National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
Date Posted: April 15, 2014

President Barack Obama talks with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) recipients in the East Room of the White House, April 14, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Scott Weaver is recognized for his work to link regional and large-scale climate variability and climate change, for his dedication to developing the next generation of research scientists, and for his life-long commitment to community service.

 

Scott Weaver, Ph.D., a research meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, has received the Presidential Early Career Award, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their research careers. Weaver was one of 102 scientists honored during a ceremony yesterday in Washington, D.C.

"The impressive achievements of these early-stage scientists and engineers are promising indicators of even greater successes ahead," President Obama said of the recipients. "We are grateful for their commitment to generating the scientific and technical advancements that will ensure America's global leadership for many years to come."

Weaver is recognized for his work to link regional and large-scale climate variability and climate change, for his dedication to developing the next generation of research scientists, and for his life-long commitment to community service.

"I am grateful for the privilege to work in such a rewarding career field that I love and that is recognized for its value and importance to the nation," Weaver said. "Through this award, I hope to inspire the next generation of scientists to further our understanding of the climate system."

Two important areas of Weaver's current research focus on an investigation of why the central United States has experienced a cooling trend in the midst of continental and global warming, and on finding linkages between climate phenomena and tornado activity in the United States. He is leading an effort to create a seasonal tornado outlook, a capability currently lacking by the Climate Prediction Center, which provides outlooks for winter, spring and hurricane season. Seasonal outlooks give American communities information they need to prepare in advance for destructive weather so they can protect lives and livelihoods.

Weaver earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Rutgers University, a Master of Science degree in atmospheric science from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. in atmospheric and oceanic science from the University of Maryland. He has been a research scientist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center since 2009.

The Presidential Early Career Awards, established by President Clinton in 1996, are coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President. Awardees are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.

Interviews with Dr. Weaver may be arranged by calling Susan Buchanan at 301-427-9000.