education and careers in college and beyond through dissemination of educational and career opportunities in atmospheric and marine sciences.
  
• To increase the talent pipeline of students pursuing studies in science and engineering in college.
• Students are engaged in hands-on activities, field experiments, seminars, tours of research facilities, and workshops that expand their knowledge of atmospheric sciences, oceanography, and environmental instrumentation.
  
  

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SUMMER PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
PRESENTATIONS

Bridge to Programs in Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanography: (June 8, 2009) University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. One day workshop designed for students commencing their first year of university with a special interest in Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorological and Oceanographic fields. Activity was focused on experiences and academic opportunities in areas of interest to NOAA.  This workshop integrated seminars and activities with Atmospheric Sciences and Marine Sciences professors and students.

Saharan Dust and Human Health: (July 6, 2009). Dr. Yasmin Detres was interviewed on this topic in the TV show “Entre Nosotras”, (Local TV: WAPA TV channel) on July 6, 2009. This program is transmitted across the Island and on the Internet.

NASA Aerosol Data Network for Student Research: Aerosol and Climate workshop: (July 13-17, 2009) University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. This Symposium was conducted by Dianne Robinson, EPO Director for the African Dust research project lead by Olga Kalishnikova (NASA JPL). The program focused on development  of a network of educators and their students collecting data on aerosols using the hand held sunphotometer and downloading aerosol data to the website. Dr. Detres presented a summary of the NCAS Sahara dust research tools and results.

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WORKSHOPS

The Dynamics of a Changing Universe: Initial Steps for Teachers in their Venture to Achieve Educational Excellence: (July 12-16, 2009) La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico. A retreat experience designed to explore, learn, and share the knowledge of our changing world through field trips to different settings around Puerto Rico (coral reefs, mangroves, salt ponds, dry forest, humid forest, bioluminescent bay) with hands-on activities and seminars. The twenty K-12 STEM teachers from Puerto Rico and the United States learned about the dynamics of the universe and appropriate techniques to transfer this knowledge to teachers, students and the general public. This workshop connected educators and experts in different fields in the venture to achieve educational excellence.

Puerto Rico Weather Camp 2009: (July 27-August 1, 2009) University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. The PRWC was held from July 27 to August 1, 2009. A total of 16 high school students from public and private schools across the island had the opportunity to participate in this unique event to learn about the fields of meteorology, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, and marine weather. The students explored the diverse academic and professional opportunities in these fields with seminars, demonstrations, field trips, site visits, workshops, and special projects. The UPRM Atmospheric Sciences Program, Caribbean Integrated Ocean Observing System (CarICOOS, NOAA), and CoHemis were co-sponsors of this event. Participant agencies and institutions were as follows:

UPRM Program in Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology:
Dr. Hector Jimenez, Dr. Luis Bejarano
Puerto Rico Seismic Network
National Ice Center/ NOAA NESDIS: Dr. Pablo Clemente.
National Weather Service: Meteorologists Rafael Mojica & Orlando Bermudez
UPR - Rio Piedras: Dr. Ricardo Morales
Caribbean Integrated Ocean Observing System: Prof. Julio Morell, Dr. Jorge Corredor, Belitza Brocco, Carlos Anselmi, Dr. Jorge Capella

Expo Huracanes y Casa Segura 2009: (August 9, 2009): Students from the PR Weather Camp 2009 participated in a special event which provided information to students (and their parents) having a special interest in meteorology. Our group was interviewed by the TV presenter and chief meteorologist, Ada Monzon. Professors from the UPRM Atmospheric Sciences Program, representatives of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), and National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists were also invited to this event held at Plaza Las Americas shopping center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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The NCAS-UPRM hosted the Puerto Rico Weather Camp 2008 from July 14 to 19. Fifteen junior and senior high school students interested in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, environmental sciences, and applied physical science, participated in this Camp. Through seminars, hands-on activities, field experiments, trips, tours of research facilities, workshops, and a Symposium, the students explored educational and career opportunities in these areas.    
See Information Flyer

See the 2008 PR Weather Camp Slideshow

See the 2007 PR Weather Camp Movie

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Symposium: Climatological Patterns and Predictions

The PRWC sponsored the Climatological Patterns & Predictions Symposiumon July 28, 2008. The activity was opened to the academic community of UPR as well as other academic institutions of the Island. Participating students, researchers, and professors had the opportunity to learn about novel research related to climatology and global warming.
See the symposium flyer

Conferences Speakers: (Click on the PDF icon to access the presentation)

Pablo Clemente-Colón-US National Ice Center Observing a major shift in the Distribution and Extent of Sea Ice in the Arctic Ocean
Rafael Méndez-Tejeda-UPR Carolina Indicators of Climate Change in Puerto Rico
Michael Davison-NOAA NCEP Climatological Patterns in the Americas
Julio Morell-CarICOOS A Coastal Ocean Observing System for the U.S. Caribbean
Juan Gonzalez-CaRA Wind Forecasting using the WFR-AWR Model