Jonathan W. Smith
Research Assistant, GK-12 Fellow
Department
of Geosciences
Oregon
Climate Service
Oregon
State University
316
Strand Ag. Hall
Corvallis,
OR 97331 USA
(541)
737-8970
Current Endeavors:
Presently
I am living in Corvallis, Oregon attending graduate school at Oregon State
University as a masters candidate. I am
working at the Oregon Climate Service, on the OSU campus, as a research
assistant. My thesis research involves
climate mapping of the HJ Andrews experimental forest, an old growth Long Term
Ecological Research site in the central Oregon Cascade mountains. With the help of Dr. Christopher Daly, I am
attempting to create a highly accurate temperature map of the HJ Andrews forest
by utilizing historical climate data and geographic information systems
(GIS). My ongoing thesis research is
published on a website which can be viewed by following the link below. I am hoping to complete my thesis by spring
of 2002.
In
addition to my thesis work, I am involved in teaching and science outreach
activities. I am part of a National
Science Foundation grant which places graduate students in various fields of
science into public schools to enhance science education, particularly with
respect to female and minority students.
I taught physics and earth science at a high school in Portland, Oregon
from September 2000 through March 2001.
Since September 2001 I have served as a resident scientist at an
elementary school here in Corvallis. I
have worked in a local middle school, designing hands-on computer-based GIS
projects for seventh and eighth graders, and have designed and taught a GIS
class to fourth and fifth graders as part of Oregon State University’s
Adventures in Learning Program. I often
help local Girl Scouts troops with science activities and have been involved
with the Corvallis-based Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences Program
(SMILE).
Professional Background:
I
graduated with a bachelors degree in Physics from the University of Colorado at
Boulder in 1994. From 1992 until 1996 I
was employed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research where I was
involved in convective weather research.
In 1996 I entered the U.S. Peace Corps and moved to the African country
of Malawi for two years. While in
Malawi I worked in a rural secondary school, teaching physics, chemistry,
mathematics, and geography. After
returning to the United States I entered the graduate school at Oregon State
University in Corvallis, Oregon as a masters candidate in the Department of
Geosciences. Currently I am in my third
and final year at the university.
Click here to view my
current resume.
Personal:
While
working in the Peace Corps I met a beautiful woman who I recently married. I enjoy painting, making pottery,
cross-country skiing, playing guitar, reading, writing, traveling, backpacking,
fishing, and alpine mountaineering. I am not the quarterback of the OSU
football team.
Questions or comments? Send me email at smithjw@oce.orst.edu.
Links of Interest:
HJ Andrews Long Term Ecological Research
(LTER) Site
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Latest Oregon Weather
Forecasts
Western
Regional Climate Center
Oregon State University Football
This site was last updated on
January 25, 2002.