SSEC

The Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) is a research center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison that focuses on space science, atmospheric science, and related engineering disciplines. It conducts research in satellite meteorology, remote sensing, climate science, space physics, and computational methods, and it develops instrumentation, data processing software, and visualization tools to support scientific work.

SSEC hosts and collaborates with the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and maintains partnerships with national agencies such as NASA and NOAA, as well as other universities. Through these collaborations, it supports the development of satellite data capabilities, the distribution of observational data sets, and the advancement of weather and space research.

In addition to research, SSEC provides education and training through graduate programs, seminars, and public outreach. The center contributes to the design and deployment of instruments and computing infrastructure, including data archives and processing systems for satellite observations, weather data, and space weather studies. Its activities encompass field campaigns, ground-based and spaceborne sensing, and the creation of data-intensive tools for researchers and forecasters.

Impact and scope: SSEC aims to advance scientific understanding of atmospheric and space environments, improve weather forecasting and climate research, and provide robust data resources and software tools. It serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and helps prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers in related fields.