University at Buffalo Launches Summer Research Program on Climate and Extreme Weather

By Henry March 3, 2025
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The University at Buffalo, New York, is set to host a summer research programme focused on extreme weather events and climate change in Western New York. Funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) with a $433,709 grant, the 10-week programme will commence in May 2025.

Led by Dr Sophie Nowicki, Empire Innovation Professor in the UB Department of Earth Sciences, the initiative will engage undergraduate students in climate-related research. “Western New York is relatively resilient to climate change compared to coastal or drought-prone regions, but no place on Earth is immune,” said Nowicki, who is also the grant’s principal investigator.

The programme will recruit 10 undergraduate students from across the United States. Each student will be assigned a research topic and two advisers from either the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences or the College of Arts and Sciences. The research will focus on various climate-related challenges, particularly those affecting Western New York and the Great Lakes region.

Joseph Tulenko, co-principal investigator and postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences, highlighted the programme’s relevance. “All research topics will address global climate challenges, with most focusing on issues directly impacting Western New York,” he stated.

The University at Buffalo’s research topics will include the 2022 blizzard that claimed lives in Western New York, the effects of climate change on the Great Lakes region, and geological changes along the Lake Erie shoreline.

Nowicki emphasised the urgency of climate research, stating, “We expect sea levels to rise by 20 centimetres by 2050, but what does that mean for us? Linking research topics to Buffalo and Western New York makes climate change more tangible and relatable.”

This programme will provide students with hands-on experience while contributing valuable insights into the region’s climate challenges. Applications are open, and selected students will have the opportunity to work closely with leading climate experts at the university.

Source: SHIKSHA

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