Jillian Young Presents Research at National Conference

2017 Feb 10

Jillian Young of Sidney, NY, presented original scientific research at the 97th American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in Seattle from Jan. 22-26, 2017. More than 4,400 scientists, educators, students and other professionals from across the weather, water, and climate community came together to share, learn, and collaborate.

Titled "Comparing the Ratio of Cloud-to-Cloud and Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Strokes in Severe Weather Events on Different Geographic Scales," Young's poster presentation provided preliminary data from an ongoing independent research project on lightning in severe thunderstorms. Young examined radar and lightning data from three severe weather outbreaks in Oklahoma and Arkansas to test her hypothesis that there is a relationship between the ratio of cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strokes on three different geographic scales.

"Getting to present my research was an incredible opportunity," she said. "I was not only presenting to fellow students who have the same interests as me; I also presented to professionals in the field. To get their feedback and hear that they enjoyed my research really meant a lot."

Young was one of two SUNY Oneonta students who traveled to Seattle for the AMS meeting. Three meteorology alumni - all of whom are now graduate students at other universities - were also in attendance.

In addition to presenting her research, Young was recognized at the AMS meeting for receiving the $2,000 Om and Saraswati (Sara) Bahethi Scholarship, one of 22 scholarships awarded by the AMS in 2016 to outstanding undergraduate students across the country.

A senior majoring in meteorology with minors in mathematics and water resources, Young is an active and accomplished scholar in her field. In 2014, she planned and co-led social media efforts for the AMS annual meeting. In addition to the AMS scholarship, she was selected to receive two highly competitive scholarships awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Association, and she interned at two different offices of the National Weather Service.

On campus, Young is very involved in activities related to earth science and meteorology. She constructed and posted daily forecasts to the meteorology program weather web page, served on the Student Advisory Council for the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and was a logistics assistant during a geology field course at Death Valley National Park. She has also served as president for both the Meteorology Club and the college's chapter of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon earth sciences honor society.

After graduation, Young plans to pursue a master's degree with a focus on hydrology.