The Hilltop, Howard University's student newspaper has featured GSAAS in a recent article. Below is the article. It was written by contributing writer Khadija Ismail:
Launched in 2007, GSAAS the Graduate Students Association of Atmospheric Science, encourages students interested in science and the atmosphere to join. Tasha Anderson is one of those students.
According to Anderson, who is now a Atmospheric Science major "anyone who is passionate about the atmosphere and wants to know more about weather should get on the bandwagon." GSAAS works closely with Dr. Gregory Jenkins, a faculty member of the department of physics, who is also an enthusiastic environmentalist. GSAAS is aiming to have an on-site weather campus service at Howard, which will also produce the weather forecast for the upcoming Homecoming.
Ms. Anderson points out that " a lot of fashion people want to know what the weather will be like. You know, whether they should bring a jacket or an umbrella". When asked what's the difference between retrieving a weather summary on one of the news coverage websites and what they are offering, Dr. Jenkins said, "We can provide an almost precise account of what the weather will be like. When the winds will be moving in and at about what time the rain will start pouring." It's not just about providing a weather service to the students so they won't be drenched, but students will have a deeper understanding of the relevant issues that have profound consequences.
Another project that GSAAS has embarked on is the Saharan Air Layer. According to Anderson, GSAAS students and faculty in a concerted effort tried to "observe the dust off the coast of Africa." Dr. Jenkins said the "Saharan desert impacts the weather over the Atlantic ocean. It impacts hurricanes and carries dust as well, which causes a lot of health problems."
A few students have accompanied Dr. Jenkins to Senegal and Cape Verde to witness and examine how dust forms. It is almost impossible for the naked eye to see dust particles flying in the wind, so Dr. Jenkins illustrated how GSAAS students were able to utilize a computer program to trace the dust particles.
Jenkins also has some faith that the provost will approve a minor in atmospheric science. He emphasized the point that we live in a continuously changing world, and that students need to take more "educational science courses that would be of benefit. It would be nice to see undergraduates minor in atmospheric science connecting with the graduate atmospheric science students. Students giving service to their fellow students," he said.
Thrilled at the prospect of traveling, a potential member, Frank Ford, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, says he would give some consideration to joining GSAAS. "I like to predict things before they happen. The traveling aspect of the program really excited me," Ford said.
Students, who are very much on the fence about joining GSAAS, should keep in mind that GSAAS does not exclusively restrict itself to the abstract phenomenon of meteorology.
GSAAS offers other activities such as traveling, networking and community outreach. Anderson and her colleagues have traveled extensively just in the short duration of the program. They have visited areas such as Seattle, Connecticut, Virginia and even Puerto Rico to present their research. Different benefactors financed all of the trips, NASA being among them. Students who like giving back to the community should give some thought to join GSAAS.
One of the more memorable trips that Ms. Anderson recalls was the trip to a local D.C. school to illustrate how a tornado forms in a bottle.
GSAAS is accommodating to students of all fields. Science enthusiasts interested in testing the temperature get a chance to learn the ins and outs of the atmosphere and its implications. Students indifferent to science and its abstract phenomenon have an equal opportunity to gain much from the program.
Dr. Jenkins strongly believes that it is critical for students to expand their knowledge base. For him, everything is interrelated. The environment and climate is a crucial field of study that should not be overshadowed. Students need to be more in tune with their environment and cognizant of how our actions have profound consequences for our prosperity.
Jenkins also emphasized a need for consciousness of the persistently changing climate, and one of the best ways to understand the change is through GSAAS.
Here is the link to the article.
Thanks for featuring GSAAS, The Hilltop!
Launched in 2007, GSAAS the Graduate Students Association of Atmospheric Science, encourages students interested in science and the atmosphere to join. Tasha Anderson is one of those students.
According to Anderson, who is now a Atmospheric Science major "anyone who is passionate about the atmosphere and wants to know more about weather should get on the bandwagon." GSAAS works closely with Dr. Gregory Jenkins, a faculty member of the department of physics, who is also an enthusiastic environmentalist. GSAAS is aiming to have an on-site weather campus service at Howard, which will also produce the weather forecast for the upcoming Homecoming.
Ms. Anderson points out that " a lot of fashion people want to know what the weather will be like. You know, whether they should bring a jacket or an umbrella". When asked what's the difference between retrieving a weather summary on one of the news coverage websites and what they are offering, Dr. Jenkins said, "We can provide an almost precise account of what the weather will be like. When the winds will be moving in and at about what time the rain will start pouring." It's not just about providing a weather service to the students so they won't be drenched, but students will have a deeper understanding of the relevant issues that have profound consequences.
Another project that GSAAS has embarked on is the Saharan Air Layer. According to Anderson, GSAAS students and faculty in a concerted effort tried to "observe the dust off the coast of Africa." Dr. Jenkins said the "Saharan desert impacts the weather over the Atlantic ocean. It impacts hurricanes and carries dust as well, which causes a lot of health problems."
A few students have accompanied Dr. Jenkins to Senegal and Cape Verde to witness and examine how dust forms. It is almost impossible for the naked eye to see dust particles flying in the wind, so Dr. Jenkins illustrated how GSAAS students were able to utilize a computer program to trace the dust particles.
Jenkins also has some faith that the provost will approve a minor in atmospheric science. He emphasized the point that we live in a continuously changing world, and that students need to take more "educational science courses that would be of benefit. It would be nice to see undergraduates minor in atmospheric science connecting with the graduate atmospheric science students. Students giving service to their fellow students," he said.
Thrilled at the prospect of traveling, a potential member, Frank Ford, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, says he would give some consideration to joining GSAAS. "I like to predict things before they happen. The traveling aspect of the program really excited me," Ford said.
Students, who are very much on the fence about joining GSAAS, should keep in mind that GSAAS does not exclusively restrict itself to the abstract phenomenon of meteorology.
GSAAS offers other activities such as traveling, networking and community outreach. Anderson and her colleagues have traveled extensively just in the short duration of the program. They have visited areas such as Seattle, Connecticut, Virginia and even Puerto Rico to present their research. Different benefactors financed all of the trips, NASA being among them. Students who like giving back to the community should give some thought to join GSAAS.
One of the more memorable trips that Ms. Anderson recalls was the trip to a local D.C. school to illustrate how a tornado forms in a bottle.
GSAAS is accommodating to students of all fields. Science enthusiasts interested in testing the temperature get a chance to learn the ins and outs of the atmosphere and its implications. Students indifferent to science and its abstract phenomenon have an equal opportunity to gain much from the program.
Dr. Jenkins strongly believes that it is critical for students to expand their knowledge base. For him, everything is interrelated. The environment and climate is a crucial field of study that should not be overshadowed. Students need to be more in tune with their environment and cognizant of how our actions have profound consequences for our prosperity.
Jenkins also emphasized a need for consciousness of the persistently changing climate, and one of the best ways to understand the change is through GSAAS.
Here is the link to the article.
Thanks for featuring GSAAS, The Hilltop!
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