“One of my high school physics teachers, Mr. Tadashi Ogasawara, told me about a Japanese physicist that once said snowflakes are letters from the sky. If you understand physics, you can read the letter. That’s why I have always liked the sky, I thought that it was beautiful,” said Hanii Takahashi, CUNY alum and Atmospheric Dynamics Research Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Takahashi studies the nature of storms based on satellite observations: how they form, why they form in particular times and locations, and why certain clouds develop into storms. Her work focuses on the nature, or physics, of storms where she tries to understand the difference between land and oceanic storms, ultimately aiming to develop algorithms to track storm processes, lifecycles and patterns. Takahashi is looking forward to her role as a team member of the upcoming NASA mission INCUS (Investigation of Convective Updrafts). “We’re very excited because INCUS will provide the first-ever systematic, tropics-wide measurements of vertical air and water motion inside storms from space.”
Using data from NASA’s CloudSat mission, she observes clouds in a way similar to a CT scan, revealing their internal vertical structure: “It’s very important to analyze this data, not only to satisfy my scientific curiosity, but also because clouds play a key role in regulating Earth’s weather and temperature. By monitoring the physics of clouds, we can better understand changes in the Earth system.”
When Takahashi graduated with a Physics degree from Chuo University in Japan, she decided to come to the U.S. with a desire to explore the world and expand her knowledge. She pursued a degree in Mathematics as a way to not only improve her foundational understanding of Physics, but to also improve her understanding of the English language before getting her Master’s degree. “I decided to take a bachelor’s degree in pure math because it’s kind of an easier transition from physics,” stated Takahashi.
“My physics teacher also told me that mathematics is the common language between nature and humans, and physics is the tool we have to understand.”
Though Takahashi eventually graduated from the CUNY Graduate Center with a PhD in Earth and Environmental Science, her mathematics journey was long and difficult. It took her to Indiana where she attended Purdue University for her Bachelor’s degree before attending NYU for her Masters in Mathematics. “It was actually really hard because Indiana versus New York is very different. In Indiana, people are not as curious about other cultures so it didn’t feel as stimulating. On the other hand, New York is more open with lots of cultures and people,” said Takahashi. “When I got to NYU it was a bunch of math nerds like me. CUNY was also different. I feel it’s more mixed and I didn’t feel like a standout.”
While studying mathematics, she participated in an internship with the United Nations. Despite being a diligent worker, she knew that she was not interested in pursuing math long-term. Her boss at the time connected her with a CUNY Professor, introducing her to the CUNY system as a whole.
“If I didn’t go to the United Nations, I probably wouldn’t have realized the University of CUNY or any CUNY Professors,” said Takahashi. “I was thinking about maybe going back to Japan before I found Professor Zhengzhao Johnny Luo.”
As a student at the CUNY Graduate Center, she worked as a teaching assistant at CCNY and as a research assistant to Professor Johnny Luo on topics related to tropical storms and overshooting convection. These research projects helped to shape many of her current focuses as an Atmospheric Dynamics Research Scientist. Takahashi advises students to really explore their curiosity and continue looking for possibilities in a sea of opportunities.
“When you’re lost or when you doubt yourself, just choose what excites you. Don’t choose something that’s easy; you have to do what you feel.”
Natalie Elysse Moreno is an interdisciplinary artist working to develop journalistic work through a creative lens. Natalie is an undergraduate student at The City College of New York, pursuing a double major degree in Journalism and Latin American Studies with a minor in English. While at CCNY, she has found her voice through storytelling, primarily enjoying writing articles centered on community and sustainability as well as creative essays about her life experiences. She’s had worked with Harlem View, the HIPE Network, BronxNet, and WHCR 90.3 Fm.