David Battisti

Climate Change and Food Security

David Battisti is the Tamaki Endowed Chair of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. David received a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences (1988) from the University of Washington. He was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin until 1990. Since then, he has been on the faculty in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington, and has served as the director of JISAO (1997-2003) and of the UW's Earth Initiative (2003-2006).

Battisti's research is focused on understanding the natural variability of the climate system. He is especially interested in understanding how the interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, land and sea ice lead to variability in climate on time scales from seasonal to decades. His previous research includes coastal oceanography, the physics of the El Nino/Southern Osciallation (ENSO) phenomenon, midlatitude atmosphere/ocean variability and variability in the coupled atmosphere/sea ice system in the Arctic. Battisti is presently working to improve the El Nino models and their forecast skill, to understand the mechanisms responsible for the drought cycles in the Sahel, and to better understand the monsoons. He is also working on the impacts of climate variability and climate change on food production in Mexico, Indonesia and China.

Battisti's recent interests are in paleoclimate: in particular, the mechanisms responsible for the remarkable "abrupt" global climate changes evident throughout the last glacial period.
Battisti has served on numerous international science panels, on committees of the National Research Council. He served for five years as co-chair of the Science Steering Committee for the U.S. Program on Climate (US CLIVAR) and is co-author of several international science plans. He has published over 90 papers in peer-review journals in atmospheric sciences and oceanography, and twice been awarded distinguished teaching awards.

by Neil Larson

This Rotary Club and the entire City of Seattle lost a real friend when God called Colonel Philip Smart home last Saturday February 9, 2013.  President Paul Ishii, District Governor Steve Lingenbrink and others shared their heartfelt memories and offered condolences to all of us.  Phil’s son, Philip Smart, offered his own words of gratitude for what our Rotary Club meant to his father.  We celebrated Mr. Smart, singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and “Everything is Beautiful,” with not a dry eye in the house.
 
Charley Dickey introduced us to our newest member Major Douglas Tollerud, Northwest Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army, and a well traveled ambassador for the needy.  In other membership news, Executive Director Val Elliott filled us in on the ongoing need to increase our numbers.  In an effort to increase membership, Lori Korenek, one of our Club’s three outstanding employees, is being replaced by a contract membership director.  We send our best wishes and hopes with Lori, and if any of you need someone, please give Lori a call. 

Petros Koumantaros introduced us to Derek Yamamoto who is enrolled in the University of Washington’s class on Consulting, which is supported by our own Business Mentors Committee.  Mr. Yamamoto’s enthusiastic speech expressed the satisfaction he and his classmates feel when their hands-on studies result in improved clients performance and A’s on their transcripts.

Step away from that cupcake!  Kristi Pangrazio, of our own Rotary for Health, encouraged us to celebrate Valentine’s Day by losing a little weight, being aware of our health numbers and reducing our stress by simply taking a walk or short jog.

Michael Verchot introduced our main speaker, Ken Denman, President and CEO of Machine Perception Technologies, a company creating automated analytic software systems for perceptual computing, a field which merges emotion detection and machine learning.  Mr. Denman has devoted his career to “Chasing the Inevitable” using “Over the Horizon Planning and Thinking.”  Mr. Denman encouraged us to “Go where the opportunity is because that is where you are going to have the greatest chance to make contributions”. He did this himself in the early 1980s by believing that communication and computing would merge into a mobile platform—a current reality.  Mr. Denman attributes his success to three principles:

1. Seek out great mentors, bosses and colleagues; people who respect you and are willing to invest their time, talents and money in you.  In return, you must “crush the ball”, giving your all for your supporters.
2. Become, as John Wooden said, “a student of the game”.  Mr. Wooden said the best players are strategists, understanding how to get the best out of themselves and their teammates.
3. Be intellectually curious.  Ask the important questions around the application of any process, such as; how can things be improved?

Mr. Denman pointed out that this last point is critical as designing, creating, and innovating around improving productivity and convenience is a uniquely American contribution to the betterment of mankind.

In memory of Phil, do a good deed daily.

February 20
David Battisti
Climate Change & Global Food Security
Grand Hyatt Seattle\

February 27
Jon Magnusson, PE
Our Generation's Turn to Build Big in Seattle
Westin Hotel

March 6
Elson Floyd, WSU President
Red Lion

March 13
John Hofmeister, Shell Oil (ret.)
Affordable Energy
Westin Hotel

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