The Urban Climate Research Center at ASU is thrilled to announce our 3rd annual Anthony J. Brazel Urban Climate Lecture featuring J. Marshall Shepherd. The virtual lecture will take place on Wednesday March 24 2021 at 4pm (Phoenix) — 7pm Eastern.

Dr. Shepherd is Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program. He is a leading international expert in weather and climate, and a past President of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Dr. Shepherd is also the host of The Weather Channel’s Award-Winning show: Weather Geeks, a pioneering Sunday talk
podcast/show and a contributor to Forbes Magazine. He has won many prestigious awards for his research and public engagement, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the AGU
Climate Communication Prize, the American Meteorological Society’s Brooks and Helmut Landsberg awards, and the Association of American Geographers Media Achievement Award.

His presentation is titled “Can Cities Make it Rain”.

Many people are familiar with something called the Urban Heat Island, which describes how and why cities are often warmer than surrounding areas. It is one of the most profound examples of human activity altering the weather and climate. Heat islands have been aggressively studied and publicized in recent decades but the public, decision-makers, and stakeholders may be less familiar with the impact cities have on precipitation and flooding. Dr. Shepherd, who has been honored at the White House and by the American Meteorological Society for his pioneering work on the “Urban Rainfall Effect,” will offer a fascinating discussion on the topic with perspectives
on science and decision-making. Some of Dr. Shepherd’s early work on the topic was even inspired by Dr. Tony Brazel.