RADFORD – Radford University physical science alumna Robyn Brown ‘03, formerly Robyn Van Dyke, is living her dream of predicting the unpredictable.

The Vansant native is a Journeyman Forecaster for the National Weather Service in Blacksburg.

“You learn something new every day,” says Brown. “Even on a quiet weather day where it’s sunny and 90 degrees anything can happen. You’re always trying to figure out what is going on, what is going to happen and why.”

Brown transferred to RU from Southwest Virginia Community College. “In part, I chose Radford because it was close to home and it felt like home as soon as I arrived,” she says.

She met with physics professor Rhett Herman when she visited campus before making her final decision of which college to attend to finish her four-year degree.

“I talked with him about my interests and what RU could offer me to fulfill my career goals. He was awesome in putting forth the effort to help me,” she says. I’ve always been very interested in the science field, especially in meteorology and astronomy.”

At the time, Brown wasn’t sure which direction she wanted to go, but she knew it was going to be either meteorology or astronomy. After meeting with Herman, she decided to major in physical science with a concentration in Earth and space and a minor in physics.

“Physics is the background for everything especially in meteorology. You can’t have a developing thunderstorm without physics playing a role,” says Brown.

Herman created an independent study class in meteorology just for her. “He really made a difference for me. Dr. Herman cared so much about giving me the experience and education that I needed to go on with my career,” she adds.

During her independent study, Brown built an antenna that collected data

from the Polar-Orbital Operational Environmental Satellite or POES and installed the appropriate software needed to acquire the satellite data. This equipment is still used at RU.

POES is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Satellite Operations. Brown also created a Web site that included daily weather observations, a weather picture of the day and a weather terminology dictionary.

In addition to the independent study, Brown participated in the Physics and Astronomy Club’s trip to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, W.Va., and a geophysics class trip to Cape Hatteras, N.C.

Knowing of her extreme interest in meteorology, Herman told Brown about a volunteer opportunity at the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg. “As soon as I stepped in the door at the National Weather Service, I knew this was where I wanted my career to go, and it was where I was supposed to be,” adds Brown.

As a journeyman forecaster at the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Brown’s main job is to protect life and property by issuing the best quality weather forecasts, advisories, warnings and special weather statements possible for what is going to happen. To do this, she examines, analyzes and interprets model data along with using her education and knowledge of meteorology to the best of her ability. This is a team effort since everyone in the office pitches in to best serve the public.

Brown thinks she is very fortunate to be where she is today. “Normally, it takes a while for someone to get to their ‘garden spot’ for many different reasons. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be working in the field that I love in Blacksburg, which is very close to my home in Vansant, Va.,” says Brown. For her, it’s a dream come true.