Students in grades 9–11 from across NJ attended Climate and Weather Day 2025 with the Meteorology program at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences on March 1. The day included a schedule of talks, activities, and demonstrations designed to introduce students to the world of meteorology and atmospheric science.
Speakers included Mike Lee, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service who works at the forecast office in Mount Holly and SEBS alum, RCEI affiliate Matt Drews, an atmospheric scientist and director of the Rutgers Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station (PAMS), who took students on a video walkthrough of the many instruments at PAMS site, and RCEI affiliate Alan Robock, distinguished professor and climatologist, who walked students through a climate solutions simulator that explores ways to reduce global climate emissions.
Lee, whose forecast office is responsible for most of NJ, as well as forecasts for aviation and marine sectors, demonstrated how warm air interacts with cold air by using a water tank and food dye and discussed common employment paths in academic, government, and private sectors.
“As the land grant school for New Jersey, we take seriously our mission to provide outreach to the people of the state,” said RCEI affiiate Steven Decker, director of the Meteorology undergraduate program. “New Jersey is a very diverse state, but the people currently working in the field of atmospheric science are much less so, so we think it is especially important to inform students from our state of all the opportunities that exist in weather and climate.”
Manny Williams, a freshman at Paulsboro High School, is a social media weather forecaster who has been interested in meteorology since seeing the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew on the Carolinas where much of his family lives.
“I’ve been interested in meteorology ever since,” said Williams. “I know a lot but want to learn a little more.”
An interest in extreme weather events was a common entry to meteorology for attendees. For Nasir Eltemawn, a Piscataway High School sophomore, it was a fear of hurricanes that sparked his fascination.
“I saw these storm chaser videos and got hooked from there,” said Eltemawn, who is interested in the physics of weather. “I started researching these phenomena on my own and now I know enough to start delving into the math side of it, the more rigorous side. This event is showing me all the options and careers paths.”
“I want to pursue environmental science, and I thought this would be a good experience,” said Sarah Pereira, a sophomore at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark. “I’m more likely to study environmental science now.”
Students, the professionals, and researchers in attendance all emphasized climate change as a great reason to understand meteorological and atmospheric science.
Alan Robock, a highly reputable researcher who has testified before Congress said of climate change, “It’s real, it’s bad, it’s us, and there’s hope,” before walking students through an EN-ROADS climate solutions interactive to encourage discussion on climate policies.
“Let’s not let people use the atmosphere as a sewer for CO2,” said Robock. “You can use these tools to imagine a better future.”
A version of the article was originally published by the SEBS/NJAES Newsroom.