Lance Bosart is a renowned meteorologist who developed an interest in weather and climate from a young age. His fascination with weather patterns and climate variations was sparked by the weather tables in the New York Times, which he read daily. He also learned elementary statistics from the backs of baseball cards, which furthered his understanding of weather and climate variations around the world. Bosart initially pursued aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, with a particular interest in the theoretical aspects of fluid or air flow around rockets or airplane wings. However, he realized that engineering was not his calling after a challenging assignment to design a rocket to go to the moon and back. He then took an introduction to theoretical meteorology class in his senior year, which was a turning point in his career. Bosart also had a keen interest in sailing, which furthered his understanding of weather patterns. He learned to predict backdoor cold fronts by observing sea level pressure differences between Portland, Maine, and Boston.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Lance Bosart, conducted by Jinny Nathans on June 5th, 2018, at the Weather and Forecasting/Numerical Weather Prediction conference in Denver, provides an in-depth look into Bosart's early interest in meteorology and his academic journey at MIT. Bosart discusses his childhood fascination with weather and climate, sparked by the weather tables in the New York Times, and how he used baseball cards to learn statistics. Bosart also shares his initial pursuit of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, his realization that engineering was not his calling, and his subsequent shift to meteorology after taking an introductory class in theoretical meteorology. The interview also touches on Bosart's interest in sailing and how it contributed to his understanding of weather patterns. He shares an anecdote about a sailing incident that led him to learn how to predict backdoor cold fronts by observing sea level pressure differences. The interview provides valuable insights into Bosart's early influences, his academic journey, and his practical experiences that shaped his career in meteorology.