Jamie Dyer's curiosity about the unknown helped him become an assistant professor of climatology and meteorology.
A time-sensitive environment involving dangerous weather is the type of challenge that Dyer appreciates.
"It's like a moving target that involves so many different variables that impact people's lives," he said. "Trying to figure it out fascinates me and can help keep people safe."
As a faculty member in Mississippi State's department of geosciences, Dyer helps teach tomorrow's weather forecasters the best methods and technology to inform the public about dangerous weather systems. He's working with Phil Amburn at the university's Geosystems Research Institute to create new software that may provide weather experts with more information than existing methods.
While in the early stages of development, Dyer's techniques could provide a greater understanding of weather using three-dimensional visualization.
"It's a new way of looking at things," he said. "I'm confident we'll do a much better job in forecasting."
In addition to its applications for weather forecasting, Dyer said the research technique could impact other fields, such as aviation.
"We're just beginning to see what it can do," he said.