Experiential Learning
Valpo meteorology students are experienced forecasters, field scientists, and researchers by the time they graduate.
Valparaiso University’s location offers a wide variety of interesting and challenging weather, from lake-effect snows to severe convective storms, and Valpo’s sophisticated equipment and expert instruction allow students to take full advantage of the immediate environment.
Convective Field Study
Students have the opportunity to practice their forecasting skills on the 11-day convective field study to the Great Plains that takes place at the end of May. This trip provides students with field experience in severe convective environments, linking classroom preparation with its real-time application to the analysis, forecasting, and tracking of storms. On the trip, students:
- Give daily weather briefings
- Launch weather balloons
- Observe and document how convective morphology and evolution is influenced by a variety of dynamic and thermodynamic variables, as well as regional topography
- Evaluate how their forecasts match observations
- Build teamwork and leadership skills
During six days of chasing on the 2024 trip, three tornadic storms were observed along with one tornado. The students also visited the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech, the Joplin tornado memorial, and the Gateway Arch.
Opportunities On and Off Campus
Valpo meteorology students provide an invaluable service to residents of the region by staffing the Valparaiso University Weather Center, where they apply the theory they have learned. Students gain expertise in skills like reading Doppler radar and interpreting data provided by weather balloons they launch from campus.
The department maintains a fruitful relationship with the National Weather Service. Many students participate in the NWS’s Skywarn program, and NWS offices and regional bureaus around the nation have hosted Valpo students as interns. Private-sector forecasting firms are also eager to offer internships to Valpo students, and television stations around the country have given Valpo students a first-hand look at the reality of broadcast meteorology.