Dr. Shakila Merchant named as American Meteorological Society (AMS) Education Symposium Committee Co-Chair for the 2023-2025 term
Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society (AMS), is the largest professional organization in the world, with over 13,000 members, that promotes the advancement of atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences, technologies, applications, and services
The AMS also publishes eleven scientific journals, including the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, which is the society’s flagship publication. The society also organizes numerous conferences, workshops, and symposia throughout the year, as well as the annual meeting that brings together scientists, educators, students, and professionals from around the world. The society also provides a variety of resources and services, including professional development opportunities, educational programs and materials, and certification programs for atmospheric science professionals, and it works closely with government agencies, private industry, and non-profit organizations to provide information and expertise on a wide range of weather and climate-related topics and promoting public understanding and awareness of weather and climate-related issues.
The AMS Conference on Education is part of the AMS annual meeting, one of the largest meetings that promotes the advancement of atmospheric and related sciences education. The education conference typically is attended by educators, students, researchers, and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and institutions.
In addition to the technical program, the AMS Conference on Education provides opportunities for networking and collaboration among attendees. The conference typically includes poster sessions, interactive workshops, and other activities designed to foster communication and collaboration among educators and researchers.
Overall, the AMS Conference on Education is an important event for advancing the field of atmospheric science education and promoting the development of a scientifically literate and engaged public. With more than 20 years of experience working with the NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Cooperative Science Center, Dr. Merchant aims to foster enhanced partnerships by bringing the academia (K12 through post-secondary), federal and private sectors together to further strengthen the educational network, increased accessibility of the AMS resources for MSI communities and traditionally underserved student and early career professionals. As the incoming chair, Dr. Merchant along with her co-Chair Ms. Staci Deschryver, Science Teacher at Cherry Creek School District based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, looks forward to the 2024 AMS Annual meeting to be held in Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD January 28-Febraury 1, 2024, and development joint sessions that engages science, social sciences, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and access (DEIJA) through presentations, panels and meetings.
