Environment and Society Seminar: Monica Youngman

Title: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Advance the NWS Mission and Transformation

Abstract: Artficial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the World with powerful tools with considerable potential for various applications in industries and everyday life. Alongside this potential comes inherent risks that require careful management and oversight. At the same time, the increase in number and intensity of weather events and the growing demand for weather and climate decision support services is placing increased pressure on the NWS to innovate and expand its capabilities. Recognizing these dual imperatives, the NWS is actively defining a strategic approach for AI across the agency and working with NOAA and partners to iteratively develop and define how AI will best serve the agency’s mission. NWS is commiIed to ensuring responsible, ethical, and explainable adoption of AI to continue the NWS’s trusted delivery of mission services and continuously learning what this means and how to do it better. This seminar will discuss the NWS and NOAA strategic approach and current initiatives for AI applications for weather prediction, impact-based decision support services, and operational efficiencies that will expand staff capacity and ultimately lead to better products and services for the American public. The presentation will also discuss challenges that NWS faces and opportunities for partnerships, particularly around community engagement and approaches to ethical and responsible AI development.

Bio: Monica Youngman is the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) Chief Scientist in the Office of Science and Technology Integration, NWS AI Program Lead, and the co-chair of the NOAA AI Executive Committee. She leads strategy and planning for research, development, and operational integration efforts for science and technology improvements across the NWS with a focus on advancing AI/ML initiatives. Specifically, she is leading the development of an AI/ML Roadmap, working to align and execute AI/ML initiatives, and leveraging partnerships across the private sector and academia to advance the NWS mission and transformation. Monica has held multiple roles in NOAA over the past 15 years. Most recently she served as the Data Stewardship Division Chief in the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service’s (NESDIS) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). In this role, Monica led the evaluation of data science research and development of innovative decision support tools, specifically investigating and developing new Cloud strategies, technologies, and architectures to support the management, integration, and delivery of diverse NOAA environmental data. She also served in an acting role as the NESDIS Deputy Assistant Administrator for Systems, overseeing NOAA’s environmental satellite programs. Monica has a Masters in Environmental Management with a focus on Environmental Economics from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, as well as Bachelor’s degrees in physics and political science from Iowa State University. She lives near Asheville, NC with her partner and two daughters and enjoys dancing, leading a Girl Scout troop, and volunteering in the community.

Questons: Dr. Amir Behzadan (amir.behzadan@colorado.edu)