NIU Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

What's on my mind? Good question. Right now, weather and our ICECHIP friends out in the Great Plain States are on my mind. Yes, this summer they are back collecting more data for the study on hail. The team is a bit smaller and the travel is small team based versus the large scale it was last summer. Teams may be covering different storms and even in different states, but with specialized equipment they are producing the data they need to make progress. NIU/EAE Ph.D. Student, Caitlyn Roufa was kind enough to share some photos along the journey.

Dr. Gensini, Dr. Ashley, and the ICECHIP crew's hail research continues on this summer and is still making waves in the meteorological community. The hail is getting larger and more destructive and we are learning the how's, why's and where's of the patterns. EAE is proud of the work being done!

Giant, Destructive Hail Is Becoming More Common With Climate Change, Study Says As the atmosphere warms, the potential for hail as large as a grapefruit is growing

We're always out to show that school can be both educational and fun. Here are some pics from EAE476-478-479 out at field camp during Summer session 2026. This group is definitely making the most out of learning!

Congratulations to Megan Brown and Alex Haberlie on achieving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor! Their dedication, hard work, and impact on students and research make this recognition well-deserved. We are so proud to see your contributions recognized!

Big shoutout to EAE’s own Karissa Duff and Wei Luo for their groundbreaking research on landslide risk across the United States!

NIU study: U.S. landslide risks are growing—and could expand to new regions | NIU Newsroom NIU study: U.S. landslide risks are growing—and could expand to new regions

Today, we celebrate our remarkable planet and renew our commitment to understanding, protecting, and sustaining it. In EAE, our faculty and students continue to push the boundaries of research and discovery, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future. From improving our understanding of severe weather and a changing climate to addressing challenges such as microplastics, critical mineral resources, and the application of geospatial technologies, our work is helping to inform solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time.

We remain inspired by the complexity, interconnectedness, and beauty of the Earth system. Through research, education, and innovation, we are committed to advancing knowledge and preparing the next generation to meet the environmental challenges ahead.

This past weekend, Dr. Mark Fischer took students from his Dynamics and Structure of the Earth class on a field trip to the Baraboo area of Wisconsin.

The Baraboo Quartzite, approximately 1.65 to 1.7 billion years old, is a Paleoproterozoic rock formation and among the oldest exposed rocks in North America. These rocks began as ancient sandstones before being transformed into incredibly hard and resistant quartzite.

Experiences like this give students the opportunity to connect classroom concepts with real-world geology!

We are pleased to share some exciting news!

This Fall, we will be welcoming Dr. Quinton Lawton as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in our department. Dr. Lawton will be developing a dynamic research program focused on tropical weather prediction and atmospheric dynamics, while also contributing to our teaching mission in atmospheric science and mentoring the next generation of students.

We are very excited to have Quinton join EAE and NIU this fall. His expertise and enthusiasm for research, teaching, and student engagement will be a tremendous asset to our department and university community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Lawton and welcoming him to Northern Illinois University and the EAE community!

Over the weekend, the Washington Post published their interest in NIU's MET program with a story that features not only Dr. Victor Gensini, but also many of our students that traveled last summer to study hail in the field with ICECHIP.

‘Gargantuan,’ melon-size hail may be more common than we realize Scientists see signs that the risk to property is increasing, and in the Great Plains, a team of scientists is racing to document the evidence before it melts.

WGN wraps this chunk of hail up in a nice tidy bow with this feature discussing the storms in Kankakee as well as the ICECHIP expedition last summer to study hail. EAE is proud of our MET students!

Last week’s severe storms produce record-breaking 6.6 inch hailstone DEKALB, Ill. (WGN) – Last week, strong storms across Chicagoland produced some mammoth hailstones. We saw them splashing in the Kankakee River and even crashing down on the highway, shatterin…