Today's Students = Tomorrow's Climate Solutions

Although our giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support, please do so here.

Help us help them. Make your gift today and double your impact!

All gifts will be matched (up to $50,000) thanks to several generous Byrd Center friends. With your support, you can help us raise $100,000 for future climate scientists!

Your support will truly make a difference for a student — whether they are working to complete a semester, a research project or a degree. Here's how your investment in the Byrd Center will help make that difference.

Internships for local high school students.

In 2022, the Byrd Center will partner with The Ohio State University Libraries to place Central Ohio youth from underrepresented populations into paid summer science internships at the Byrd Center. Each intern will complete 20-24 hours per week over 10 weeks, and will be assigned an internship supervisor as well as a mentor who will lead weekly soft skill building workshops. Support for the Byrd Center helps provide transportation and meal costs plus a stipend for each intern. The Byrd Center hopes to fund 2-3 interns for the summer of 2022. 

Help future scientists grow.

Byrd Center gifts enrich critical undergraduate research opportunities through The Garry McKenzie and Henry Brecher Endowed Scholarship, which provides funds for lab work, field research, supplies and publication of undergraduate projects. The McKenzie-Brecher Scholarship has funded the early research experiences of 18 undergraduate scientists since it was created in 2009. 

The scholarship honors the lifelong dedication of Garry McKenzie, Ohio State professor emeritus of geological sciences, author and longtime Byrd supporter. Henry Brecher is a retired Byrd Center paleoclimatologist and research associate with decades of fieldwork in polar and mountain glacier regions around the world.

Nurturing graduate research projects.

The Richard E. Toracinta Endowed Scholarship helps graduate students conduct research critical to their growth as scientists. This award provided the funding for laboratory and research supplies, travel and opportunities to work with leaders in atmospheric sciences. Currently we are only able to give this award every other year. Gifts for the Byrd Center will help grow the endowment so we can award this annually and support more student scientists.

Dr. E. Richard (Rick) Toracinta was a talented research scientist with the Byrd Center's Polar Meteorology Group. In addition to his polar work, Rick had a passion for severe weather and was a volunteer storm chaser on the Great Plains. This scholarship commemorates Rick's lasting interest in atmospheric science as well as his desire to be a teacher.

Thank you for helping fulfill the dreams of Byrd Center Scholars!