Interview with Lisa Spencer, Author of "How Do Meteorologists Predict The Future?"

Author Spotlight

Interview with Lisa Spencer, Author of "How Do Meteorologists Predict the Future?" 
“Weather is all around you...clouds, raindrops, rainbows.  Look up, watch the clouds, can you see shapes? Do you know what kind of clouds they are? What kind of weather do they bring? Think about this, some of the water drops that are in the lake today may be in the clouds tomorrow. It's the water cycle. It's the weather.” — Lisa Spencer
 
  1. What made you want to become a meteorologist?
“I didn't grow up thinking that I wanted to be a meteorologist, actually I hadn't given weather much thought as a profession. I did know that I wanted to do something in broadcasting or public speaking. My love for weather grew when I went on an internship at a television station my senior year in college. I visited all areas of the TV station and ended up staying in the weather department for the rest of my internship. I caught the weather bug. But I knew I would have to know more about the weather so I continued my education earning a Master's Degree in Atmospheric Science. That's why I always tell students to keep an open mind during career fairs and be sure to try shadow days whenever there is an opportunity.”
  1. What is your favorite thing about being a meteorologist? 
“My favorite thing is explaining why weather is happening and how to prepare for it, whether I am on TV or visiting a school or other group.”
  1. What would you want kids to know about meteorology? 
“Meteorology is the one thing we all have in common. We all talk about the weather and how it will affect our day.”
  1. What advice would you give for future meteorologists? 
“You can start now preparing for a career in meteorology. For little ones, really concentrate on math and science. For kids who get to choose classes, pick the harder math and science classes, physics, and calculus. They will help you when you go to college.”
  1. What’s your favorite type of weather, and why do you like it so much? 
“I love hurricanes! I find it fascinating that a hurricane can grow from a thunderstorm to a huge storm that is hundreds of miles wide. You can track them for days and watch them evolve. Just to watch them spin on satellite imagery is amazing.”
  1. Can you share a particular weather phenomenon that you found challenging to explain to children, and how did you approach making it understandable and fun? 
“I've always found lightning challenging to explain. I've learned to just make it more simple by talking about it as electricity in the clouds and I like sharing fun experiments, a balloon rubbed on hair is a fun one.”