The National Weather Center will host renowned physicist Dr. Francis Slakey, Associate Director of Public Affairs at the American Physical Society, at 4 p.m. April 23 in Room 1313. Slakey ‘s topic is also the title of his book, “To the Last Breath – A Memoir of Going to Extremes.” The book is on Amazon’s “2012 Best Books of the Year” list.

In 2009, Slakey became the first person to summit the highest mountain on every continent and surf every ocean (including the Arctic) on Earth. He plans to share how he used the laws of physics to his advantage in his climbing expeditions and the knowledge of the geophysics of waves to surf. He will also talk about how his adventures led him on a path to address global challenges such as climate change. For years Slakey has inspired students and researchers across the nation to address societal challenges through science and motivated them to turn their ideas into legislation.

This seminar is part of a new “Science Policy and Its Significance to Weather, Water and Climate” class offered by the University of Oklahoma and taught by NSSL /CIMMS research meteorologist Subhashree Mishra. Speakers include:

– Harold Brooks, NSSL Research Meteorologist

– Mike Douglas, NSSL Research Meteorologist

– Pam Heinselman, NSSL Research Meteorologist

– Kevin Kelleher, NSSL deputy director

– Edwin Kessler, retired NSSL director

– Pete Lamb, CIMMS director

More information is available here: http://som.ou.edu/seminars/