The University of Chicago’s Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the Data Science Institute are pleased to welcome Katie Kowal as director for AI for Weather. In this role, she will manage large interdisciplinary projects, conduct research on AI forecasts, and support strategic planning for the Human-Centered Weather Forecasts Initiative (HCWF) and AI for Climate.
“Katie’s unique combination of deep technical knowledge and her ability to coordinate research and operational teams is what is needed to move AI from the lab to the field,” says Pedram Hassanzadeh, Associate Professor of Geophysical Sciences and Computational and Applied Math at the University of Chicago and co-director of the AI for Climate Initiative and HCWF. “Her strategic vision will be of great value as we generate and scale high-quality, tailored forecasts to manage meteorological risks, and, ultimately, contribute to climate adaptation.”
Kowal previously served as Weather Forecast Lead for HCWF’s Indian Monsoon Project. She also led curriculum development for an AI weather forecast training program to support capacity building in low- and middle-income countries. She will continue to coordinate research and operational teams at HCWF to help bridge the gap between AI advances in weather forecasting and their practical usefulness for decision-makers.
Before joining the University of Chicago, Kowal was a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center International Desk. There, she supported multiple national meteorological services in Latin America and the Pacific Islands with operational forecasts, training, and research on improving subseasonal to seasonal forecasts.
Earlier in her career, Kowal served as Science Policy Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, supporting the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop national policy on regulating nuclear space launch approvals and improving critical infrastructure resilience to extreme events including space weather.
“I am honored to lead this next chapter of AI-driven weather forecasts at the University of Chicago,” says Kowal. “I look forward to expanding our research and capacity-building programs alongside our global partners, ensuring that the latest scientific advancements are scaled to timely and accurately serve communities most vulnerable to climate risks.”
Kowal holds a DPhil in Hydrology and an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She earned her BA in Physics and Political Science from Lewis & Clark College.