I’m Taneil Uttal!

I would like to be an ally, supporter, advisor for young scientists. You do not need to be particular type of human to be a scientist/explorer - you just need internally to have curiosity and adventure inside of you.

I am a senior research scientist and have worked for NOAA for almost 40 years.  I have lived in Boulder Colorado for 47 years. I am the leader of an Arctic Research Group in a research division of NOAA. My work entails doing field work and establishing Arctic observing systems to understand the processes driving Arctic change. The first half of my career was working with development and interpretation of cutting edge technologies to study  the atmosphere.  The last 23 years has been applying these technologies specifically to studies of the Arctic atmosphere.

I was the principal investigator for NSF and NASA projects and went to live on the ice on a Canadian icebreaker for 3 rotations. 

I am inspired by discovering new things, solving puzzles, organizing data and people and of course by the amazing majesty of the Arctic - a place that most people never experience in person. To be an Arctic scientist, you should also have the spirit of adventurer and want to go into unknown and untamed places. There are eight Arctic countries so you should also be excited by the cultural exchanges and collaborations that occur naturally in Arctic science.

I am inspired by discovering new things, solving puzzles, organizing data and people and of course by the amazing majesty of the Arctic…

I am a wife and mother with 2 grown children who has been lucky to have a family that has tolerated by career long travel schedule. My husband and I built (and are still working on ) our house in the mountains. I paint and do assemblage art, and usually have sketch pads and paints and pencils with me when I am in the Arctic. I white water raft, downhill and backcountry ski and dance.

I am of mixed heritage (my mother is Japanese and my father is Eastern European) and don't have a particularly strong sense of a particular ethic affiliation except I do identify (and am identified) as more or less non-white. I had a privileged childhood growing up in a University town where my father was faculty and had every possible educational opportunity - something that I think everyone in the world should have so they can have the long rich career I have had as an Arctic scientist.

I hope to work on system science oriented research putting together a full picture of the Arctic environment and how it ticks.

I never had many role models - I would say I have inspired myself. My advice to anyone would be to listen to teachers and colleagues and supervisors for information to inform your science passions but look to yourself for validation.  Your work should be your focus!

I paint and do assemblage art, and usually have sketch pads and paints and pencils with me when I am in the Arctic.

In 1997-1998 there was a year-long ice camp project called SHEBA for the Surface Heat and Energy Budget of the Arctic. I was the principal investigator for NSF and NASA projects and went to live on the ice on a Canadian icebreaker for 3 rotations.  As an atmospheric scientist, it was a great experience to live with cryologists, biologists and oceanographers and start thinking about the Arctic as a system. I hope to work on system science oriented research putting together a full picture of the Arctic environment and how it ticks.