ESP Biography



BENJAMIN BROWN-STEINER, Postdoc at MIT, Atmospheric Chemist



Major: postdoc, CGCS

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: Not available.

Picture of Benjamin Brown-Steiner

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Benjamin Brown-Steiner is a Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. His research is on uncertainty analysis, model development and implementation of a three-dimensional atmospheric chemistry model in the MIT Integrated Global System Model (IGSM). Prior to MIT he worked on climate-chemistry simulations examining various impacts on surface air chemistry in the Eastern US as well as diagnostic analysis of the capabilities and limitations of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) with Chemistry. He is also interested in science communication with non-scientists and has regularly volunteered in his community as a science writer and communicator. He is also a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society.



Past Classes

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S10012: Head in the Clouds - Understanding Clouds and Capturing Your Own Cloud Time-Lapses in Splash 2015 (Nov. 21 - 22, 2015)
All of us see clouds in the sky on a daily basis but very few of us give them a second thought. You may know what a Cumulus cloud is, and have an idea of what a Cirrus cloud looks like, but have you ever seen the fleeting and majestic Kelvin-Helmholtz wave cloud? How about the common and beautiful Altocumulus stratiformis translucidus undulatus? In this class, you will learn how to identify the basic cloud types and explore the amazing variety of species, subspecies, and special cloud types. You will explore some of the science behind cloud formation, their dynamics, and their impact on our daily lives. You will also learn how to make your own cloud time-lapses with simple apps that are available on most smartphones and tablets. There are no prerequisites for this class except for curiosity about the world around you and the willingness to put your head in the clouds!