NSF NCAR Explorer Series Lectures

The NSF NCAR Explorer Series brings world-class science directly to the public through free-of-charge presentations, videos, and participatory science initiatives led by our research scientists. NSF NCAR scientists lead these talks and answer questions from the public. (Recommended ages: 12 and older)

The Explorer Series touches on pivotal areas of NSF NCAR research such as climate science, natural disasters, ocean currents, air pollution, and the behavior of our sun. Some presentations deal with Front Range atmospheric issues that affect Colorado residents directly, like tornadoes, while others focus on global priorities that influence national and international decision-making, like climate forecasting.

We are committed to the health and safety of everyone who attends our events. The following health safety measures are in place to protect the health of our visitors, staff, and based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments.

• Before coming onsite, please evaluate your health. If you are feeling ill, or suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19, please attend online.
• Visitors are encouraged to wash and sanitize hands during their visit. Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout our facilities.
• Masks are optional in the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab. While not required, all visitors who feel more comfortable wearing a face mask during their visit are encouraged to do so.

Additionally, we ask all attendees to our Explorer Series events to abide by the UCAR Participant Code of Conduct.

EVENT DETAILS

HYBRID LECTURE FORMAT

30 minutes before lecture. Doors open for in-person attendees to come and explore NSF NCAR's Mesa Lab Visitor Center.

10 minutes before lecture. For virtual attendees, the webcast goes live. Join early to get familiar with the Slido interface, answer poll questions, and add to a word cloud!

1 hour lecture. During the talk, add your questions to the Slido interface and answer poll questions.

30 minutes after the lecture. Questions & conversations. In-person attendees can ask their questions using the provided, in-room microphones.  Virtual attendees can ask the speaker questions through Slido! We will do our best to answer as many of your questions as possible.

VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS/PANELS FORMAT 

10 minutes before the event. Webcast goes live. Join early to get familiar with the Slido interface, answer poll questions, and add to our word cloud!

45 minute discussion. The guest speaker or panelists will begin with an overview of the topic, followed by questions and conversations based on questions from the audience.

ENGAGING WITH SPEAKERS 

To interact with the speakers in this hybrid world, we are using Slido, which you can join free on your computer or smart mobile device whether you are in person at the Mesa Lab or online. With this app, you can ask speakers questions and engage through interactive polls. When viewing the Explorer Series webcast from a web browser, the Slido interface appears below the live feed video. You are also able to access Slido with your phone by scanning the QR code that appears before the event begins, or by typing slido.com into a web browser and entering the event code #ncarmsr. In-person attendees can also ask their questions using the in-room microphones, though engaging with the interactive polls is only available through Slido.

GET YOUR TICKET NOW!

The NSF NCAR Explorer Series lectures and events are free! Register for each event to receive either the in-person event details or the virtual weblink, a reminder email, and any updates related to the event in case of any changes. A link to register can be found on the page for each event, with tickets available through Eventbrite. If you have any questions, please send a message to contact-ncar-explorers@ucar.edu for more information. Follow the NCAR social media pages for updates on events taking place at NSF NCAR. On Twitter: @NCAR_Science and on Facebook: @NCAR.UCAR. Tag us using #NCARexplorer.

ACCESSIBILITY AND PARKING

The address for in-person events is 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305. Directions and a map can be found on our website. We have ample parking at the Mesa Lab for all visitors. There will be a uniformed security officer near the building entrance (at the end of Table Mesa Drive) who will be able to answer questions about parking. The officer will guide drivers who have a disability parking plate or placard, or those with passengers who would have difficulty walking from the parking lot, to appropriate parking spaces or to the drop-off location. Please do not call security with general questions related to the event. 

Please let us know if you need sign language interpretation so that we can make those accommodations by emailing contact-ncar-explorers@ucar.edu at least 72 hours before the event and we will do our best to accommodate it.

QUESTIONS? 

Send us an email at contact-ncar-explorers@ucar.edu for more information.

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