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My main focus is two-fold, one is applied climate research,
looking at the relationships between people, the environment and society,
and climate, climate change, climate variability.
And then the second focus would be renewable energy.
Mostly focused on the impacts of wind energy in the state, in the plains,
and then some other aspects of solar energy and so forth.
I came to OU because that's where the job was, originally,
but we've stayed because we've loved being in Oklahoma.
The opportunities, living in Oklahoma, the environment,
the college, the university.
So, I came here not really thinking I was going to stay very long.
I came here not knowing a whole lot about Oklahoma.
But it's been 15 years, and we're going to retire from OU...
simply because we like Norman and the environment of the university.
In terms of coming to OU, I would say to out of state students,
that Oklahoma isn't what you think it is.
That's it's really exciting, interesting place to be.
To in-state students, I would say to continue to think about OU.
We are the flag ship university in the state, and it's a very, very interesting place.
A general comment to students,
and this is particularly true at OU,
it's not so much true at other universities,
and this is one of the reasons why OU is tops in the country for the freshman experience and all these things.
Is, again, the relationship between faculty and students.
And when I was a student, and I was 18 going to school,
I was scared to death to talk to faculty.
For four years I wouldn't talk to any professors.
My one advice to students, is get a relationship with faculty,
because we're here to help.
And we're very interested, and we're trying to get students interested in the types of work that we're doing.
So the number one thing I tell students...
is go talk to faculty.
We're regular folks.
We're interested in what you're doing and we're trying to get you interested in what we're doing.
I like to get up there and talk to students,
and just wave my arms about.
And get really energetic and excited about things that students are excited about.
So in the classes we talk about current topics, climate change...renewable energy is really big now...
and what does that mean to them?
And I just get up there and I get, I just get really excited to talk about, interact with students.
Work with students, graduate students, undergraduate students, freshman, the whole range.
I really think it's sort of through connecting with students and trying to get them to understand the broader picture...
the sort of holistic analysis, how do we think about society, and sustainability,
and the environment, and people.
And we're in a place, Oklahoma, that's one of the most interesting places in the whole country.
The variablity from the pan handle down to the southeast, we have one of the greatest...
variabilities in environment in the country.
And I think people don't realize sort of how neat and exciting Oklahoma is.
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