Molly Smith is a CIRES verification and database specialist working in NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory. She writes software to verify weather models, and her work helps developers improve models to make better forecasts. Smith has a large cactus collection — in the summer, her cacti take over her porch and yard, but in the winter, she has to carry all the ones that can’t withstand the cold inside her home.

What do you work on at CIRES?

Working as part of the Verification and Assessment Branch at NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), I write software to verify weather models that are under development. This lets GSL's model developers test hypotheses and learn how to improve model data assimilation and physics.

How do you think CIRES science is changing the world?

By supporting GSL's model development efforts, CIRES has really enabled weather forecasting to improve in leaps and bounds, which has been a major benefit to society.

Tell us about a hobby of yours.

I've amassed a prodigious cactus collection at this point. It's great in the summer months when they can be spread all over my porch and yard to enjoy the sun, but bringing the non-cold-hardy ones in for the winter has become a very labor-intensive task these days!

Best advice someone’s given you?

The best advice I ever got as a software developer was from a tropical meteorology professor: Think the problem through. Seriously, planning out how to solve a problem beforehand makes everything go so much more smoothly upon execution.

Tell us about a recent trip.

I just traveled to the UK, where I got to enjoy some good tea and see some castles.