Dmitri Kalashnikov is a climate scientist and National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California-Merced. Having created Convolutional Neural Network-based predictive models for lightning in the western United States; he is currently working on applying these predictive models to climate models to project future changes in the climatology of lightning storms in the western United States.
The humans discuss Dimitri’s journey into a Ph.D, climate change as a dynamic system, the challenges of communicating climate science; bomb cyclones and the impossibility of humans creating or steering hurricanes.
Listen to Dmitri’s most recent Episode 26, Using AI to predict the risk of lightning caused fires with Dmitri Kalashnikov | EP 26 | 3reate
Learn more about Dmitri
Read what Dmitri is reading: The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris
Chapters:
(0:00) What It’s Like to Get a PhD: Dmitri describes the multi-faceted, four-to-five-year journey of earning a PhD in the sciences.
(1:51) A Scientist’s Non-Traditional Journey: Learn how Dmitri pivoted from careers in logistics and sales back to his true passion for climate science in his thirties.
(7:15) The Superpower of Life Experience in Academia: Dmitri and Andrew discuss how maturity, discipline, and real-world perspective can be a major advantage in graduate school.
(13:45) Why Climate Science is So Complex: Dmitri breaks down the challenge of studying a dynamic system where the atmosphere and ocean are constantly interacting and changing.
(20:07) Decoding Weather Jargon: Atmospheric Rivers & Bomb Cyclones: What is a “Pineapple Express”? Dmitri explains the origins of popular weather terms and what they actually mean.
(24:10) The Difference Between Weather and Climate: The hosts use rainfall to explain why looking at long-term averages can hide the real story found in the changing patterns of extreme events.
(26:45) When Your Perception Doesn’t Match the Data: Dmitri reveals that while it may feel like rain is getting more intense in Oregon, long-term data actually shows a different trend.
(31:34) Can the Government Control Hurricanes?: The hosts tackle the viral conspiracy theory, explaining why the sheer energy of a hurricane makes it impossible to create or steer.
(47:39) How Weather Forecasts Are Actually Made: Dmitri explains the science of “ensemble forecasting,” where computers run dozens of simulations to predict a storm’s most likely path.
(50:33) A Call for Deeper Understanding: In a world of soundbites, the hosts make a case for taking the time to understand complex issues instead of latching onto simple conclusions.
(54:48) Book Recommendation: The Happiness Trap: Dmitri shares a book about processing all emotions—not just chasing happiness—and how it helps reframe life’s challenges.
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