Using Operational and experimental observations in geoscience education

The 2009 Unidata Users Committee Workshop, entitled 'Using operational and experimental observations in geoscience education' emphasized the need for observations in use of models in such education. The workshop stated that observational data represented something closer to physical reality despite recognizing that models emerging as excellent tools for demonstrating physical processes and testing hypotheses. Observations and their analyses were critically important in model evaluation and development, while being essential to model initial conditions. The main goal of the workshop was to expand the use of instrumentation and observations in geoscience education. It had set certain specific objectives, such as demonstrating the that classroom engagement between students and faculty was enhanced through the use of instrumentation and observations.