Not all learning happens in the classroom. Whether you are looking to expand on your next great idea with the Start Something LAS Academy or study abroad through the many different locations around the world, there are many different ways you can add to your college experience. Here are just a few of the great ways to experience Iowa State!
American Meteorological Society
The Iowa State University Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society is a great opportunity to meet up with other students in the Department of the Earth, Atmosphere and Climate. Whether it’s ice skating under the evening skyline in Des Moines, decorating delicious cookies at Christmas, or becoming an intrepid adventurer while in the middle of a corn maze, the ISU AMS has social events that anyone can enjoy.
Learning communities
Iowa State is home to many different learning communities, including the Earth, Wind and Fire Learning Community that is open to all of our majors. Students who have declared their major as climate science, meteorology, geology, or Earth science will automatically be signed up for the learning community.
Geology Club
GeoClub is an all-inclusive, exciting, educational group that focuses on bringing all students together over a common love of all things geology. Activities include a bi-annual rock, fossil, and jewelry sale, community outreach, social events, bad geology movie nights, and much more!
Cy’s Eyes on the Skies
Cy’s Eyes on the Skies is the weather show at ISU and is the university’s longest running television show. This completely student-run program meets twice weekly to produce a 15-minute weather broadcast. Founded in 1999, the main purpose of the show has been to give students wanting to pursue a career in broadcast meteorology a chance to practice their on-air skills by working with a green screen and gain experience making weather graphics.
In August, 2011, Cy’s Eyes on the Skies upgraded to the state of the art graphics system known as Fusion by WSI. This, along with the move to a new studio in 171 Hamilton Hall in fall 2014 helped students to learn even more about a career in broadcast meteorology than ever before.
Beginning in August of 2022, Cy’s Eyes on the Skies started to transition away from Fusion and go to WSI Max. In addition to the change of the graphics system, Cy’s Eyes on the Skies moved to a 0140 Student Innovation Center, which is a brand new studio in the basement of the recently built campus building. This took longer than expected, however, and Cy’s Eyes on the Skies didn’t air any episodes from 2022 to the start of 2024. Fortunately, in February of 2024, Cy’s Eyes on the Skies returned to forecast the weather for students at Iowa State and across the nation.
If a student wishes to be involved but not go on air, extra assistance is always needed with the production side of each show. Students operate cameras, teleprompter, audio and commercial servers and can serve as floor director, making them even more well rounded for a future in the broadcast business.
You can catch up with the latest happenings on Cy’s Eyes Twitter or Facebook accounts and watch past shows on our Youtube channel.
Please contact the show’s producers, Lucas Prokosch (prokosch@iastate.edu) or David Hultman (dhultman@iastate.edu) with any questions or comments.