Student profiles
The following quotes are from students who have completed their postgraduate studies at the Department of Meteorology:
- Martin Beniston, MSc in Meteorology
- Kathy Maskell, MSc in Meteorology
- Ben Lamptey, MSc Applied and Agricultural Meteorology
- Kate Ravilious, MRes Earth and Atmospheric Science
- Thomas Loridan, MSc Weather, Climate and Modelling
Martin Beniston
MSc in Meteorology 1975-76, now Head of Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
I genuinely believe that my year in the Department of Meteorology at Reading played a pivotal role in my professional life. It provided the starting point to go on to a PhD in Paris at the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique. They were sufficiently impressed with the University of Reading and my MSc title to waive the first year of lectures that, at the time, were an integral part of a PhD in France! From there I've pursued an active research career, which has included a stint as a co-chair on one of the climate change impacts groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Kathy Maskell
MSc in Meteorology 1985-86, now Communications Manager for the Walker Institute for Climate System Research, University of Reading.
Having completed a BSc in Environmental Science I decided to specialise in Meteorology – for no better reason than the subject fascinated me!
The MSc was an intensive and enjoyable year which laid a really strong foundation in the physical and dynamical aspects of the atmosphere. It was great to experience both the taught part of the course and the dissertation during the summer - which gave us all a chance to do our own piece of research.
It was the reputation of the MSc that helped me get a post at the Met Office where I was involved in climate research and consultancy, and where I also spent several years as an editor on the reports produced by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
With the move of the Met Office to Exeter in 2002, I'm very pleased to find myself back at Reading – with several faces that I remember and, perhaps more worryingly, remember me!
Ben Lamptey
MSc Applied and Agricultural Meteorology, 1996-1997
I chose Reading because of the department's reputation. I had taken the Initial Forecasting Program at the Met. Office College which was then at Shinfield Park in Reading. I later attended the Statistics in Agricultural Climatology (SIAC) summer program at the University of Reading. It was a matter of course that I chose Reading for my Masters.
I was initially attracted to Meteorology by the Electronics and Telecommunication aspect. That is, the receiving and transmission of the meteorological information in Forecasting offices. I, however, had to do work as a forecaster in Ghana. It was then I saw the application of my physics and I enjoyed it. My bachelor's degree is in Physics.
I enjoyed the course options (i.e. the way the courses are organised) about the MSc
program and the affable nature of the people in the department.
The MSc helped me to identify my future interest. I have had the chance to compare what I did in Reading with other things I did before and after Reading. I now know where my passion is.
I am finishing an Advanced Study Program postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Kate Ravilious
MRes Earth and Atmospheric Science, 1997-1998
I've always been interested in climate, but had only dabbled in studying climate in my geology degree. I wanted to learn some more about the intricacies of the weather before embarking on a PhD. I chose Reading because of its Meteorology department and because the MSc sounded like exactly what I was looking for.
I remember the department as being one of the most friendly and sociable departments I've worked in. From croquet tournaments in summer to sailing trips and field trips by the coast it was easy to get to know people. In addition I was really impressed with the MSc course. All of the lecturers and tutors were very approachable and prepared to spend a lot of time helping me to understand some of the trickier bits of the course.
The MSc prepared me for my PhD and gave me some grounding in how to tackle a research project. It also gave me the academic background I needed for my PhD. What is more, it gave me a bit of time to think about what I wanted to do!
For the last six years I have been working as a freelance science journalist, writing for publications like New Scientist and The Guardian. I did finish my PhD, but realised that academic research wasn't for me. However, I do enjoy being nosy about other people's research and I am still fascinated by science, so science journalism suits me just fine! I still take a keen interest in climate and weather and relish the chance to write about the latest meteorology research.
Thomas Loridan
MSc Weather, Climate and Modelling, 2005-2006
When I decided to specialise my studies in the field of meteorology I asked around me people who already were working in this area and they all agreed on saying that Reading was certainly the best place to do that in Europe.
My first degree was as an engineer in Mathematical and Mechanical modelling in France. While doing it I realised that mechanics was not the part I was most interested in, so I decided to try a new orientation. It's probably the best choice I have made so far!
Apart from the quality of its teaching, the dept of Meteorology in Reading is brilliant for its friendly atmosphere. Even if a great amount of work is required I spent a fantastic year in the department and this was only possible thanks to the staff and students there.
The MSc title definitely stands out on a resume targeting a job related to earth science. I was also helped by lecturers giving me contacts in the (small) world of meteorology.
I currently have a job as a support engineer in the earth science department of the Barcelona Super Computer Center. We provide air quality forecast for the Spanish government.
Adrienne Cahalan
MSc Applied Meteorology, 2002-2003
We do not have an MSc Meteorology degree in Australia and so I looked overseas to find a place to study. I looked first to the USA for a suitable course and then through my enquiries found that the University of Reading offered the MSc which for me was a great opportunity.
At the time I was living in the UK as part of my career as a yacht racing professional specialising in weather forecasting, navigation and electronics. I needed a formal education to progress into more sophisticated positions in teams such as the Americas Cup and Round the World Races.
I thoroughly enjoyed studying again full-time after a break from university of almost 15 years. The department was a great environment for me where the individual attention was very important. The course was intense, very challenging and extremely rewarding. Atmospheric physics was the hardest subject but one of the most important. Tropical meteorology has helped me enormously with its practical application in many yacht races. I really felt that I was in the nerve centre of weather in the world at Reading and for me that was very exciting. So many of the staff and fellow students gave their time to help me get through the course and answer many questions, it was a great atmosphere.
After graduating, I was considered for better positions in better teams that were entered in the top international competitions. I felt that armed with this degree I was equipped to compete against the best navigators in the business. Six months after finishing my thesis on Southern Ocean Meteorology I was chosen to be part of the team that broke the fastest time for sailing around the world Feb6-April 5 2004 in: 58 days, 9 hours, 35 minutes and 42 seconds. This was a highlight of my career to break the sound the world record.
I am still working as a professional yacht racing navigator on he international circuit in races such as the Volvo Ocean Race. Right now I am sailing Cowes Week and the Fastnet! I am based back in Australia.