Looking back at the Summer WAS*IS week that was

The heresy of one age becomes the orthodoxy of the next. Helen Keller

WASWAS**ISISWASWAS**ISIS Culture Change

summer weather & society * integrated studies

Changing from what WAS to what IS the future of integrated weather studies

Eve Gruntfest July 21, 2006

It’s not just a summer romance

Six barriers WAS*ISers confronted

1. POWERlessness: I want to do it but I don’t know how – we have knowhow!

2. Social science methods are a mystery – NO They are NOT

3. Surveys are not encouraged – we have partners who can help

4. Disciplinary blinders – excitement about collaborations & new tools

5. It’s not in my job description - We will foster greater partnerships to solve important problems

6. WAS*IS ers emerge as charismatic policy entrepreneurs

“Not just a resume boondoggle” Britt W.

Barriers WAS*IS confronted

SYNERGIES of WAS * IS

Inventing creative, previously unimagined new tools, case studies, & implementation strategies

Life- long commitment from many vantage points – researchers, practitioners, various backgrounds, public & private

New comrades

• Included in major scientific initiatives

• Encouraged & treated as equal partners

WAS*IS succeeds when we are

WAS* IS legacy projects

Warnings – Making them better for everyone

The Weather Enterprise is already feeling the changes

Movement on Verification

Public/privatePartnerships!

Making warningsbetter

Jumping on “uncertainty”report recommendations

Powerful things have happened…. We have moved from WAS……

• New leadership• New partnerships• New experiments

This is not a workshop where NOTHING lasts- - -Energetic WAS*ISers…you’ve got MOMENTUM

What a full week! Very powerful experiences – looking back & forward

A fieldtrip to meet with STAKEHOlders & see real world flood impacts

We’ve overcome adversity!

Melissa’s newly polka-dotted pants

and Lance’s shirt too

WAS*IS lives on

• Summer 2007 workshop• Applications for WAS*IS beyond weather• Short course for AMS, for National Weather Service (in

person or distance learning)• WAS*IS for introducing meteorology to social scientists • Development of edited collection &/or book proposal • Ongoing annual WAS * IS• Shorter, more focused, courses (e.g., qualitative research

methods)• Advanced WAS*ISes• Development of Capstone course for meteorology students

at University of Oklahoma• Funding to support WAS*IS research & applications

WAS * ISers present their work• Southwest Association of American Geographers meeting October 26-28,

2006 Norman, OK

• American Meteorological Society meeting San Antonio, TX, (abstract dealine Aug 1) January

• Great Divide workshop Billings, MT October 3-5, 2006

• Great Plains/Rocky Mountain & Great Lakes Association of American Geographers meeting Lincoln, NE, (abstract deadline Sep 1) October 5-7, 2006

• THORPEX Bavaria December 2006

• AUS WAS*IS Melbourne February 2007

• Association of American Geographers meeting, San Francisco, CA (abstract deadline Oct 26) special sessions April 17-21, 2007

• Other WAS *ISes – NEXT SUMMER? W H E R E WILL WE MEET AGAIN?

Commitment to Change! BREAKING through barriers!

The BEST & the BRIGHTEST & the most FUN

MODEST GOAL –

CHANGING the missions of meteorological research &

practice

R e m e m b e r …….

WAS * ISers are NOT the same old guys with new toys

The new fiesta – SUMMERSUMMER WAS * ISers!

WAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGEWAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGE

Some of What’s Said in Boulder STAYS in Boulder

WAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGEWAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGE

Our Lasting IMPACTS makeBig BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

P A S S I O N

WAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGEWAS* ISWAS* ISweather & society * integrated studies

www.rap.ucar.edu/was_is/

CULTURE CHANGE

P A S S I O N

Thanks to Julie & Sheldon for inspiration, constructive criticism & commitment

Fairy tale comes true - Thanks to

US Weather Research ProgramThe National Oceanic &

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The National Center for Atmospheric Research

Linda Mearns, Institute for the Study of Society & the Environment (ISSE) &

JEFF LAZO & the Societal Impacts Program (SIP)

We’ll always have Boulder!

WAS*ISWAS*ISWAS*ISWAS*IS Culture change

summer weather & society * integrated studiesChanging from what WAS to what IS the future of integrated weather studies

Way more than a summer romance..let’s stay in constant touch