U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) announced $500,000 in additional federal funding for the PSU meteorology program at a campus press conference in September. In December, the Judd Gregg Meteorology Institute was dedicated in his honor.

During the past five years, funds obtained by Sen. Gregg have been used to upgrade facilities and enable meteorology students and faculty to participate in significant research activities. The quality and number of meteorology majors has continued to grow and graduates are successfully finding jobs in their field. The opportunities offered by an expanded and fully-renovated Boyd Science Center have led to a comprehensive development strategy for the meteorology program.

“Through partnerships with the University of New Hampshire, the weather center at Plymouth State has established itself as a leader in weather forecasting and air quality studies,” Gregg said. “It is all the more impressive because it has done so in an undergraduate environment.”

The current grant will upgrade and/or replace existing meteorological equipment and technology. Another $500,000 has been requested to add faculty and a full-time technician to the program. Professor of Meteorology Jim Koermer explained that these enhancements will improve the program’s position to support new weather and air quality initiatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—EC