E-Newsletter Vol. 22 – 2012

Welcome back! The Spring 2012 semester officially begins on Monday, January 23.

The first Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar for this semester will take place on Wednesday, January 25, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Shanhu Lee from the College of Public Health at Kent State University will present a seminar entitled, “Atmospheric Aerosol Nucleation: Laboratory Studies and Atmospheric Observations.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Lee, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) series will begin on Friday, January 27, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Jennifer L. Irish from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech will present a seminar entitled, “A Method for Estimating Future Hurricane Flood Hazards and Associated Uncertainty.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

Friday Weather Discussions begin on January 27. The meetings for this semester will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab.

Faculty News

Professor Marat Khairoutdinov will be attending the American Meteorological Society’s annual meeting in New Orleans from January 23-25.

Professor Marvin Geller will be on sabbatical this semester at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City.

Student News

Message from Carol Dovi, Educational Programs Office:
The Educational Programs Office is in the process of establishing new student drop-in hours to handle all student issues (i.e., attendance roster, health insurance, appointment processing, registration issues, programmatic issues, etc.). In order to better serve you, we will now be offering in-person assistance to students between the hours of 1-5 p.m. The hours of 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. will primarily be reserved for the completion of Educational Programs Office projects, file updating, and lunch. Emergencies, as always, will receive our immediate attention, regardless of the time of day. For more routine matters that may need prompt attention, please send an email with the subject line indicating “Immediate Attention.” Christina and I will answer all such emails as a priority first thing each morning. Students needing in-person assistance can also make appointments by dialing or emailing: 2-8681 for Carol (Carol.Dovi@stonybrook.edu) or 2-8680 for Christina (Christina.Fink@stonybrook.edu) Christina handles all roster, health insurance, and admissions questions. I handle all student appointments, student records, adobe connect assistance for dissertation/thesis presentations, class permission, and all registrar related issues. Thank you all for your cooperation as we adjust to this new schedule. We are hopeful that it will allow us to dedicate our attention both to the important projects and periods of intense activity in the office, while simultaneously affording our students the dedicated and personal service we are committed to providing.

Miscellaneous

Save the date! In connection with student recruitment weekend, the annual SoMAS International Potluck Dinner will take place on Friday, March 23, in Endeavour 120. Additional details will be provided in a future newsletter.

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a physical scientist in atmospheric modeling. Details are posted on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall and may also be accessed at
http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/305002000

Long Island food and “pet” pantries are in desperate need of donations. Suggested items include canned goods, boxed cereal, oatmeal, rice, peanut butter and pasta (no glass jars please). They also accept donations of pet food, treats, toys and cat litter.) A collection box is located outside of Endeavour 129. Please consider making a donation to those less fortunate.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 1 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Yutian Wu from the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University will present a seminar entitled, “Midlatitude Storm Track Response to Increased Greenhouse Warming.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Wu, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, February 3 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Elsie Sunderland from the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard University will present a seminar entitled, “Mercury Cycling and Bioavailability in the Global Oceans: Implications for Human Exposures.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

The next faculty meeting will take place on Monday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Endeavour Hall, room 120.

The Fall 2011 issue of the SUNY University Faculty Senate bulletin may be accessed athttp://www@suny.edu/facultysenate.

Call for Nominations for the Undergraduate Recognition Awards: Nominations may be submitted athttp://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/. Awards for academic excellence and outstanding achievements will be presented at a ceremony on April 23. Deadline for nominations is February 3.

Student News

DISCCRS VII Interdisciplinary Climate Change Symposium, La Foret Conference and Retreat Center Colorado Springs, CO. Participation limited to early-career Ph.D. scholars. Airfare and on-site expenses are supported through grants from NSF and NASA. Deadline for applications is February 29. Details are posted on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall and may also be accessed at http://www.agrometeorology.org/news/meetings-congresses-conferences-training/disccrs-vii-interdisciplinary-climate-change-research-symposium

Miscellaneous

Volunteers are still needed for this year’s Bay Scallop Bowl scheduled for March 4. For details, please contact Kim Knoll at kknoll@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Long Island food and “pet” pantries are in desperate need of donations. Suggested items include canned goods, boxed cereal, oatmeal, rice, peanut butter and pasta (no glass jars please). They also accept donations of pet food, treats, toys and cat litter.) A collection box is located outside of Endeavour 129. Please consider making a donation to those less fortunate.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 8 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Ruiyue Chen from the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) in Camp Springs, Maryland, will present a seminar entitled, “Warm Rain Detection Using A-Train Satellites.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Chen, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, February 10 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Les Kaufman from the Biology Department at Boston University will present a seminar entitled, “Stable Isotope Ratios as Tracers in Marine Food Webs.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Faculty are asked to submit their Spring 2012 course syllabus to Carol Dovi atcdovi@notes.cc.sunysb.edu. Deadline February 6.

Professor Marvin Geller will be attending the Stratospheric Processes and Their Role in Climate (SPARC) Scientific Steering Group (SSG) meeting in Zurich, Switzerland from February 6-10.

Last week, Professor John Mak attended the University Corproration for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Atmospheric Chemistry Observing Facilities (ACOF) workshop in Boulder, CO.

The next faculty meeting will take place on Monday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Endeavour Hall, room 120. Suggested agenda items may be sent to Dean Minghua Zhang atmzhang@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Student News

Volunteers are still needed for this year’s Bay Scallop Bowl scheduled for March 4. For details, please contact Kim Knoll at kknoll@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Miscellaneous

Long Island food and “pet” pantries are in desperate need of donations. Suggested items include canned goods, boxed cereal, oatmeal, rice, peanut butter and pasta (no glass jars please). They also accept donations of pet food, treats, toys and cat litter.) A collection box is located outside of Endeavour 129. Please consider making a donation to those less fortunate.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 15 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Yuanyuan (Elaine) Fang from the Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Program at Princeton University, will present a seminar entitled, “Understanding Climate Change Impact on Air Pollutants with Synthetic Tracers.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Fang, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, February 17 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Daniel Cziczo from the Program in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will present a seminar entitled, “How Can the Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Particles Affect Cirrus Cloud Formation?” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

The next faculty meeting will be held on Monday, February 13, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Endeavour Hall, room 120.

Professor Edmund Chang was recently appointed chair of the US THORPEX Science Steering Committee. The role of the committee is to promote THORPEX related science in the US. THORPEX (The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment) is an international research and development program under the World Weather Research Program with a goal to accelerate the improvements in the accuracy of one-day to two-week high impact forecasts for the benefit of society, the economy, and the environment. Congratulations, Edmund!

Annual Nomination for Graduate Awards; Deadline February 29. The Graduate School is accepting nominations for graduate and faculty/staff awards. For more information, please contact Maureen Piekos at 2-1186. The list of awards are as follows:
● President’s Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students
● President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student
● Mildred and Herbert Weisinger Dissertation Fellowship
● Madeline Fusco Fellowship Award
● Faculty-Staff Dissertation Fellowship Award
● Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching by a Faculty Member
● Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring by a Faculty Member
● Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service as a Graduate Program Director
● Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service to Graduate Education by a Graduate Program Coordinator
● Dean’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Education

Funding Opportunity; Atmospheric System Research, DE-FOA-0000647http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=139133

Student News

This year’s Okubo Distinguished Scholar is Dr. Michael Hirshfield, Vice President for the North American offices and Chief Scientist at Oceana. Okubo events will be held on March 1 and 2. For more information, please contact the SoMAS Graduate Student Club at somasgradclub@gmail.com. Registration for events is required. Deadline is February 22.

Miscellaneous

Save the Date: The annual International Potluck Dinner will take place on Friday, March 23. Details to follow in a future newsletter.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 22 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Anthony Barnston from the International Research Institute (IRI) in Pallisades, NY will present a seminar entitled, “An Evaluation of the Skill of Real-Time ENSO Model Predictions, and of IRI’s Seasonal Climate Forecasts.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Barnston, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, February 24 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Adrian Jordaan from Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmosphere Sciences will present a seminar entitled, “Temporal and Spatial Influences of Environmental Factors of Fish Distributions.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Funding Opportunity: The FY12 NASA ROSES call for proposals may be accessed athttp://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=init&stack=push. Follow link to “Open Solicitations.”

Student News

Congratulations to Peter Alpert, who was awarded the 2012 Distinguished Travel Award of $1,500 by the Graduate School, the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and its Committee on Academic Affairs. The award was given to Peter for his outstanding scholarship and the impact of his work both within his field and academia.

Congratulations to Tingyin Xiao, recipient of the Professor Xiangding Wu Memorial Award of $500. This award was established in memory of Professor Wu who passed away while on a six-month visit to ITPA. He was an eminent scholar who pioneered the use of dendrochronology in China. This award is given to an ITPA graduate student each year based on academic achievement, with particular emphasis on performance in the departmental qualifying exam and core courses. Tingyin will be presented with her check at the February 22 TAOS seminar.

The Academic Advising Center is currently recruiting undergraduate juniors and seniors for the Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Academic Peer Advising Internship. Details are posted on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall, or for further information, you may contact Tammy Wen, Academic Peer Advisor, at tammy.wen@yahoo.com.

Miscellaneous

In connection with the SoMAS recruitment weekend, the annual International Potluck Dinner has been scheduled for Friday, March 23. Details and sign-up sheets are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall.

Earthstock 2012, a celebration of Earth Day, has been scheduled for April 16-20. For details, please access http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/earthstock/

The Career Center and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services is seeking nominations for Student Employee of the Year. Details may be obtained athttp://www.stonybrook.edu/finaid/pdfs/SEOTY.pdf
AFLAC Open Enrollment for UPP Members: February 28-29. Please call the UUP Office at 2-6570 to schedule an appointment.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, February 29 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Massimo Bollasina from the NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) will present a seminar entitled, “Anthropogenic Aerosols and the Weakening of the South Asian Summer Monsoon.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Bollasina, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, March 2 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Dr. Michael Hirshfield from Oceana (http://www.oceana.org) will present a seminar entitled, “Why is Advocate a Dirty Word for Most Scientists?” Dr. Hirschfield is this year’s Okubo Distinguished Speaker. For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

There will be an East End Public Lecture on Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stony Brook Southampton campus, Duke-Chancellors Hall. Dr. Joseph Warren from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences will present a lecture entitled, “Watching Whales Swim Through the Drive-Thru Window: Feeding Behavior of the Humpback Whale in the North Atlantic, Alaska, and Antarctica.” Lecture will be followed by a reception.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

The Student Ambassador Selection Committee is seeking nominations from faculty for next year’s Student Ambassadors. For more information about this program, please accesshttp://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dos/amb_selection.shtml. If you would like to nominate a student, please contact Mary Scranton at mscranton@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Student News

Graduate students who entered the program in 2010 and 2011 are required to take part in Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) training. This requirement can be fulfilled by attending MAR 568 ((Scientific Communication) on the following Fridays: February 24, March 16, March 23, and March 30 from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. If you would like to attend, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed at 2-8319.

Volunteers are needed to assist with setting up classrooms for this year’s Bay Scallop Bowl. Set-up will take place on Friday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. To volunteer, please contact Anne Cooper Doherty at bayscallopbowl@gmail.com.

The Dynamical Core Model Intercomparison Project (DCMIP) Summer School on Future-Generation Non-Hydrostatic Weather and Climate Models will take place from July 30 to August 10 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, CO. Details are posted on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall, and may also be accessed athttp://esse.engin.umich.edu/groups/admg/dcmip/ Deadline for applications is March 31.

Miscellaneous

In connection with the SoMAS recruitment weekend, the annual International Potluck Dinner has been scheduled for Friday, March 23. Details and sign-up sheets are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall. Please sign up even if you have not yet decided what to bring.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, March 7 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Sirpa Hakkinen from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center will present a seminar entitled, “Atmospheric Blocking and Atlantic Multidecadal Variability.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Hakkinen, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, March 9 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Neil Blair from Northwestern University will present a seminar entitled, “Biogeochemical Transformations of Carbon and the Fate of Organic Matter in Surficial Environments.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

This week, Professors Edmund Chang and Brian Colle will be attending the Workshop on CMIP5 Climate Model Analyses at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, organized by WCRP (World Climate Research Program). Professor Chang will be making a presentation entitled, “Comparing CMIP5 and CMIP3 Multi-model Projection of Storm Track Changes Under Global Warming,” and Professor Colle will be making a presentation entitled, “Evaluation of Western Atlantic Winter Storms in CMIP5/AMIP and Regional Climate Models.”

Funding Opportunity: Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection (EMEP) Program: Climate Change Adaptation Research. Proposals due by April 5. Details may be accessed athttp://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Funding-Opportunities/Current-Funding-Opportunities/PON-2260-EMEP-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Research.aspx

Student News

Applications are being accepted for the Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. The $1,500 award is given annually based on a paper competition and awarded to a woman pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences or a related program at a university in the the United States. Deadline is April 15. Details may be accessed at
http://www.dri.edu/awards-and-honors/181-wagner-memorial-award-for-women-in-atmospheric-sciences

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has extended it’s deadline date for the AMS Named Scholarship Program. The new deadline is March 18. For additional information, please access
http://www.ametsoc.org/amsstudentinfo/scholfeldocs/namedscholarship.html

Miscellaneous

We are in need of volunteers to assist with the SoMAS recruitment weekend and the International Potluck Dinner. This is an important event for SoMAS and we need your participation. Details and sign-up sheets for the dinner, scheduled for March 23, are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall. Please sign up even if you have not yet decided what to bring. To volunteer for other recruitment weekend activities, please contact Carol Dovi at cdovi@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

There will be a UUP General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, March 13, at 12:00 noon in the Student Activities Center, Ballroom A. Agenda items are approval of the chapter budget, and an update on UUP/NY State negotiations. Lunch will be served. RSVP at http://www.uupsbu.org.

Donations are needed for Long Island food pantries. The top ten list of food items needed are canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly, canned tuna and chicken, instant potatoes, hot and cold cereal, soup and crackers, canned vegetables, pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese, and store gift cards. Toothpaste and bar soap is needed as well. Items will be dropped off on March 10. Please consider donating to those less fortunate.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, March 14, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Judah Cohen from Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) in Lexington, MA will present a seminar entitled, “Eurasian Snow Cover: Potential Use in Seasonal Predictions and Influence on Recent Northern Hemisphere Winter Temperature Trends.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Cohen, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, March 16, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Andrew Read from Duke University Marine Laboratory will present a seminar entitled, “Using Digital Archival Tags to Learn About Pilot Whale Foraging Behavior and Related Studies on Bycatch and Depredation in the Longline Fishery off of Cape Hatteras.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Congratulations to Drs. Chris Gobler and Anne McElroy on their promotions to the rank of Full Professor.

Faculty are asked to encourage students to participate in the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URECA) campus-wide undergraduate research poster exhibition scheduled for April 25. Details may be accessed at http://www.stonybrook.edu/ureca/celebration.shtml

Student News

Call for candidates by the Graduate Student Organization (GSO): The GSO is currently looking for candidates for the 2012-13 Executive Council. For information regarding positions and for nomination forms please access http://www.sbgso.org/

A new graduate student-run organization has been formed by students who attended the “What Can You Be With A Ph.D?” job symposium held in New York City last fall. Students who are interested in joining may access http://goo.gl/YYL4G for further information.

Miscellaneous

Save the date! The Robert L. de Zafra Student Symposium has been scheduled for Friday, May 4 at 9:00 a.m. Additional details will be provided in a future newsletter.

The SoMAS spring intramural softball team is now forming. For more information, please contact Christopher Martinez at cmimarti@ic.sunysb.edu. Deadline to join is March 15.

The first annual SoMAS Photo Competition is here! Graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate. Details are posted on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall, or you may send inquiries to somasphotocompetition@gmail.com.

We are still in need of volunteers for the International Potluck Dinner on March 23. Details and sign-up sheets are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall. Please consider participating in this important recruitment weekend event.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, March 21, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Sumant Nigam from the Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Science at the University of Maryland will present a seminar entitled, “Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and Drought Over the Great Plains.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Nigam, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, March 23, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Bill Wise from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) will present a seminar entitled, “Promised Land: New York’s Menhaden Fishery Since 1900.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Please mark your calendars for the annual Robert L. de Zafra Student Symposium which has been scheduled for Friday, May 2. Additional details will be provided in a future newsletter.

Student News

GAs, TAs and RAs currently enrolled in the graduate student health insurance plan must sign up to continue health insurance during the summer months. Deadline is April 18. For Continuation of Health Insurance forms, please see Carol Dovi or Christina Fink in the Educational Programs Office.

The Stony Brook chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for awards in educationally-related travel. This award is to defray travel expenses to a professional meeting at which the applicant is presenting a paper or poster.

Applicants do not have to be members of Sigma Xi. Deadline is April 10. For more information, please contact Larry Swanson at 2-8704.

Miscellaneous

In connection with the SoMAS recruitment weekend, the international potluck dinner will take place on Friday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. Sign-up sheets are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, March 28, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Edmund Chang from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) will present a seminar entitled, “Storm Track Simulations and Future Projections in State of the Art Climate Models.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Chang, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, March 30, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Ari Friedlaender from the Division of Marine Science and Conservation at Duke University will present a seminar entitled, “Foraging Ecology of Marine Mammals.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

From Professor Mary Scranton:

Our undergraduates will start registering for fall and summer courses shortly. One of the common questions we get is about summer research opportunities. If you have such an opportunity and want to recruit students send me the following

1. a short paragraph describing the project (and faculty advisor involved if you are a graduate student)
2. how much time the student will need to spend
3. whether this will be paid or not
4. whether the student can get credit (they can BOTH be paid and get credit but have to pay tuition for the credits)
5. YOUR contact information (email and phone)

I strongly recommend collecting resumes or applications for a few weeks and then making a choice after interviewing the top candidates. Make sure you tell the students WHEN you will be making a selection as they may assume you are going to give them the job even if you just are talking to them.

Student News

Congratulations to Alyssa Mathews, Deanna Lally, Madalyn Murray, Danica Warns and Sean Fitzgerald, recipients of the Dean’s Choice Award from SoMAS. This $250 award is based on the highest GPAs in the SoMAS undergraduate majors.

The hours for ping-pong in the Graduate Student Lounge in Discovery Hall have been restricted due to the noise level in the surrounding area. The ping-pong table may be used after 6:00 p.m. Thank you for your cooperation.

Miscellaneous

The proposed dates for the annual Flax to Vax race are April 28 and May 5. To vote for your preferred date, please access https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGYwcUtYYVpQaHhPMG9jQXczendLTUE6MQ

UUP members are invited to attend a workshop entitled, “Financial Wellness-Identify Theft,” on Wednesday, March 28, at 12:00 noon in the Wang Center, room 301. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to http://www.uupsbu.org

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Due to Spring break, there will be no Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar, Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC), or Friday Weather Discussion this week. Enjoy the break!

Faculty News

Professor Gordon Taylor has replaced Professor Dong-Ping Wang as Library Liaison. When requesting book purchases, please provide the course name, number and term and your name for course material that will be held on reserve. For other book purchases, your name and a brief justification will suffice.

Student News

The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is currently seeking applications for various paid positions within the GSO, including Ad Solicitor, Editor, Media Relations Specialist, and Graduate Student Advocate. Deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23. For more information, please access http://www.sbgso.org/node/8144.

Call for Abstracts: The Undergraduate Research and Creativity Activities (URECA) research symposium will take place on Wednesday, April 25. For details, please accesshttp://www.stonybrook.edu/ureca/celebration.shtml

Miscellaneous

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, April 11, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Raffaele Ferrari from the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will present a seminar entitled, “Shutdown of Turbulent Convection as a New Criterion for the Onset of Spring Phytoplankton Blooms.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Ferrari, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed, at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, April 13, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Cynthia Pilskain from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth will present a seminar entitled, “The Down, Up, and Out Dynamics of Carbon in a Productive Sea Shelf: The Gulf of Maine.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The next Stony Brook-Southampton Lecture Series will take place on Friday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Duke-Chancellors Lecture Hall. The lecture entitled, “Connecting the Dots: Linkages Between Land Use and the Degradation of the Eastern Suffolk County Water Bodies,” will be presented by the laboratories of Chris Gobler and Brad Peterson. Research posters will be presented by students before and after the lecture. Lecture will be followed by a reception.

All are welcome to attend a public lecture sponsored by the Center for Impacts of Regional Climate Change and A Living World Lecture on Tuesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wang Center auditorium. Greg Marshall, Emmy Award Winner and Vice President for Remote Imaging at National Geographic presents, “Crittercam: A Wild Point of View.” For additional information, please contact Professor Jeffrey Levinton at Levinton@life.bio.sunysb.edu.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Faculty members are needed to participate in the “Admissions Chat” on Wednesday, April 11, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This involves answering questions from high school students regarding SoMAS majors, and can be done from your home. For more information, please contact Mary Scranton at 2-8735.

Stony Brook’s main commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m. in the LaValle Stadium. The Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m. on the main stage of the Staller Center. For information about ordering academic attire, please access http://www.stonybrook.edu/cse/may/faculty.html. For additional information regarding commencement, please access http://www.stonybrook.edu/cse/may/. For questions related to the ceremonies, please contact the Office of Conferences and Special Events at 2-6320.

Student News

UUP Events: (1) Front Page Discussion for Academics and Professionals, “Academic Feedom, Online Teaching and the Internet: Truth and/or Consequences,” presented by Dr. Paul J. Edelson, Dean, School of Professional Development – Tuesday, April 10 at 12:00 Noon, Wang Center Chapel. (2) Meet Your UUP Officers and Committee Chairs – Wednesday, April 11 at 12:00 Noon, Wang Center, room 301. Lunch will be provided at both events. RSVP to http://www.uupsbu.org

Miscellaneous

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, April 18, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Jun Du from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) will present a seminar entitled, “A Dynamical Performance-Ranking Method for Ensembles.” If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Du, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed at 2-8319.

Due to the Earthstock 2012 celebration, there will no Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) this week. For details regarding Earthstock, please accesshttp://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/earthstock/ In connection with Earthstock, Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Scientist and Director of Communications at Climate Central, will present a lecture entitled, “The Weather of the Future,” on Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Ballroom B of the Student Activities Center.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

Nominations for open positions on the University Senate Committees, Arts and Sciences Senate Committees and for At-Large positions for both senates are now being accepted for the Spring 2012 elections. Further information may be accessed athttp://www.stonybrook.edu/univsenate/Nomination2012.shtml. Nominations will be accepted through April 18.

Funding Opportunity: International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) – NSF 12-551, Sponsor Announcement Website: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12551/nsf12551.htm

Student News

Each year, ITPA hosts the Robert L. de Zafra student symposium to create an opportunity for graduate students to report progress on their research projects in the past year. This year’s symposium will be held on Friday, May 4, in Endeavour Hall 120. All ITPA students, other than first-year students, are required to make 15 minute presentations with a 5 minute follow up for discussion. First-year students are required to attend. Powerpoint presentations should be sent to Professor Sultan Hameed by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1. For further information, please contact Professor Hameed at shameed@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Visa and Immigration Services will be hosting an “Immigration Options after Graduation” workshop on Wednesday, April 18, from 12:50 to 2:10 p.m. All international students are invited to attend. Space is limited. To register, please access http://www.stonybrook.edu/iaps/international. Deadline is April 13.

The Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics/Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences invites applications for a postdoctoral research scientist to study cloud micro-physical processes and improve their representation in General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations. To apply, please accesshttps://uwatmossci.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/post-doc-position-at-columbia-universitynasa-goddard-institute-for-space-studies/ This position will remain open until filled.

The Chinese-American Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (COAA) is seeking applicants for the “COAA Chinese Doctorate Student Thesis Award 2012.” The purpose of this award is to support the research of tomorrow’s leading Chinese scientists. For more information, please see the posting on the ITPA bulletin board in Endeavour Hall.

Miscellaneous

UUP will be hosting a “Spring Fling” membership lunch meeting on Tuesday, April 17, at 12:00 noon in the Zodiac Gallery of the Wang Center. RSVP to http://www.uupsbu.org by April 12.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

The next Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar will take place on Wednesday, April 25, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Yuk L. Yung from the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology will present a seminar entitled, “Global Remote Sensing and Spatial Patterns of CO2.” Professor Yung is this year’s Robert D. Cess Distinguished Lecturer. If you would like to make an appointment to meet with him, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed at 2-8319.

The next Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, April 27 at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Nils Volkenborn from the University of South Carolina will present a seminar entitled, “Infaunal Hydraulic Ecoystem Engineers.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

The Friday Weather Discussion will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Meteorology Lab, Endeavour 139. Topic to be announced on day of discussion.

Faculty News

The campus bookstore will be accepting orders for cap and gown rentals until Tuesday, May 1. The Provost’s Office will pay for the cost for faulty attending Commencement ceremonies. To place an order, please contact Jay Ahgharian at Jay.Ahgharian@stonybrook.edu.

Professor Marat Khairoutdinov will be attending the European Geophysical Union meeting in Switzerland from April 21 to 27.

Student News

Workshop for Graduate Students: “The Art of Writing,” Wednesday, April 25, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Humanities 3017; Speaker, Karen McNulty Walsh, Principal Media and Communications Specialist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. For further information, please emailpostdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Miscellaneous

Save the Date! The SoMAS Convocation ceremony will take place on Friday, May 18, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Student Activities Center. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.

The Committee on Honorary Degrees invites nominations from the University community for candidates for SUNY Honorary Degrees to be awarded in 2013. For more information, please contact Rayna Simon in the Graduate School at rayna.simon@stonybrook.edu. Deadline for nominations is April 27.

Upcoming Lecture: In connection with the Stony Brook Southampton Lecture Series, Dr. Jaymie R. Meliker from Stony Brook’s Department of Medicine will present a lecture entitled, “Public Health Implications of Seafood Consumption,” on Friday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Duke/Chancellors Lecture Hall on the Southampton Campus. All are welcome to attend lecture and the reception following.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

Please join us for this semester’s final Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminar on Wednesday, May 2, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Dr. Scott Gianelli from the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia University will present a seminar entitled, “Evidence for an Intermediate Mode of Aerosol Particles in Saharan Dust Events.” Dr. Gianelli is also a candidate for an adjunct faculty position at SoMAS. If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Professor Gianelli, please contact Professor Sultan Hameed at 2-8319.

The final Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) will take place on Friday, May 4, at 12:00 noon in Endeavour Hall 120. Professor Justin Ries from the University of North Carolina will present a seminar entitled, “Biogeochemical Processes that have Changed the State of Our Oceans Throughout the Geological Past, as well as Those Driving Critical Changes in the Immediate Future.” For further information, please contact Steve Ortega in the Dean’s Office at 2-8781.

In connection with the Stony Brook Southampton Lecture Series, Dr. Jaymie R. Meliker from Stony Brook’s Department of Medicine will present a lecture entitled, “Public Health Implications of Seafood Consumption,” on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Duke/Chancellors Lecture Hall on the Southampton Campus. Attendees are invited to the reception following the seminar.

All are welcome to attend the annual Robert L. de Zafra ITPA Student Symposium on Friday, May 5, at 9:00 a.m. in Endeavour Hall 120. The purpose of this symposium is to (1) provide a formal and regular mechanism for ITPA graduate students to share their research interests and activities with other students and faculty members, (2) provide a forum for ITPA graduate students to practice their presentation skills in a more formal seminar/symposium setting, (3) provide a convenient and exciting way to meet course and graduation requirements, and (4) honor one of ITPA’s most eminent professors, one that has played a substantial role in ITPA’s formation and development.

Workshop on Earth’s Energy Imbalance

SoMAS faculty and students are invited to attend a workshop on “Earth’s Energy Imbalance: Measurement and Implications on Climate Sensitivity from May 16-18 organized by Professor Marat Khairoutdinov from the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres (ITPA), and Professor Steven E. Schwartz from Bookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). For additional information and to register, please access http://www.bnl.gov/eeiworkshop.

Student News

Congratulations to Daniel Caputi, recipient of this year’s Petra M. Udelhofen Memorial Scholarship for $1,000. Details regarding the scholarship may be accessed athttp://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/make/tumf.html

The Stony Brook Meteorology Club launched their new webpage on April 11. Please visit the site athttp://sbwx.blogspot.com.

Miscellaneous

It’s not too late to sign up for the annual Flax to Vax race, scheduled for Saturday, May 5. Information and sign-up sheets are posted outside of the mail room in Endeavour Hall.

As a reminder, the SoMAS Convocation ceremony will take place on Friday, May 18, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Student Activities Center. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.

This is the final ITPA newsletter for the Spring 2012 semester. Schedules for the Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAOS) seminars and the Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium (OAC) series will be available in late August at the following websites: TAOShttp://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/news_events/taos.html OAChttp://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/news_events/oac.html

SoMAS faculty and students are invited to attend a workshop on “Earth’s Energy Imbalance: Measurement and Implications on Climate Sensitivity from May 16-18 organized by Professor Marat Khairoutdinov from the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres (ITPA), and Professor Steven E. Schwartz from Bookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). For additional information and to register, please access http://www.bnl.gov/eeiworkshop.

Faculty News

The University grading policy maybe accessed at http://www.stonybrook.edu/policy/policies.shtml?ID=207. Information regarding grade submission via SOLAR may be obtained athttp://it.cc.stonybrook.edu/site_documents/get_help/solar/submitting_grades.pdf. Questions may be directed to Melissa Jordan, Assistant Registrar for Student Records, at 2-6175.

Online voting for the 2012 elections for the University Senate and the Arts and Sciences Senate is now underway. Detailed instructions to access your ballot and vote may be done using SOLAR. After logging in, click on Personal Portfolio on the right-hand side of the screen. Deadline is May 18.

As a reminder, if you plan to be out of town over the summer, please put your name on the “out of town board” in the ITPA office.

Student News

The SoMAS Convocation will take place on Friday, May 18 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Student Activities Center auditorium. The main commencement ceremony follows at 11:00 a.m. in the LaValle Stadium. The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m. on the main stage of the Staller Center. For questions regarding the SoMAS Convocation, please contact Carol Dovi at 2-8681. All other questions regarding commencement may be directed to the Office of Conferences and Special Events at 2-6320.

Miscellaneous

Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to submit entries for the weekly ITPA E-newsletter. Please send your submissions to Gina Gartin at ggartin@notes.cc.sunysb.edu.