Impact on Teaching and Research

Since 1983, Weather World, a 15-minute weather magazine show broadcast on WPSX, WVIA and WITF, has taken on a new role in the ongoing relationship between Penn State's meteorology program and public television. During the past decade, students from both the School of Communications and the Department of Meteorology have worked closely behind the scenes with the production. More than 75 communications majors and about 20 meteorology students have been 'apprentices' with Weather World, preparing features, researching stories and helping in the control room.

The Introduction to TV Meteorology course, (Meteo 497A), has had overflowing enrollment for each of the ten years it has been offered. Approximately 150 meteorology students have endured the rigors of training to become on-camera meteorologists. Most choose not to pursue this career, wisely so. There have been about ten who have successfully entered the market (Charlotte, Albany, Boise, Burlington and Dayton are some of the TV markets where graduates of this course are now employed).

Weather World's viewership, at least 120,000 on a stormy winter night, have become the source of study in the field of weather communications. The first of several viewer surveys is being processed to determine the science literacy of the audience. The program serves to attract the interested weather watcher into an informal study of the science. Indeed, many of the in-state meteorology majors feed their fledgling hobby on this show while in high school.

The Weather World program also offers opportunity for graduate students to begin their careers in broadcasting while studying toward an advanced degree. Currently, three masters candidates are part of the team of ten meteorologists who broadcast their forecasts to the Pennsylvania audience. The department of meteorology has committed funds and resources to continue this aspect of graduate studies in atmospheric sciences.