Joanne Simpson
American Meteorological Society Oral History Project
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On September 6, 1989, Margaret LeMone interviewed Joanne Simpson for the American Meteorological Society’s interview project. Simpson, a pioneering meteorologist, discusses her early interest in science, particularly mathematics, and her academic journey, which began at the University of Chicago. She reflects on her experiences in World War II-era meteorology training and her shift toward a career in meteorology, particularly focusing on tropical convection and cumulus clouds. Simpson details her work at Woods Hole, where she contributed to cloud research, and her later role in the development of weather modification theories, particularly cloud seeding. She also addresses her involvement in the study of hurricanes, including her participation in Project STORMFURY and her critical perspective on weather modification’s limitations. Simpson highlights the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field and her experiences in various research environments, including NASA and the Weather Bureau.
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