After seeing the movie “Twister” and the Discovery Channel program “Storm Chasers,” I was hooked. Atmospheric science suddenly became for me a very exciting, even vital profession, one dominated by individuals committed to both their job and the planet. True, the study of severe weather can be life threatening, and, to be sure, storm chasers and meteorologists cannot prevent any natural disasters or change the world itself, but they certainly can save lives. Each day, somewhere on Earth we unfortunately face the threat of a tsunami, hurricane, or tornado, and the potential for death and damage is great. However, an atmospheric scientist can warn populations about these natural disasters and instruct them on how to prepare. In fact, we have been warned already: The Natural Weather Service website reports that in the last ten years, on average each year 75 persons died in floods, 108 in hurricanes, and 109 in tornadoes. And the future? According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Americans risk a “70 percent increase unhealthy summertime ozone levels by 2050 . . . This is because warmer temperatures and other changes in the atmosphere related to a changing climate.” At risk of sounding altruistic, I want to play an important role in a profession dedicated to the preservation of lives and our environment; atmospheric science provides for me that opportunity. Indeed, I look forward to the challenge.