A native of Foster, Rhode Island and Killingly, Connecticut, Simmons is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University and a member of the American Meteorological Society. He is one of a very limited number of meteorologists with the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society.

Keynote lecture title: Humanizing the science of weather

Abstract: Meteorology has a significant daily impact on most humans. The decisions we make from dining outside, bringing our umbrella to work, or changing a flight rely on accurate weather forecasts. Meteorologists are individuals who have the expertise and specialty training to compare, analyze, and interpret weather model data. Yet, with the accessibility of online model data, we see untrained individuals providing forecasts to the masses. Moreover, many people rely on their native smartphone application to provide them with their daily weather. This talk will focus on the critical training meteorologists complete to allow for accurate prediction. Specifically, the interpretation and messaging of the weather data to create an accurate, comprehensible, and functional forecast for the public will be outlined. Lastly, the potential pitfalls of amateur weather forecasting will also be discussed.