<p>Benn Bollay remembers that he knew as a kid that his grandfather was an early researcher into weather forecasting. But it turns out that <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/890516_Eugene_Bollay">Eugene Bollay</a> was one of the founders of the field of meteorology and television weathercasting! He even <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=oqqtBQAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA138&amp;lpg=PA138&amp;dq=gene+bollay+pat+sajak&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=j8jkCh_6bK&amp;sig=ACfU3U3fgx4F2Xtx6XGSDrEiSn9Z8ikQfg&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbqZO1s5niAhUdHzQIHYKtBkEQ6AEwAHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&amp;q=gene%20bollay%20pat%20sajak&amp;f=false">preceded Pat Sajak in a TV weatherman job</a>. Benn tells us about his grandfather's literal study (in his house) and his study (his work). (Eugene Bollay <a href="https://opensky.ucar.edu/islandora/object/archives%3A8208">recorded an oral history</a> back in 1987.)</p> <p>Benn was always struck that his grandfather was seen and respected as a person of science. This helped lead him on his path as a programmer, entrepreneur, and researcher, currently pursuing directions in AI at the Paul Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence.</p> <p>This episode is part of the “Grand Inventions” micro-series within The New Disruptors in which I talk to people whose grandparents or other ancestors invented something that’s still current or in use today. Do you have a relative back a generation or three who fits the bill? <a href="https://newdisrupt.orgmailto:[email protected]">Contact me</a> and we’ll set up an interview.</p> <p><b>Thanks to you and help support the show:</b> The New Disruptors is back on the air due to patrons and sponsors! You can <a rel="payment" href="https://newdisrupt.org/support/">become a patron of the show</a> on a one-time or recurring basis, and get rewards like an exclusive enamel pin and being thanked in this fashion!</p>