CISESS is dedicated to conducting research, education, and outreach programs that contribute to developing the future workforce that NOAA requires to carry out its mission. Since its establishment, CISESS has prioritized activities that combine research with education and training.
Young scientists, including post-doctoral researchers and students, play an important role in conducting research at CISESS. CISESS mentors work closely with post-docs and students to develop their skills and confidence as well as guide them in their careers. CISESS scientists also serve as advisors within multiple University of Maryland academic departments. More details can be found on the CISESS Education page.
CISESS scientists and students engage in diverse outreach activities, including:
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Internship Opportunities
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K-12 Education
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Maryland Day
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Community Events
Internship Opportunities
CISESS intern Samuel Wiggins presents at the 2024 AGU Conference in Washington D.C. (Photo provided by G. Fang.)
The CISESS Summer Internship Program is one of the most relevant educational activities that we carry out. This program is conducted annually and caters to high school seniors and undergraduate students. Check out the intern projects from last summer on the CISESS Summer Interns' Page. Some CISESS mentors offer year-round opportunities for interns to work on projects funded by their grants. Many CISESS interns have published their scientific findings, presented at conferences, and gone on to further their education and begin careers in their fields. Awards and honors received by CISESS interns for their achievements are included on the Awards for CISESS Scientists page.
K-12 Education
CISESS scientist Dr. Liqing Jiang presents on “The changing ocean” to Advanced Robotics Team students in Howard County, MD. (Photo provided by J. Yin.)
CISESS scientists recognize the importance of engaging young students in understanding earth system science early in their education. CISESS scientists have brought specifically designed activities for school aged children onto campus on Maryland Day and out into communities for special events. They have also been invited to give presentations to young students. CISESS scientistshave even welcomed students to their labs for tours and experiential learning opportunities. They hosted their first ever field trip to CISESS in 2023. There are also high school students each year in the CISESS Summer Internship Program. Contributing to STEM learning and exploration at an early age is an impactful way to inspire and empower global citizens.
CISESS scientists hosted 6th grade students and teachers at ESSIC/CISESS in College Park, MD. (Top from left to right) Dr. Malar Arulraj explains how to “make a cloud in a bottle”; Dr. Veljko Petković uses a Lego model to teach about satellites; Dr. Hu Yang leads student a wearing “bat eyes”. (Center) Intern Ashmita Pyne instructs students wearing VR headsets. (Bottom from left to right) Dr. Guangyang Fang explains VR visualization; Dr. Hu Yang demonstrates an ultrasonic breadboard; Joseph Patton & Dr. Daile Zhang teach a lightning safety game. (Center photo by G. Fang; Top right and bottom center photos by K. Cooney; all other photos by A. Hughes.)
Maryland Day
Maryland Day on April 27, 2024, CISESS intern Matias Calderon and mentor Dr. Hu Yang offer a hands-on learning activity to students at the ESSIC Tent. Other CISESS scientists can be seen leading a lightning safety game and providing earth science Virtual Reality experiences in the background. (Photo provided by K. Cooney.)
Mayland Day is the University of Maryland’s largest community outreach event, and CISESS scientists participate every year. CISESS scientists are featured in the following ESSIC news stories by Cazzy Medley: ESSIC Celebrates Maryland Day 2022, ESSIC Celebrates Maryland Day 2023, and ESSIC at Maryland Day 2024.
Community Events
CISESS scientist Dr. Guangyang Fang, Dr. Wenjuan Zhang, and CISESS interns Damian Figueroa and Samuel Wiggins at the 2024 Spooky Mad Science Expo in Alexandria, VA (Photo provided by G. Fang.)
CISESS scientists volunteer to take their science out into local communities. CISESS scientists not only contribute to scientific understanding; they are also committed to sharing knowledge and information with others.
CISESS scientists and interns of the Proving Ground & Training Center (and the Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center) create immersive experiences that can be shared using Meta Quest headsets at campus and community events and virtually for audiences at home (using their own devices). Their applications can be described as extended reality (XR), which is an umbrella term for immersive technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and blend innovative technology with the fields of geoscience and meteorology. Their educational application teaches audiences about such topics as the water cycle, different types of lightning, and lightning safety. Dr. Guangyang Fang and team regularly bring their XR @ CISESS experiences to community events, such as Maryland Day at UMD, the annual Spooky Mad Science Expo in Alexandria, VA, and a booth at AGU24. See the XR @ CISESS Outreach page for more information about these and other outreach activities.