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Rajul Pandya became director of the SOARS program in 2004.
The meeting focused on timing, content, and appropriate level of
detail for the seminars.
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Training in computing fundamentals
is vital to speeding up the work of Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric
Research and Science (SOARS) projects. SCD staff, along with Sylvia
Murphy (NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Division) and Mark Petersen
(University of Colorado), volunteered to provide this training during
the proteges' first week at NCAR this year.
The SOARS program provides scientific research and writing mentoring for
students who want to pursue careers in the atmospheric and related
sciences. SOARS is dedicated to increasing the number of African American,
American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American students enrolled
in masters and doctoral degree programs. SOARS works to increase ethnic
diversity in the scientific community of the future.
SOARS students participate in various research projects at NCAR
(and other national labs) for 10 weeks during the summer. They receive
training in writing, leadership, career planning, and presenting their
research. NCAR/UCAR staff volunteer their time as science research
mentors, science writing mentors, and community mentors.
In 2004, SCD organized a series of seminars in computing
fundamentals to allow proteges focus more efficiently on the science
aspects of their research projects. Dick Valent, Associate Manager
of SCD's User Support Section, coordinated this effort with SOARS
program director Rajul Pandya. A planning meeting was held on 4
June 2004. Participants included (in counterclockwise order) Rajul
Pandya (with necktie), SOARS proteges Rebecca Chan and Andro Rios,
NCL project manager Mary Haley, CGD associate scientist Sylvia
Murphy, Mike Page and Siddhartha Ghosh of SCD Consulting Services,
Data Support Section manager Steve Worley, and Dick Valent.
On 10 June 2004, all of the SOARS proteges participated in a
series of four computing seminars. Siddhartha Ghosh presented an
introduction to UNIX, and Steve Worley described NCAR's massive
research data archive from the perspective of a new user. Sylvia Murphy provided
an overview of NCL, NCAR's programming language for data analysis
and visualization, and Mark Petersen gave a brief introduction to
using the Fortran language for scientific research.
For more information
More information about this innovative program is provided on the
SOARS website.
SOARS funding is provided by the
National Science Foundation.
In 2001, SOARS received a
U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and
Engineering Mentoring. Tom Windham, director of SOARS from 1995-2003
accepted the award.
— Brian Bevirt
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