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Near the end of her presentation to seventh graders at Central Square Middle School on Thursday, WSYR Meteorologist Kate Thornton was asked by a student about her favorite part of the job.
“Honestly, doing events like this,” Thornton said. “Getting out of the studio, being able to talk to kids and hopefully inspire them to pursue a career in STEM (science, math, engineering or technology).”
Thornton’s appearance fittingly took place on National STEM Day and touched on topics from using satellite and radar to predict weather patterns to the “anatomy of a tornado.”
Thornton, who appears daily on Channel 9 ABC in Syracuse, also related how her “passion for weather” began at just 10 years old, when a tornado event in her hometown drove her to “turn fear into knowledge.”
Meteorology is a part of the New York state science standards, according to teacher Brooke Layo, who said Thornton’s visit would be an “opportunity to discuss a unique career in the field of science” and highlighting a women in a stereotypically male career.
Thornton also noted that women are proportionally underrepresented in STEM fields, adding that only 29 percent of on-air meteorologists in the United States are female.
“We’re hoping to spark an interest in students watching local news reports, initiative conversation between students and families regarding meteorology and this is an opportunity for students who may have a special interest in the field of meteorology to have their questions answered by an expert,” said Layo.
Students participated in the presentation by helping Thornton forecast the coming days’ weather in Central New York using maps and meteorological data, discussed the impacts of hurricanes and winter weather, learned how lake-effect snow is formed, and the differences between a weather “watch,” “warning,” and “advisory.”
