Reading the Skies
From Ancient Folklore to Supercomputers
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Details
How did humanity go from predicting rain using red skies and aching joints to tracking storms with satellites and artificial intelligence? Join us for a fascinating journey through the history of weather forecasting, led by a retired professional meteorologist.
From Aristotle’s early writings in 340 BCE to the invention of the telegraph and digital supercomputers, discover the groundbreaking innovations—both global and right here in Canada—that transformed forecasting from guesswork into high-tech science. Come get a behind-the-scenes look at how we learned to read the skies and what modern technology means for our daily forecasts.
FEE: Free for Members
DATE: Thursday, November 19
TIME: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
FORMAT: This is an online presentation. A meeting link will be sent to your email address after registration.)
PRESENTER: Born and raised in the Ottawa area, Rick Jones holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Geology and Physics from Carleton University, alongside an M.Sc. in Meteorology and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from McGill University. His distinguished 35-year career with Environment Canada spanned roles from operational meteorologist and instructor to policy analyst and Software Development Manager before his retirement in 2007. Following his public service, he worked as a World Meteorological Organization consultant from 2008 to 2019, teaching meteorology across Africa, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and Pakistan. A long-time computing enthusiast with experience ranging from early PCs to supercomputers, he remains a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. Since 2008, he has been an active member—and former President—of the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL).