In a year marked by political uncertainty and a flurry of anxiety about our climate’s future, the First Annual Cornell Weather Conference, led by undergraduates in the Cornell Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, cut through with clarity and purpose, gathering more than 100 students, alumni, faculty, and practitioners from research, operations, broadcast and private industry, Sept. 26-28 at Cornell.
Guest speakers included meteorologists John Morales ’84, Danielle Breezy ’09, Andrew Hazelton and Matthew Cappucci, researchers and storm chasers Ronald Stenz ’12, Karen Kosiba and Josh Wurman, and Cornell professor Toby Ault. Sessions, led by professionals and students ranged from severe weather research and mobile radar to communication, career pathways and the evolving private-public landscape of meteorology.
Beyond panels and keynotes, attendees enjoyed warm breakfasts, free T-shirts and a brisket banquet that turned into a lively networking hub. A fundraising auction capped the evening, with a heartfelt toast to Mark Wysocki, professor emeritus of earth and atmospheric sciences.
Conferences like this matter
Events like the Cornell Weather Conference do more than celebrate our field, they sustain it. Bringing together researchers, broadcasters, forecasters and students in one room improves the pipeline of ideas and talent. It strengthens professional networks, accelerates internships and collaborations and helps translate cutting-edge science into public service. In a media environment that can reward noise over nuance, face-to-face exchange remains essential to scientific integrity, effective communication and evidence-based decision-making.
For undergraduates, the value is immediate: mentorship, feedback on research, practical advice on graduate school and careers, and a clearer picture of how skills in data, modeling, field work and communication translate to impact. For alumni and professionals, it’s a chance to identify the next generation of colleagues and to keep academic training aligned with real-world needs.
A hopeful future
From alumni to professors to peers across campuses, this conference worked because of the community that showed up to share, to learn and to support one another. As we look to future editions, the goal is simple: keep widening the circle, deepen the connections and ensure that Cornell remains a place where meteorology thrives, scientifically rigorous, publicly engaged and relentlessly curious.
To everyone who attended: thank you for preserving our passion for atmospheric science, advancing our professional and personal growth, and building the resilience we need now. What began as a student vision less than a year ago is already shaping a tradition, one that will help prepare the next generation of scientists, communicators and stewards of this planet.
Special thanks to the student conference committee: Will Cano ’26, Ronald Geiger III ’26, Jack Lefkowitz ’26, Cullen Slattery ’27, Shawn Wallace ’27, Evelyn Keefe ’28 and Jayden Vogler ’28, as well as donors, sponsors and Cornell staff whose support made the event possible.
