Meteorology Student Explores Passions in Atmospheric Science and Chemistry

Meteorology student Megan Neumann (’26), with minors in chemistry and physics, has had her sights set on a future career in atmospheric science and atmospheric chemistry since high school.

When reflecting on making the final decision on where to attend college, she remembered her past conversations with her mentors and peers that helped guide her in the right direction.

“While in high school, I attended programs at NASA Wallops and NASA Langley and had the chance to speak with an atmospheric scientist working at NASA. When I asked about the majors and programs most conducive to a future career in atmospheric science or atmospheric chemistry, he advised meteorology, chemistry or physics. When I came to Embry-Riddle I discovered I had the opportunity to do all three, so I took it,” Neumann said.

Neumann knew that receiving a college education would be the stepping stone for future academic and career success. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s industry connections and focus on job readiness and professional education were the final draw for her, proving that the university not only prioritizes education but also everything that comes after it. Embry-Riddle was the perfect fit for her.

Choosing the Right Path

Taking the advice she received and listening to her instincts, Neumann states she chose to pursue atmospheric science, specifically atmospheric chemistry, for many reasons.

“It's a combination of all the things I love learning about: Earth science, chemistry, environmental science; and it provides a great opportunity to help people, through a better understanding of air quality and compositions, meteorological events, their causes, their effects and their overall interaction between Earth’s spheres and how they affect living things. Studying chemistry can lead to improvements in public and environmental health and safety,” Neumann shared her reasoning.

Making a Difference

As her passion for her studies grew and she found her place at Embry-Riddle, Neumann decided it was time to get involved and put her studies to use in different ways.

Neumann is the president of the Pure Water Project, which is a club focused on designing solar-powered reverse-osmosis water purifiers for installation in areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic with limited access to clean water.

“Being a part of this club — and therefore constructing a water purifier and traveling to another country to install it — was a huge step outside of my comfort zone and outside of the focus of my education,” she expresses.

In addition to being an active member of the Pure Water Project, Neumann also volunteers at the Derbyshire Community Garden, which grows produce to provide to the local community and nearby shelters.

“I enjoy the opportunity to find solutions to common garden problems without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Working in the garden is a great chance to step away from campus for a while and take my mind off the stress of classes and assignments.”

These organizations give Neumann an opportunity to be an engineer, a plumber, an electrician and a gardener rather than just as a college student studying meteorology. The opportunities for her are endless.

Summer Research in the SEEL Lab

Neumann’s passion for her studies doesn’t end there. Neumann spent the summer in the Sustainability and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (SEEL), immersing herself in a collaborative study alongside Dr. Marwa El-Sayed, assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, and other like-minded students to research Aerosol Liquid Water Content (ALWC), which is a measure of the liquid water in the atmosphere.

Neumann’s research focuses on determining the extent to which organic and inorganic aerosols contribute to the ALWC of an area.

“This research is important to me because a better understanding of water in the atmosphere, where it comes from and why, allows for more accurate representation of ALWC in atmospheric modeling and research.”

Neumann’s opportunity to conduct research as a first-year student has been eye-opening.

She added: “I’ve learned so much about not only the field of atmospheric chemistry but also about research in general. I had an idea that I wanted to pursue a career in research, but my experience working with Dr. El-Sayed in the SEEL lab has only solidified it. The atmosphere has always been very open and welcoming, and I am grateful that I was offered an opportunity to conduct research as a first-year student and foster my interest in atmospheric chemistry.”

Motivation to Succeed

Neumann is determined to succeed and finds motivation in doing what she is most passionate about.

“There is a lot of misinformation in the public understanding of atmospheric and environmental science, and I’m determined to be a part of the solution rather than the problem," she said. “A wider knowledge of accurate environmental information would make finding the solutions to important issues significantly easier and more publicly supported, and I hope my research can achieve this goal. Any time I hear someone discredit climate change, microplastics, pollution or any other threat facing our environment today, my conviction to continue working in this field only grows!”

Goals at Embry-Riddle and In the Near Future

Neumann plans to further her education and continue conducting research in atmospheric and environmental science. She hopes to spend her future contributing to research that will be used to make the Earth or any other planet a better place for all.

“I hope to spend my future contributing to a better understanding of the Earth and its atmosphere, and if I can start working towards my future goals now, why not? I don’t have a strict focus in mind because I want to spend my undergraduate years researching and learning as much as I can so I can find which topics I want to focus on in the future.”

After her time at Embry-Riddle, Neumann plans to continue her studies in graduate school and begin her career in the industry.

“I hope to find a job continuing my research in atmospheric chemistry. I want my research to contribute to a healthier environment and, therefore, a healthier population, and I believe that a better understanding of the atmosphere is the best way to work towards this goal.”

Advice for Students Attending Embry-Riddle

Neumann shared the advice she offers for incoming and current students at Embry-Riddle.

“Just go for it! Apply for opportunities, reach out to professors, ask for research positions! Something I tell myself over and over again is: ‘If this one action can take me a step closer to my goals, why wouldn’t I do it?’ Even if you get turned down or if you try something and it doesn’t work out, you can at least say that you went for it instead of regretting not attempting it at all.”