As children, rainy days and thunderstorms were often causes for fear and even disappointment of days gone by. Our times of playing outside with friends were halted, our big games were put on hold, and the loud noises of thunder and wind sometimes led us into the arms of our parents…whether we’d like to admit it or not. But that wasn’t the case for 2022 grad Owen Rader… in fact, extreme weather was something he enjoyed, even from a young age.
It all started after coming across a simple YouTube video…then another, and another. Before he knew it, this 2022 grad had developed a love for watching storm chasers online, entering dangerous tornado sights and putting their lives on the line for the purposes of scientific research.
“I've always been fascinated by that type of weather phenomena. From there, I deviated to other forms of severe weather, like hurricanes and wildfires, which ultimately led to my seeking out and declaring my major in college. I've also become increasingly interested in climate change, particularly the intersection between severe weather becoming more extreme due to it and more and more people being affected,” said Rader.
This early fascination with severe weather, from tornadoes to wildfires, and everything in between, set the stage for what would become Owen’s life’s work. Today, just three years after graduating from Maine-Endwell in 2022, he’s already doing research with none other than NASA.
But as Owen will tell you, it wasn’t exactly a straight line.
“I was much more of a dedicated music student in high school, and it remains my biggest passion in life, in large part due to the incredible music faculty at M-E,” said Rader.
As for his love for science? That may have shown up here and there, especially in his 8th grade Honors Earth Science class, but it wasn’t until college at the University of Delaware where things really started to click.
That’s when a fraternity brother, a year ahead of him in the Meteorology and Climate Science program, encouraged him to apply for NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program. “He said it was an incredible experience,” Owen said. “Working for NASA has been very rewarding so far, as I truly feel like I am making a difference in the world by conducting valuable research that provides answers to real-world, applicable problems affecting significant numbers of people,” said Rader.
It turns out, NASA isn’t just about space travel. Taking to the skies, Owen works with the Earth Science division, where fleets of aircraft fly over both coasts collecting atmospheric data. His focus? Trace gases and how severe weather and climate change are reshaping our world. It’s a rare opportunity for anyone in their early 20’s, but a responsibility Owen doesn’t take lightly.
Looking back, Owen credits his faculty and teachers along with the competitive, hard-working environment of his peers for preparing him to thrive in college and beyond.
“I owe a lot of my college and subsequent career development to those fantastic teachers who helped me and my classmates prepare ahead for the rigor of college. Similarly, surrounding myself with other hard-working students was a massive benefit to keep myself motivated in a competitive atmosphere where we all challenged each other,” said Rader.
As for advice to current Spartans, Owen says don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
“This was something I wish I did more of in high school, as college provides so many new opportunities to explore your capabilities. I had no idea what my true potential was until I got to college, but I believe that the culmination of all of your experiences help to shape you as a person, and the best way to get and stay motivated is to get out and just do as many things as you can and not waste a moment, as that will give you all the confidence you need to succeed throughout life,” said Rader.
From watching others chase storms on YouTube to chasing answers for the future with NASA, Owen Rader is living proof that there truly is no limit to where curiosity can take you.