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Top Avalanche Forecaster Demonstrates the Importance of Math and Science
Date posted: 04/03/2009*
On April 1, at the 2009 National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Raytheon employees offered local high school students a lesson they may never learn in the classroom – a lesson on avalanches.
At the event, Raytheon held a special booth supporting science, technology, engineering and math (S.T.E.M.) education. The exhibit featured Ben Pritchett, Colorado’s foremost avalanche forecaster from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), who delivered a presentation on the background of avalanches, how fast they go, and how we can use math to predict and study them.
“Math and computer skills are increasingly important for analyzing data in my daily work as an avalanche forecaster,” said Pritchett. “Forecasters also need strong written, oral and interpersonal communication skills to write advisories, make presentations, and deal with the public.”
The booth saw a steady stream of student and teacher participants throughout the day. Pritchett informed the students that since 1950, avalanches took the lives of more people than any other natural disaster in Colorado – and, in the United States, Colorado accounts for one-third of all avalanche deaths.
For 25 years, NSS has gathered prestigious leaders and representatives from across the aerospace industry. Raytheon and the Space Foundation are aware of the importance in fostering interest in math and science education among our youth today. Raytheon’s exhibit this year is just one example of the company’s ongoing commitment to the advancement of math and science education.
To learn more about Raytheon’s involvement with math and science education, visit the company’s MathMovesU website here.
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