Thompson lecture series

Overview

Gyuwon Lee, Andrea Sealy, Kelley Barsanti, Mary Hayden, Jen Kay, Jian Lu

Advanced Study Program retreat

October 15, 2007

Background

• Established 1998• Named in honor of Phil Thompson

-- founder NCAR’s Advanced Study Program (ASP)

-- NCAR’s first Associate Director

• Purpose: Promote interactions with prominent prominent scientists and postdoctoral/grad fellows and scientists and postdoctoral/grad fellows and other junior scientists at NCAR (and general other junior scientists at NCAR (and general science community)science community)

Who is Dr. Phil Thompson?

Google first hit:

From Wikipedia

- Football hero Phil Thompson

- Philip 'Phil' Bernard Thompson (born Liverpool, 21 January 1954) was a cultured defender in the dominant Liverpool team of the 1970s and 1980s who later returned to the club as first team coach.

Who is Dr. Phil Thompson?NCAR/SERE/ASP - Advanced Study Program (ASP)“In 1998 ASP established the "Thompson Lecture Series," named in honor of Phil Thompson who founded the Advanced Study Program and was NCAR's first associate director.”

From Laura Curtis and Mike Shibao

Who is Dr. Phil Thompson?

BAMS (1996): Abstract

“Philip Thompson (1992-94) pioneered innovative approaches to weather analysis and prediction that blended determinism and probability. He generally posed problems in terms of simplified dynamics that were amenable to analytic solution. His preciseness in problem formulation and presentation in a forceful didactical manner are linked to his early home-schooling and experience with a coterie of intellectuals. Four of Thompson’s contributions are ~”

Who is Dr. Phil Thompson?

Scientific contributions

- Anticipation of “dynamic analysis” in data void regions

- Variational adjustment of data at multiple times

- The study of growth of forecast errors as a result of inaccuracies in the initial state

Details

• 2 lecture series/year2 lecture series/year• Scientists visit NCAR for 2-3 days Scientists visit NCAR for 2-3 days • 2 Lectures: (one general, one technical)2 Lectures: (one general, one technical)• 2 roundtable discussions: 2 roundtable discussions:

- Career reflections, career guidance and advice- Career reflections, career guidance and advice- Perspectives on scientific trends, priorities- Perspectives on scientific trends, priorities

• Individual meetings: Individual meetings: - specific research briefings and advice- specific research briefings and advice- Any topics (career, job hunting, mentoring, etc)- Any topics (career, job hunting, mentoring, etc)

• Informal Social Activities with Scientist:Informal Social Activities with Scientist:- (hikes)- (hikes)- Breakfast and lunch - Breakfast and lunch - Evening potluck- Evening potluck

Guidance (ASP director)- Prominent scientists in their field- Prominent scientists in their field

- Lecturers should have broad scientific perspectives, - Lecturers should have broad scientific perspectives, and interest and experience in mentoring early-career and interest and experience in mentoring early-career researchersresearchers

- Thompson Lecture series should reflect the same - Thompson Lecture series should reflect the same excellence, breadth, and diversity that characterizes excellence, breadth, and diversity that characterizes the ASP Postdoctoral Fellowship Programthe ASP Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

- Candidate lecturers' scientific interests are significantly - Candidate lecturers' scientific interests are significantly distinct from those of the 3 to 4 preceding lecturersdistinct from those of the 3 to 4 preceding lecturers

Process

Nomination

Selection(July)

(June)

Approval(July) Invitation(Aug.)

Lecture (Oct.)

Planning (Aug.)

(Feb.)(March)

(May)

(March)

(Feb.)

(Jan.)

Process (2008)

Nomination

Selection

Approval(July) Invitation(Aug.)

Lecture (Oct.)

Planning (Aug.)

(Feb.)(March)

(May)

(March)

(Feb.)

(Jan.)

Example schedule (Dr. W. Hooke) Monday, October 8th11:00 Introduction to ASP and objectives of Thompson visits (FL0-2512)

Introduction of postdocs/grad students (FL0-2512)11:45 Lunch (FL0-2512, delivered at 11:30)12:00 Roundtable discussion on scientific careers (FL0-2512)13:30 Break14:30 Coffee and cookies (FL2-1022)15:00 Thompson lecture 1 (FL2-1022)

Tuesday, October 9th9:30 Individual meetings (ML Directors conf.) - Jen Kay10:00 Individual meetings (ML Directors conf.) - Dave Schneider10:30 Individual meetings (ML Directors conf.) - Andrea Sealy11:00 Individual meetings (ML Directors conf.) - Simone Tilmes11:30 Lunch (East ML Cafeteria)12:30 Break

Example schedule (Dr. W. Hooke) Tuesday, October 9th13:00 Coffee and cookies (ML main seminar room)13:30 Thompson lecture 2 (ML main seminar room) 15:00 Individual meetings (ML-251) – Tom Hopson15:30 Individual meetings (ML-251) – Ed Lee16:00 Individual meetings (ML-251) – Mary Hayden16:30 Individual meetings (ML-251) – Kelley Barsanti17:00 Break 18:00 Photograph and potluck party (West ML cafeteria)

Wednesday, October 10th8:00 Breakfast (CG-2126)8:30 Scientific round table discussion (CG-2126)10:30 Individual meetings (CG-2126) - Amit Teller11:00 Individual meetings (CG-2126) - Feng Tian11:30 Individual meetings (CG-2126) - Gyuwon Lee

Roundtable discussion on scientific careers

• Career paths, development, advancement, etc- Academia vs. Research Labs vs. Industry, etc.

- Committees to seek … and to avoid?- Gold standard for performance of new researcher?

• Job HuntingMarketing yourself

• Time ManagementAny tips on managing the email avalanche?

• NetworkingChoosing/Finding a mentor.

• Mentoring

Robert A. Houze Jr.Robert A. Houze Jr.October 2006October 2006

Julia SlingoJulia Slingo February 2006February 2006

Past lecturers

Michael GhilMichael GhilMay 2007May 2007