After more than a decade in the world of broadcast meteorology, late 2019 brought a new journey on my career path. While difficult to branch away from a career I thoroughly enjoyed, the opportunity to join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was one I couldn’t turn down. I am glad to join this incredible operation, where cutting edge research is being done toward a clean, healthier future of energy. I will be one of the communications strategists on the team, helping spread the good word about the work going on at the lab and within the US Department of Energy. I’m excited to take on this new role, and find new ways to explore my passion for science and communication.
For the first time since college, I was part of a theatrical production- The Polar Express! Since early October, I had been in rehearsals learning choreography, line memorization, and scene blocking on a real, moving train. This was certainly the most unique play I’ve ever been a part of.
I played the part of the ‘chef’, which in this version, was the 2nd lead character to the conductor! In some shows, I also got to play an elf at the North Pole. We brought the story of the Polar Express to life to a crowd of 40-70 patrons each show. The production was immersive, meaning it was meant to take our audience into a world of production. This was not just scripted lines presented on a stage, but living characters constantly interacting and improvising with the crowd. With 3 shows per night, 12 nights, over 7 weeks, this was a real challenge to my ability to stay in character, improvise, and entertain people of all ages! I had a blast. A big shout-out and thanks to my fellow cast and crew, as well as all of the volunteers at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden CO.
I’m excited to take on yet another forecast partnership. All this 2016-2017 winter season, I will be providing SnoCountry.com with weekly web stories all about the near term forecasts. SnoCountry.com caters to skiers and snowboarders around the world, getting winter outdoor enthusiasts excited for all of the great conditions and events at various ski areas.
My forecasts will focus on North American ski areas, seeking out the next snow, and best conditions to hit the slopes. Look for my new “SnoCast” every Wednesday here, on SnoCountry.com.
I’m excited to take on a new partnership with Palm Beach Happening Magazine, providing weekly weather blogs for Palm Beach county. Palm Beach Happening keeps readers up to speed on all of the great events, festivals, and “happenings” across Palm Beach county. My goal is to provide forecast information, but also teach the readers a little something from time to time. In my opinion, weather education is the best way to be prepared- know weather terms, how weather works, and what creates changes will help people better understand our atmosphere. Watch for my weekly blog on #WeatherWednesday (each Wednesday), to get some insight into the south Florida weather.
Just back from the 96th annual conference of the American Meteorological Society! What a fantastic experience to meet up with old and new colleagues and learn about the latest research in atmospheric sciences and climate.
The week long meetup of climate, water, and atmospheric scientists took place in New Orleans this year. With nearly 4000 attendees, this was the largest conference yet.
You can learn more about the conference right on the AMS website here >>ametsoc.org
I was asked to be 1 of 4 panelists for one session of the conference. The panel was part of the conference for Early Career Professionals, aimed to help undergrads, grad students, and those newly starting their careers further assistance to launch their careers to a new level. I was happy to represent the broadcast sector for early career meteorologists, alongside 3 others representing academia, government, and private sector professionals.
Each day was jam packed with opportunities to hear about various research projects, latest technologies and best practices, and overall general discussions on many topics. Numerous networking events allowed me to meet up with old classmates and colleagues, and also meet new ones. My alma mater, Lyndon State College, also held an alumni reception to reconnect with classmates and see where their careers have gone (pictured).
If you’re on Twitter, be sure to review some of the conference highlights through attendee tweets using the hashtag #AMS2016 – you can check out my page @kerrinjeromin
While there, I also took a little time to check out the amazing city of New Orleans. First time visiting the city and I am excited to go back and see more. What a beautiful, colorful, lively city with deep history and delicious food, too! If you e read some of my other blogs, you’ll know that I was simply thrilled to self tour a brand new city. I took these photos while venturing out- and, yes, that’s a delicious, got beignet at Cafe Du Monde. If yo And haven’t had one, make sure to try it next time you’re in New Orleans.
I had a recent opportunity to be interviewed by a tv news colleague, Scott Fleishman. Scott works as a sports anchor at WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont, and also started a podcast, Happy Talk, where he interviews various tv news professionals to talk about their “story” and experiences working as a broadcaster.
As many of you know, I am married to another meteorologist, Steve Glazier. Steve and I have worked together at 2 different tv stations for the past several years, and were able to talk about that and our careers in Scott’s latest podcast.
Scott, *thank you* for chatting with us! Have a listen, and if you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to Happy Talk and help spread the word about Scott’s podcast. Good stuff, and really interesting for those working in (or interested in working in) television news.
Another great opportunity to encourage girls to be scientists!
I was recently invited to the South Florida Science Center in West Palm Beach, FL to talk to a group of young girls about their current interests and possible future careers as scientists. The GEMS Club (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) is a monthly meeting of girls, mostly in grades 3-8, to get excited about their interests in the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). It was my pleasure to talk with nearly 70 girls who have interests in science and math, and encourage them to continue to follow those interests!
I spoke to them about my career in meteorology. I explained to tell them, it’s not just about being on TV! While that is mostly what *you at home* see with my job, there is so much more to it. There are numbers to crunch and there is data to analyze to create a forecast. We talked about data analysis, and the basic scientific method that a meteorologist does on a daily basis to analyze the weather, and make a forecast.
I think they were surprised at how much there is to do! How much science is really involved, and how much more we have yet to learn.
In fact, that was my drive home point… there is so much left to learn! There are endless possibilities in science and math because, basically, WE DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING. There will always be something new to learn. We will continue to discover new things about Earth’s weather and environment. There will always be the next “big thing” in technology. There will always be more to learn about our ecosystems… ecosystems on other planets perhaps, more about the Universe and everything in it. That’s why I encourage these girls to stay in science. They could discover or create the “next big thing” that we may not even be able to comprehend at this time in our history.
Who knows? Maybe one of those girls will be the first to create the most accurate weather model we have ever seen. Maybe they will create a brand new way to mass transportation that creates zero emissions or environmental impact. Maybe they engineer a piece of equipment that will make life saving medical advances. The possibilities are endless and I’m glad I got the chance to inspire them to reach for those limitless ends.
I had a truly unforgettable experience this past weekend at Kennedy Space Center. An inspiring weekend, filled with emotion. After a 2 day buildup of touring Kennedy Space Center, viewing all of the innovative technology, experiments, and brilliant work being done to launch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo carrier to the International Space Station, the mission ended in a tragic loss of the rocket and all of it’s contents. Here’s a little bit of what my experience was like at the NASA Social.
Arrival day: I drive to Titusville, Florida on a stormy day on the Space Coast. I am so excited to be chosen to attend this special event- the NASA Social. With just 1 round of application and being accepted in, I thought, would mean anyone could get in. I would find out that I was hand selected out of over 900 applicants to be 1 of the nearly 40 who attended the 3 day event where we were given special access to KSC to get a first hand look at the latest technology, experiments, and innovation going on throughout the facility.
NASA Social Day 1: So much to learn, and yet I’m already inspired. Day 1 of our NASA Social took us through an in depth crash course of information about the upcoming launch, and what makes NASA so powerful. After receiving my press credentials, the NASA social group gathered for the first time at NASA’s press site.
I couldn’t help but notice the motley crew the NASA Social team selected to attend. We have people from all walks of life… A former WWE Diva, an Australian teacher encouraging children to learn about science and Space travel, an LA filmmaker with a special interest in sci-fi…me…, a travel writer, and many other talented individuals- some who just love space, science, and NASA…all of whom are active in social media, and who reach out to a unique group through their various social sites.
Through our tweets, blogs, periscope broadcasts, and instagram photos, we are able to spread the word of how awesome NASA is in a much more raw and relatable way than traditional media.
Our social media leaders for the weekend…tweeting away, of course! A huge thank you to these individuals for encouraging and inspiring this group of social media users.
The day kicked off with introductions and a chat with NASA’s new deputy administrator, Dava Newman. How cool to have a woman in the lead. She is so personable, and yet holds such a powerful position. She is making NASA shine even brighter by letting people get excited about science.
We continued on to various tours, including the TPSF (Thermal Protection System Facility) where NASA’s thermal technology was demonstrated, first hand. We learned about and viewed the process of making the highly heat resistant tiles that comprise the vehicles’ outer shell to keep it safe under extreme conditions- particularly during reentry into Earths atmosphere. How do you prove it works? A piece was demonstrated by taking small chunks out of the oven, where the inside content measures a whopping 2300 degrees Fahrenheit… With NASA technology and the insulative outer shell, I was able to pick up that block with my bare hands immediately after coming out of the oven. A surprisingly awesome experience.
We are welcomed into the day’s press conferences, where we were informed more about Sunday’s launch of the CRS-7 Falcon 9 Dragon, and about the cargo and technology going up to the ISS on the mission. For those who are just learning (like I did…) CRS stands for Commercial Resupply Services. Falcon 9 is the type of rocket (owned by SpaceX), and Dragon is the vehicle carrying all of the cargo that heads to the Int’ Space Station.
In today’s press conference, we learned about some of the experiments and technology on board. Some of the hot topics include
an experiment testing the ability to grow vegetables in space, subcutaneous medical implants that would supply astronauts with needed medicines, and a highly advanced and, frankly, futuristic holographic headset, called the Microsoft HoloLens, with which astronauts on the ISS would be able to actually see hologram images displayed in the real world to aid in various projects. As “Start Trek” as it sounds, this piece of technology has been described as turning science fiction into science fact and is the first of it’s kind. This is particularly intriguing to me because just 3 days prior, I learned that my brother helped design this high tech device with his peers at Microsoft. Proud of him, and excited to witness his work be launched into the future of space exploration.
We finished the day with a tour of the VAB (vehicle assembly building), an enormous facility to work on and construct the “vehicles” heading to space.
This is only day 1 and already the question, “why am I here?” has been answered. I am here to learn and be inspired and never stop learning.
Day 2: The second day of the NASA Social took us through another press conference discussing some special experiments set to be launched to the ISS. A group of middle school students (and very well spoken, at that) described their year-long class project that is set to go up to the ISS. The project will examine worms, and their ability to compost in a zero-gravity environment. The hope is that they can, to perhaps help aid in future space agriculture. Let’s not discuss how I went wrong in 8th grade where my final science project was a tornado in a bottle (…well, I guess that worked out in the long run). The presser also covered launch day weather conditions, where we are in great shape! Only 10% chance of weather violations for launch day, but forecasters are confident in good conditions. I’m, clearly, listening in excitement and looking at weather conditions myself.
NASA Social attendees get an up close look at the experiments heading to the ISS. Here, we learn about the experiment to test the ability to grow vegetables in space. Perhaps very useful some day to sustain our astronauts with fresh food.
We were also allowed in the International Space Station Processing Facility which, in short, is one of the last stops for all things that go to the ISS. Another really fascinating tour to see of of the technology, and precision that must go into getting things to space. It’s clear to see, this is not easy work…this *is* rocket science.
Tomorrow is launch day, and I’m excited as a kid on Christmas Eve, unable to sleep!
Day 3: The day starts at 1:15am, where we all (sleepily) arrive for an early morning view of the launch pad. I have to say, this might be the coolest part of the NASA Social- having the badge and credentials to just roll in through high security, restricted areas of KSC at 1:15 in the morning. Not many can say they get to do that. We all boarded a bus to venture about 20 minutes east to the launch pad viewing area. What a sight. With the stars shining bright and the moon, as well, it’s hard not to be inspired by space exploration and how much more we will eventually discover. We are all looking forward to the launch later today.
After a short 3 hour nap back at my hotel, we’re back at the media center at 8am to go to the viewing area. We are set up about 4 miles away from the launch site, with a clear, obstruction free view over the Banana River. All media and social media are clustered together.
As the minutes tick by, many of the NASA Social attendees continue to tweet, periscope, and take photos for the big event. I, myself, did periscope through the event, but made sure it did not interfere with the experience and view of the launch. We get to the point where we hear “GO FOR LAUNCH”. My heart is beating fast, and others around me start divulging how fortunate they feel to attend today’s events.
As the minutes turn to seconds, the crowd goes silent…waiting to see and feel the experience. Commentary is voiced over a loudspeaker for all to hear. The count down goes…”10, 9, 8″…. my heartbeat is fluttering, and the anticipation builds more. “3, 2, 1, LIFTOFF of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, adding to the International Space Station access for future American rockets”.
Such an awe inspiring moment to see the rocket lift away, gliding smoothly upward into the sky.
The moment I saw the rocket lift, my jaw dropped open. I had an unintentional short, gaspy breath, just in awe of what I was witnessing. What an unbelievable feat to have this capability. I watched in amazement as the rocket smoothly soared to higher heights. In about 20 seconds after liftoff, I could feel the burst of air come across the water and blow my hair back. My hands are shaking at what I am witnessing. The noise is an unforgettable roar.
I watched so closely, snapping only a few photos and letting my Periscope run. About 2 minutes of amazement, until suddenly, the rocket seemed to disappear into thin air. Many, including myself, thought the rocket had gone high enough to go through the troposphere and out of view…there was applause. Then, seconds later, we hear the words “vehicle failure” from the commentator. Silence fell over onlookers. At first, confusion. What happened? Something has gone wrong. Hearing the voice of the commentator then describe confirmation that the rocket is in pieces was a devastating turn in emotions. Suddenly, so many feel a sadness, having witnessed a loss of all the hard work, technology, science, and for some, hopes and dreams of advancement, shattered in an instant.
I couldn’t believe the feeling I had just had. Extreme amazement, to sadness over all of the work that was just lost. As we filed back onto the bus, everyone was scouring social media to see what exactly went wrong. NASA Social members poured over their high quality photos to see what happened. The bus ride back to the media building was fairly quiet, with nothing but conversation and speculation of what went wrong.
After hours of expert analysis by SpaceX and NASA, another press conference was held to wrap up the launch. The national media now jammed in the press room, with not much extra space available. In fact, I watched the presser from an overflow room, as did many others.
In the time that passed, it allowed many of us to reflect what we just saw. While a lot was lost, it was only “things”. No people were on board, and most of the things can be replaced. These tweets from Scott Kelly, an astronaut on board the International Space Station, should remind us all, this isn’t easy stuff. This *is* rocket science. Failures are expected occasionally, but there will still be disappointment for all who have worked so hard. Despite this setback, we will continue the journey to discover deeper into space, and press on with our journey.
A view from above. Astronaut Scott Kelly watches as the Dragon launch fails
I am extremely thankful for the opportunity I was given to explore NASA’s Kennedy Space Center facility as I did with the NASA Social team. Despite the unfortunate ending, I was inspired; to never stop learning, to educate others, to be passionate about what you do, and most of all to never stop achieving your goals no matter how big the setbacks.
Be sure to visit my BLOG page to read up on some of my latest topics of interest. Here’s a snippet of my most recent blog.
June 30, 2015: What an experience. This past weekend, I was lucky enough to get a “behind the scenes” style view of the SpaceX CRS-7 Falcon 9 Dragon launch at Kennedy Space Center. As you may know, the mission was unsuccessful, ending, unfortunately, in a total loss of the rocket and the 4000 pounds of supplies, technology, and experiments headed to the International Space Station. But, despite the loss, the 3 day NASA Social experience was unforgettable for me, and completely inspiring to witness all of the hard work, dedication, and science that goes in to these launches. I wrote up a full journal style entry of my experience, click here to read about my time at NASA!
I had an awesome opportunity to talk with students on the other side of the world today about the weather! I spoke with students who are from Australia, but attending a school in Singapore. I originally made the connection with one of the teachers at that school through Twitter. He asked if I would mind talking with his students about how to analyze and forecast the weather, and how we present it on TV.
Through the power of technology, I was able to have a live conversation with a small group students (4 young girls) via Skype! With the “selfie stick” to help, we started to talk about weather and forecasting at the wee hour of 1:45am eastern time…in Singapore, that’s 1:45 in the afternoon.
These girls are quite brilliant. They had some great questions. I was able to answer most of them but, admittedly, they stumped me on one question. I couldn’t identify one of the symbols that was on their weather map (image below). Turns out, the image they had was one from some independent weather source who may have taken some “creative freedoms” with their weather symbols, representing a tropical cyclone as a yellow square with 2 small circulating squiggles (that one was new to me!). There were quite a few differences between the synoptic maps I’m used to analyzing – the colors are different. Lows are blue instead of the usual red, Highs are red instead of blue, cold fronts are shown as yellow instead of the usual blue. So, I was curious to learn if, in fact, this is considered accurate in other parts of the world, or if my suspicions were correct in that there were some creative liberties taken by the creator of this image. With a little internet searching, looks like my suspicions were correct, someone was having fun playing with colors.
I did get to do a little research on the local Australian Bureau of Meteorology in that search! Always neat to see how other governement agencies disseminate weather information. I’m so used to seeing our National Weather Service information…it’s a similar agency, just for another part of the world. There are numerous other government operated meteorological agencies all around the globe.
I had a great time getting to share my knowledge with these students, and being able to talk weather with them. Now, these girls will put together their own weather presentation at their green screen! I know they will be great!
A big thanks to Craig Kemp, the teacher who originally reached out to me to connect these students with the world through technology. Looking forward to the next opportunity! If you’d like me to talk with your student’s class via Skype, let’s connect! Get in touch with me through my “Contact!” page.
I’m excited to take on yet another forecast partnership. All this 2016-2017 winter season, I will be providing SnoCountry.com with weekly web stories all about the near term forecasts. SnoCountry.com caters to skiers and snowboarders around the world, getting winter outdoor enthusiasts excited for all of the great conditions and events at various ski areas.
NASA Social Day 1: So much to learn, and yet I’m already inspired. Day 1 of our NASA Social took us through an in depth crash course of information about the upcoming launch, and what makes NASA so powerful. After receiving my press credentials, the NASA social group gathered for the first time at NASA’s press site.
Kerrin Jeromin 