File:Vernon Morris at the Colour of Weather reception.jpg

English: From January 10th -14th, 2016, the 96th annual American Meteorological Society (AMS) Meeting was held at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The AMS Annual Meeting is the world’s largest conference on weather, water and climate. The Colour of Weather Diversity Networking Reception celebrated 15 years with record participation. The Colour of Weather was co-founded by NCAS Director Dr. Vernon Morris, and began as an informal social gathering of students and professionals in the atmospheric sciences. It officially became part of the annual AMS program in 2010, and this year the event was attended by NOAA Administrator, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA Deputy Administrator, Vice Admiral Manson Brown and Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, amongst many other leaders in the government, non-profit and private sectors. Additionally, over 25 academic institutions were represented at the event. Vice Admiral Brown gave remarks to the standing room-only crowd, emphasizing the importance of diversity in the geosciences and encouraging students to network with the various professionals in the room and at the meeting for career guidance and mentorship.