Here are a selection of recent and upcoming outreach events to which members of the Meteorology Department contribute.
Students from Bracknell College, Reading School, Altwood School (Maidenhead), and Guildford High School took part in a work experience programme at the Department of Meteorology. They experienced a range of activities, designed to provide an idea of both working in and studying Meteorology, including forecasting with the Met Office, weather data gathering and analysis, climate research, scientific analysis, experiments in the fluids labs and culminating in participation in the department's weekly weather and climate discussion. More details...
Climate Change - The Science Explained: Nigel Arnell presented a talk on Climate Change to over 350 members of the public, followed by a panel discussion involving also Richard Allan and Simon Gosling as part of University Green Week. Read More...
Upcoming events
16th July 2012 - Talk on climate change to Havant science group
Richard Allan will update the science group on recent developments in the understanding of climate change.
1-3 June 2012 - Weather, Arts and Music festival
Press Release22nd May 2012: Year 10 Meteorology Activity Day
As part of the Reading Weather, Arts and Music (WAM) Festival, we will be running our annual meteorology activity day for schools in May. Read about activities...14th May 2012 - 'Please Don't Buy an Electric Car'
Averil Macdonald is speaking at the Institute of Physics Physics Teachers' Conference, Rugby, WarwickshireMay-July 2012: Climate change: past, present and future - Adult education course
A 9 week course will explore past changes in Earth's climate and assess the evidence for the causes of current and future climate change. Read more...24th April - The Future of Science Education
Averil Macdonald is a key note speaker at the EDF Stake Holder Conference, Taunton, Somerset
Recent Activities
2012
28th March 2012 - Schools Year 12 Symposium
Year 12 students from local schools experienced a mini science conference in which issues such as weather forecasting, hazardous weather, climate change and pollution were discussed by members of the department and staff from NCAS Climate and MetOffice@Reading.15th March 2012: British Science Week Fellgett Public Lecture
Lesley Allison presented work on "Ocean circulation and its role in climate" as part of the British Science Association 2012 theme: "The World in Motion". Read more...29th February 2012 - 3D visualisation of weather in schools
Kirsty Hanley and Jon Blower joined the RMetS to discuss a project with Abbey school to develop visualisations of weather data for the curriculum.23rd February 2012 - Fantastic Plastic
What's the link between Lego blocks, zero pollution cars, disposable nappies, liquids that flow up hill, and false legs? Averil Macdonald presented this popular lecture to Sherborne Girls School, Wiltshire. For more details on this lecture series read more...23rd February 2012 - Green Debate at the Museum of Manchester
Jonathan Gregory took part in a question time debate about climate change.15th-17th February 2012 - Meteorology Department and Met Office Joint work Experience Programme.
Students from Bracknell College, Reading School, Altwood School (Maidenhead), and Guildford High School took part in a work experience programme at the Department of Meteorology. They experienced a range of activities, designed to provide an idea of both working in and studying Meteorology, including forecasting with the Met Office, weather data gathering and analysis, climate research, scientific analysis, experiments in the fluids labs and culminating in participation in the department's weekly weather and climate discussion. More details...
16-17th February 2012 - Opening of the National Space Academy in Leicester
Debbie Clifford, Claire Barber and Catherine Hayer from NCEO-Reading contributed to the National Space Academy opening event.Saturday 4th February - RMetS meeting: Understanding the weather of 2011
Nick Klingaman and others organised a public discussion of 2011 weather events.Thursday 2nd February - launch of the Weather, Arts and Music festival launch
Departmental members contributed to the event at Reading Town Hall to mark the launch of this festival which takes place 1-3 June. Read More...Tuesday 24th January - weather talk at Sonning Common primary school
Pete Inness talked to year 2 on what makes the wind blow and conducted experiments with an anemometer (who could blow the hardest!) and the density current tank.2011
Thursday 15th December - Magnificent Maths
Emma Irvine and Kirsty Hanley contributed to the Magnificent Maths day, turning unsuspecting year 12 students into a human computer that was used to forecast the weather! Read more about the Richardson Forecast Factory...Thursday 15th December - 'What did sociogolgists ever do for us?'
Averil Macdonald presented an invited talk to University Women's Club, London (also discussed Cafe Scientifique in Winchester on 7th November).Wednesday 14th December - "Atmospheric research from balloons" at Reading Town Hall
Keri Nicoll talked about research using data gathered from radiosonde balloons at the RMetS South East Local Centre Meeting. Read More...Monday 12th December -'Where did all the women go'
Averil Macdonald talked to St Catherine's School, SurreyDecember - Weather activities at St Michael's Primary School in Reading
Roger Brugge and Stephanie Bush discussed the weather and introduced year 3 pupils to equipment used to measure the weather, including a Stevenson screen, raingauge, anemometers and an "ancient" radiosonde.Tuesday 6th December - Key Stage 1 after school event on clouds and weather
Bob Plant demonstrated weather experiments at the regular KS1 after-school event at Moorlands primary school. This included making clouds in a plastic bottle, demonstrating that heated air rises using a hot air "balloon" and showed convection currents in a water tank as well as making a snow forecast, showing that science is fun!Tuesday 29th November - 'Girls into Science' careers event
Averil Macdonald attended a careers event at Abbey School, ReadingFriday 25th November - Top Tips for Women in Science
Averil Macdonald gave an invited talk at the National Grid 'Delta Launch' in Warwick.Thursday 17th November - Public talk on climate change to Reading Skeptics In The Pub
Ed Hawkins talked on "Climate Change - Sorting the facts from the hype" at this regular event held at Copa bar in Reading.Wednesday 9th November (8pm, Palmer building) - public lecture on the extreme weather of 2010/2011
Nick Klingaman presented the latest understanding of what caused the extreme weather of 2010-2011.Thursday 3rd November - Annual lecture to the U3A on climate change
Paul Williams provided an update to the University of the 3rd Age group at Farnborough on the science of climate change and recent developments, held at the Princes Hall, in Aldershot. More details...Thursday 29th September - London Mathematical Society talk
Hillary Weller presented a talk on "How Climate Models Work". Read more...26th Sept - Hampshire County Federation WI Science Group
Kathy Maskell talked to the Hampshire County Federation WI Science Group on "Climate change - facts and figures".Wednesday 14th September 2011 - Climate Change talk to PROBUS group
Pete Inness gave a talk to the Goring and Streatley branch of PROBUS entitled "climate Change - sorting the facts from the hype.Saturday 10th September 2011 - British Science Festival
Manoj Joshi talked to members of the public in Bradford about variations in climate and solar activity. Read more...Wednesday 3rd August 2011 - Weird Weather at Embrook Court
Janet Barlow explained why the weather has apeared so unseasonal over the last few years at Embrook court sheltered housing.Tuesday July July 2011 - Visit from Exeter School
Ed Hawkins and Pete Inness talked about opportunities for reasearch and study in meteorology and climate change within the department to pupils visiting from Exeter SchoolJune 7-12th 2011 - Cheltenham Science Festival
Pete Inness and others represented the department at the annual Cheltenham Science Festival. Read more...Saturday 14th May 2011 - Debate with Lord Monckton
Thomas Toniazzo talked to members of St. Michael's school and villagers in Burghclere near Newbury about the science of climate change and debated with Lord Monckton.Wednesday 30th March 2011 - National Science Week
As part of National Science Week, an open day was held for local school students, aged 14-16 years (See also Resources and recent article in School Science Review).January-March 2011 - Continuing Education
Richard Allan presented a 10 week course on weather and climate to members of the public with help from Roger Brugge and Andrew Barrett.March 26th 2011 - Ascot Community Environmental Network and Sustainable Sunningdale group event
Manoj Joshi presented a talk entitled "The science of climate change" to the Ascot Community Environmental Network (ASCENT) and Sustainable Sunningdale groupMarch 16th 2011 - Schools climate change talk
Presentation by Kathy Maskell as part of National Science and Engineering WeekMarch 10th 2011 - Visit to Winersh Primary School
Scientists from the department (Rob Thompson and Emma Irvine) made a return trip to Winersh Primary School, this time to talk about climate change. Last year the Year 5 pupils engaged in "extreme weather activities".January 20th/28th 2011 - Schools outreach
Kim Bartholomew, Dann Mitchell and Steph Higgs visited Geoffrey Field junior school in Reading to talk about weather around the world. The children were given a chance to make their own weather symbols and think about how to present weather forecasts to the public. Some potential TV stars were discovered!5-8th January 2011 - The Association for Science Education's Annual Conference
Members of the department presented lectures for science teachers at the Association for Science Education's January 2011 Annual Conference in Reading. Read more...2010
8-12th November 2010 - University Green Week
Community Open Day: Members of the public visited the department and heard about some of our reseach.Climate Change - The Science Explained: Nigel Arnell presented a talk on Climate Change to over 350 members of the public, followed by a panel discussion involving also Richard Allan and Simon Gosling as part of University Green Week. Read More...
12th November 2010 - Primary School Outreach
Kim Bartholomew visisted a primary school in the New Forest and talked about the weather to budding meterologists of the future.19th October 2010 - EU Changing with the Climate schools network launch
Kathy Maskell attended the launch event of the new EU "Changing with the climate" schools network project which involves the Walker Institute. Read more ..18th October 2010 - Future Pathways Challenge Course schools talks
Richard Allan talked about Earth Observation and Climate to pupils aged 13-14 attending the Future Pathways Challenge Course for gifted and talented students at Wellington College in Crowthorne. Read more ..6th October 2010 - Schools Careers Fair
Pete Inness attended the Loddon Valley Careers Fair8-9th September 2010 - Berkshire Show
Kathy Maskell and others representing the Walker Institute attended the Berkshire Show near Newbury.9-13 June 2010 Cheltenham Science Festival
Pete Inness, Giles Harrison, Claire Barber and others explained the science of weather and climate.20 March 2010 - Tate Britain 'Go Public'
Giles Harrison and Maarten Ambaum attended the Tate Britain 'Go Public' event and contributed to 'The Namer of Clouds lived and died here' exhibition. Read more...25th February 2010 - Schools Environment Day
Richard Allan attended St. Michaels School (Burghclere) Environment Day which included a debate with Lord Monckton. Read more...2009
29th September 2009 - Climate Change Seminar for the Reinsurance Industry, Lloyds of London
Richard Allan and Sarah Keeley contributed to a Climate Change seminar for the Reinsurance industry at Lloyds of London, organised by MPP Law. Read more...24th March 2009
- Dr Pete Inness visited Sonning Common Primary School to talk to year 1 pupils about wind.11th March 2009
- How do we predict weather and climate? Department and Walker Institute Open Day for National Science and Engineering week.