Month: June 2023

Careers Day Recordings

Post author By Sylvia Knight
Post date 20 June 2023

In June 2023, we hosted an inspirational selection of speakers for our first virtual careers day for all those considering a career in weather, climate or climate change.

If you are choosing which A level or Higher subjects to take, or starting to look at undergraduate courses listen to these people from UK Universities, the Met Office and other employers of meteorologists speaking about their current work and how they got there, and exploring the best routes into meteorology.

Session 1: Kirsty McCabe, Weather Presenter and Meteorologist: Matthew Scholes, Undergraduate, Edinburgh University (Physics with Meteorology) : Thomas Breitburd, Undergraduate, University of Reading (Meteorology and Climate with a year in Oklahoma): Ravi Kotecha, Weather Risk Manager for UK Transport – DTN.

Session 2: Heather Corden, Postgraduate Student, Bern University (Climate Sciences): Esme Stallard, Climate and Science Journalist, BBC news : Dr Sarah Wilson Kemsley, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia : Emily Dowd, Postgraduate Student, Leeds University

Session 3: Dr Hannah Bloomfield, Science Engagement Fellow – Insurance Industry, Royal Meteorological Society (and University of Bristol): Matthew Wright, Science Engagement Fellow – Energy Industry, Royal Meteorological Society (and University of Oxford): Hannah Findlay, Met Office Meteorological Advisor to the Independent Gritting Sector: Katie Hodge, Applied Scientist. Science for Impacts, Resilience & Adaptation Team – Met Office

Session 4: Routes into Meteorology including Dan Skinner, Science Engagement Fellow – Early Careers, Royal Meteorological Society (and University of East Anglia), Prof Sylvia Knight (Royal Meteorological Society) and Rebecca Griffiths, Tess Clegg, Lisa Tomkins and Claire Allerton from the Met Office.

Easy Wins for Climate Change Education in England

Post author By Sylvia Knight
Post date 15 June 2023

There are many opportunities for better climate change education within the current secondary school curriculum in England, reveals a report published by the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS).

A key finding was that, through supplying teacher support and assessment resources, very rapid improvements can be made to the climate literacy of English school leavers.

RMetS research reviewed the GCSE specifications across all subjects and exam boards and highlighted how many concepts already taught in schools are relevant to students’ understanding of climate change and its relevance to their future lives and careers.

Climate change is traditionally taught in subjects such as Geography, however not all students take Geography at GCSE meaning that a considerable proportion of students leave school without a basic understanding of climate change. Also, there are many aspects of climate change that are relevant to subjects like Design and Technology, Art, or English.

Earlier research published by RMetS in 2022, shows that there are notable gaps in how much students understand about climate change. However, students are concerned and believe that climate change will affect them personally. With the right support and without increasing teacher workload, teachers can help students to make the connection between what they are already learning in school and climate change.

Prof Sylvia Knight, Head of Education at the RMetS, said: “The Royal Meteorological Society is working to ensure that every student in the UK leaves school with at least a basic understanding of climate change.

“This valuable report shows how teachers can be supported to deliver high quality climate education, within the current curriculum, to equip students with the knowledge and tools to engage with messages about climate change from the media and politicians, and to make decisions about their own lives and careers.

“We are indebted to the RMetS members involved in the review; without their support and expertise this work would have not been possible.”

For media enquiries, please contact Angela Lovell, Communications Manager (Royal Meteorological Society), at angela.lovell@rmets.org or +44 (0)118 208 0483.

This fantastic piece of work is something that the education sector has needed for a long time. It shows how the change that many young people have been calling for, that climate be integrated across their education in all subjects, is within reach. If all organisations with an interest in improved climate education can use these findings to train teachers, and develop materials and clear climate action plans, such as those called for in the Department for Education Sustainability and Climate Change strategy, we can make very rapid progress on improved climate literacy for all.

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) welcomes this research by the Royal Meteorological Society which identifies the explicit coverage of climate change within GCSE geography courses. With 283,000 GCSE entries in 2023 geography is providing the ‘lion’s share’ of teaching about climate change. Yet there is more to do to enhance this work within the current specifications. The RGS looks forward to working with the Royal Meteorological Society to help geography teachers further develop their lessons examining the causes and impact of climate change.

Geography Weather

Cloud, Sunshine and a cool Breeze

Post author By Sylvia Knight
Post date 5 June 2023

Were you lucky enough to have blazing sunshine through the half term holiday, or were you sitting under a blanket of cloud?

Whichever, the cool wind and the distribution of cloud were a lovely case study of Polar continental air.

With High pressure sitting to the North of Scotland, and winds blowing clockwise around it, the typical pattern of cloud forming over the western side of the North Sea, spreading onto the eastern side of Scotland and England, persisted for many days. One some days, the cloud was thin enough for most to evaporate during the day, on others, the cloud persisted.

Having come from Scandinavia or Siberia, the air was cool. To identify the source of the air, simply pick an isobar that crosses the UK, and follow it back to see where the air has come from, remembering that the wind blows approximately along the isobars, in a clockwise direction around High pressure.

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