Where do UK PhDs end up?

Nikolai Dotzek (1966–2010)

The atmospheric science community lost a dear friend and colleague this past weekend. Nikolai Dotzek was a research scientist at DLR's Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, but he was also the Director of the European Severe Storms Laboratory, founder of the European Severe Weather Database, and organizer of the 5th European Conference on Severe Storms, as well as numerous other activities.

During a visit to Munich several years ago, Nikolai and his family opened their home to me for dinner. It was very kind of him, but it was something that he did for many of us severe-weather scientists who passed through town. He was a generous man.

I was amazed at how many things Nikolai did. He had boundless energy and enthusiasm, was a positive and endearing person, and was one of the most friendly scientists I knew. His demeanor made you want to join his vision for a European-wide research and forecasting effort for severe storms. It was a big vision, but I believed that he could do it. Nikolai dreamed big.

I will miss my friend very much.

Q: How do you know it's really wet?

A: When you find an earthworm clinging to your second-floor window.

True story. (How did he get there???)

Happy Pancake Day!

The UK celebrates Pancake Day today. See Wikipedia for more on this tasty and fluffy holiday.

New Homer Simpson socks

I love Pound World. You never know what kind of cool stuff you will find there. Like this set of Home Simpson socks...for 1 pound! Sometimes I feel like wearing these socks when I am reviewing a particularly bad manuscript.

Snow in York

We woke up this morning to another 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) on the ground this morning, just when all the fresh snow from last week had started melting and refreezing.

Eloquent Science is now published!

Eloquent Science: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Better Writer, Speaker, and Atmospheric Scientist has now been published and is available for ordering from the American Meteorological Society.

Book Web site, including excerpts, blog, and other resources: http://www.eloquentscience.com

Ordering information from the AMS