Robert Gillies Flies High With Golden Mouse Award

Robert Gillies Flies High With Golden Mouse Award

Assistant professor in plants, soils and biometeorology, Dr. Robert Gillies was awarded the Golden Mouse for his creativity in utilizing technology successfully to enhance flight students' understanding of weather conditions.

Inaugurated in Fall 2001 by the provost's office, the Golden Mouse Award is given twice a year to recognize those who have innovatively integrated technology into teaching and learning.

In his laboratory component of the aviation weather course (BMET 3250), Gillies teaches pilots how to read and interpret coded meteorological reports and forecasts. Using "real time" meteorological data, Gillies helps his students build a visual picture to note where potential problems might lie along their flight route.

"This is a demanding skill to acquire and it is generally not intuitive," said Gillies. "It is extremely important though, considering national statistics indicate that 23 percent of aircraft accidents are weather-related and 26 percent of those are fatal."

The success of Gillies approach is further documented in its current use at the local airport, where a number of students request the facility to aid in their day-to-day flight preparation.