Eve Gruntfest, Julie Demuth & Sheldon Drobot July 2007 Welcome to Summer Camp for Smart Kids 2007 Summer WAS*IS

WAS*IS Tonight’s presentation 1. Eve, Julie & Sheldon’s career journeys from grad student to WAS*IS crusader 2. Justification for WAS*IS 3. Barriers we will overcome 4. Groundrules 5. WAS*IS measures of success

Eve Gruntfest’s background applied geographer Social scientist in world of engineers & physical scientists Career based on Big Thompson Flood Focus: Flash floods & warning systems

Eve’s background: The Big Thompson Flood in Colorado July 31, lives lost - 35 miles northwest of Boulder Studied the behaviors that night –Who lived? –Who died? –Led to detection & response systems

Eve in action years as geography professor Multi-disciplinary partners (hydrologists, meteorologists) Active involvement with User Groups –National Hydrologic Warning Council –Association of State Floodplain Managers Cooperative Program on Operational Meteorology, Education & Training (COMET) NATO conference, Work in Australia, India, France, Italy, England National Academy of Sciences committees

Julie Demuth’s background M.S. in atmospheric science from Colorado State U. –Remote sensing of tropical cyclones Science policy at National Research Council, Washington, DC, US –Program officer with Board on Atmospheric Sciences & Climate running congressionally mandated & agency-requested studies Interest in societal impacts  WAS*IS!

Julie in action -- moving from WAS to IS Work I’m doing or in the pipeline –Communication of weather forecast uncertainty info … more on Wednesday –Transportation sector sensitivity to weather and use of weather info –Source, interpretation, and use of warning information in extreme weather events Other interests –Risk perception and communication –Factors influencing people’s decision-making

Sheldon Drobot’s background Formally trained as a geographer and an atmospheric scientist Science policy at the National Research Council (Board on Atmospheric Sciences & Climate; Polar Research Board) Research scientist at the University of Colorado

Sheldon in action -- moving from WAS to IS Work I’m doing –Seasonal sea-ice forecasts –Influence of weather and non- meteorological information on decision-making in hazardous driving situations Other interests –Preferences for in-car weather and roadway information

After 30 years of being Frustrated at being a social science ADD ON with no enduring impacts Left out of major scientific initiatives Being encouraged but kept separate & unequal

To change the weather enterprise by comprehensively and sustainably integrating social science into meteorological research and practice.

Human impact on the environment Risks/hazards for humans Relationships of env. Issues to political, economic, cultural processes 1)Role of S&T in production of knowledge about nature 2)Human/animal relationships Why WAS *IS Integrate (not add on) social science into meteorology Grow a community of people passionate about & dedicated to this Recognize that (meteorology + social science) > sum of its parts! Avoiding another Hurricane Katrina is NOT just about improving the forecasts Address societal impacts in real & sustained ways

What is WAS*IS? 1.Building an interdisciplinary community of practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders -- from the grassroots up -- who are dedicated to the integration of meteorology and social science Capacity building –- creating a community for lifelong collaboration and support!

Emphasis on capacity building All the things we’re doing this week –5-minute introductions –30-minute breaks –Sessions to meet past WAS*ISers and friends –Group dinners Will brainstorm later this week about what else we can do to keep you connected!

What is WAS*IS? 2.Providing opportunity to learn and examine ideas, methods, and examples related to integrated weather-society work Tools – GIS, surveys, qualitative methods Concepts – initiating and building relationships, many publics, end-to-end-to-end Topics – risk communication, communicating uncertainty, vulnerability

The WAS*IS adventure Began as one workshop Grew into 4 workshops (so far) & evolved –Original 2-part workshop in Boulder (November 2005 & March 2006) –Condensed 3-day workshop in Norman, Oklahoma (April 2006) –Summer WAS*IS (July 2006) –Australia WAS*IS (end of January 2007) –NOW WAS*ISers!

Tangible accomplishments New collaborations Manuscripts submitted to Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Environmental Hazards Development of forecast confidence scale on weather blog ( New jobs, invited presentations Visibility – –18 presentations at American Meteorological Society Meeting 2007; sign up now for 2008! –sessions at Association of American Geographers meeting, Chicago 2006, San Francisco 2007, Boston 2008 –Rocking the Weather Enterprise

“Intangible” accomplishments The growing WAS*IS network! –Empowering, lifelong connections Idea development & sharing Peer mentoring Community of WAS*ISers who continue to and interact with each other!

Some additional funding obtained WAS*IS virtual textbook (Demuth, Drobot, Gruntfest) –Highlight the methods, results, & cooperative efforts of successful integrated weather & social science projects Use as (1) part of undergraduate graduate-level courses & (2) a reference for scientists & practitioners to apply in their own work

Possibilities under the WAS*IS Umbrella Advanced WAS*ISes Moving from WAS to IS beyond weather to hydrology, emergency management, climate, and other fields Capstone courses in physical science programs Annual WAS * IS workshops WAS*IS for introducing meteorology to social scientists – for stronger partnerships What do you have in mind?

Barriers WAS*ISers confront & overcome 1.POWERlessness: I want to do it but I don’t know how 2. Social science methods are a mystery Surveys are not encouraged 3. Disciplinary blinders -“I’m not a meteorologist, I’m an emergency manager”

4. I can’t do it right so I won’t do it at all – Need for “Satisficing”! And learn from our experiences! 5. It’s not in my job description Barriers WAS*ISers confront & overcome Perceive yourself as a charismatic policy entrepreneur

Brief tribute to Eve’s mentor Gilbert White who died in Oct the original WAS * ISer So many lessons – read his bio! The important fact is that work is being used by others Stakeholders are more than data

WAS*IS groundrules … NEW boundaries & vocabularies ACTIVE & RESPECTFUL listening & talking No acronyms All ideas are welcome Attend all sessions AGENDA open to allow WAS*IS identities to emerge & develop for sustainable activities after our week together ends BE BRAVE We have idealistic positive outlooks We are not defensive We pay attention to substance & style

WAS * IS means changing from WAS to IS WAS physical scientist goes to WAS * IS workshop Becomes WAS social scientist!

Moving from WAS to IS……is not an instant transition! MOVE REQUIRES CONNECTIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Important things to keep in mind We’re only scratching the surface this week We have many goals and paths We have great ideas, passion, and energy … but we don’t necessarily have the answers! This work can be very hard and takes time to do well – we are addressing very hard questions! WAS*ISers are in it for the long haul We must understand and appreciate the complexities!

Summer WAS*IS particularities More climate scientists & more private sector meteorologists We’re re-inventing & improving the move from WAS to IS We’re building on earlier workshop lessons- MORE OPEN TIME FOR DISCUSSIONS and USING WAS*ISers Wise, creative, and convincing justification for the WAS*IS movement Friends of WAS*IS reception Others to be determined Take advantage of meals, breaks to interact with everyone

Some SUMMER WAS*IS measures of success -- Toward culture change 1.A new community of scholars & practitioners – use each other’s materials! - ideas for presentations, publications, proposals 2.Examples of new alliances/removed barriers 3.Practical new & tried methods

Summer WAS*IS launch – R E C A P Nearly one-week workshop Commitment to Change! The ELITE, BEST & the BRIGHTEST MODEST GOAL – WAS CHANGING the culture from WAS to IS

Remember Margaret Mead’s words: Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed people* can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. (* of WAS*ISers)

National Weather Service Private forecasters/ Urban Drainage Districts Local Residents WAS*IS succeeds when stovepipes are not the model - Bring social science into existing programs & research efforts in sustainable ways – NOW Atmospheric Scientists Universities Research Centers

What did the most influential players look like in meteorology prior to 2006 WAS*IS?

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

Now let’s get to work