High-quality weather forecasts help vulnerable populations adapt to increased weather uncertainty and extremes. Innovations, especially in AI, are driving a second revolution in weather forecasting. However, the benefits are yet to be realized in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Human-Centered Weather Forecasts (HCF) initiative will bridge this gap, leveraging UChicago’s interdisciplinary strengths as well as the Principal Investigators’ track record engaging policymakers, funders, multilateral development banks, researchers, firms, and NGOs to transform access to this vital climate adaptation tool. HCF will a) develop novel techniques to produce forecasts tailored to the specific adaptation needs of farmers and individuals exposed to extreme heat; b) work with implementers to disseminate forecasts to 100 million people in LMICs; c) conduct rigorous testing to optimize dissemination and generate lessons to further scale these advances; d) strengthen global forecasting systems, including through benchmarking and validation; and (e) work to establish an ongoing initiative.

“The Human-Centered Weather Forecast Initiative (HCFI) works to democratize global access to high quality weather forecasts. Climate change is making weather less predictable and exacerbating extreme weather events. Many in low- and middle-income countries still lack access to reliable weather forecasts which could help them adapt. A revolution in weather forecasting driven by AI makes it possible to run weather forecasts 80,000 times faster – on laptops rather than supercomputers – and thus to tailor forecasts to the specific needs of farmers and others in low- and middle-income countries. Building on UChicago’s strength in climate science, AI, and environmental and development economics, HCFI is working with the private sector, governments, and international organizations to bring weather forecasting services to hundreds of millions of people.”

Michael Kremer, Department of Economics

Opportunities

• Postdoctoral Scholar: Agrometeorology
• Postdoctoral Scholar/Research Scientist – AI weather forecasting across scales
• Senior Director, Weather Forecasts
• Associate Director/Consultant, Human-Centered Weather Forecasting Initiative