Education and Public Outreach

Sharing our research and knowledge is a key element of SSEC’s mission. Our scientists and outreach specialists develop online content and resources, as well as organize and conduct training and workshops, for groups ranging from high school students and teachers to other researchers and weather forecasters. Leading and supporting our education and outreach efforts is the Office of Education and Public Outreach within SSEC’s Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies.

Workshops and Learning Communities


Scholarship Opportunities

  • Verner E. Suomi Scholarship Award
    This $1000 scholarship opportunity is for high school seniors who plan to attend a University of Wisconsin System undergraduate program in the physical sciences; especially meteorology, earth science, oceanography, physics, astronomy, science or math education, environmental science and engineering.
  • William L. Smith Sr. Graduate Scholarship
    For PhD students

Web based Educational Resources


Training/Professional Development

  • VISIT and VISITview
    SSEC and CIMSS researchers contribute and conduct online courses to help train NWS forecasters in how to understand and use satellite imagery for forecasting.
  • Remote Sensing Seminars
    CIMSS researchers developed these seminars to teach the basics of remote sensing to scientists around the globe.
  • ITWG
    Dedicated to sharing information and data from NOAA polar orbiting satellites, the International TOVS Working Group (ITWG) recommends directions of future research and seeks to influence relevant programs of the WMO and other agencies (NASA, NESDIS, EUMETSAT).
  • Satellite Information Familiarization Tool (SIFT)
    SIFT is a user-friendly visualization system developed to train meteorologists to use satellite imagery.
  • Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet)
    Researchers develop online courses for NWS forecasters to learn more about polar orbiting and geostationary satellite data and products.

Other EPO and Learning Resources

  • The Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET)
    SSEC and CIMSS researchers participate in COMET, a collaboration begun by UCAR and the NWS to promote a better understanding of mesoscale meteorology among weather forecasters and to maximize the benefits of new weather technologies.
  • Wisconsin View - Education Resourses
    Dedicated to remote sensing imagery access and use in Wisconsin, WisconsinView provides resources for educators to explore satellite imagery, aerial photography, and related technologies.
  • Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC)
    SSEC is an affiliate member of the WSGC, which aims to engage Wisconsin citizens in space and aerospace science and to provide them with the math, science and technology tools they need to thrive in the 21st century.