Outlook is bright after royal visit to University of Reading
Release Date 06 May 2014
Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex took a hands-on approach to the science of meteorology when they visited the University of Reading on Tuesday.
The royal couple visited the University to mark the establishment of a Regius Professorship of Meteorology at the University, and to hear about Reading's pre-eminence in the field of weather and climate science, as part of a wider tour of Berkshire.
They were welcomed to the University by the Hon Mary Bayliss, the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, before sitting down to lunch in the University's dining rooms in the historic Park House.
Among those attending were the Mayor of Reading Councillor Marian Livingston, MP for Reading East Rob Wilson, Sir John Madejski, University of Reading Chancellor, and Sir David Bell, the Vice-Chancellor, along with members of staff from the University's Department of Meteorology and Walker Institute for Climate System Research.
Their Royal Highnesses then helped to launch a helium-filled weather balloon, just one of an array of atmospheric observations carried out continuously by the University's scientists. The measurements help researchers learn more about the weather, with their findings helping to make forecasts more accurate.
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After watching live data coming in from the weather balloon as it began its ascent to the stratosphere, more than 20km above the earth's surface, Their Royal Highnesses attended a weather and climate discussion group with students and staff from the Department of Meteorology. They then watched meteorology undergraduates receiving a masterclass in TV forecasting from former Reading student and current ITV weather presenter, Laura Tobin, before the Earl had a go at presenting the weather himself.
Sir David Bell said: "We were delighted to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Earl and Countess of Wessex to the University of Reading. It was a particular honour that the Earl of Wessex presented Professor Keith Shine with a scroll to acknowledge his appointment as the first-ever Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science.
"The opportunity for the Earl of Wessex to launch a weather balloon was enjoyed by all, as was Their Royal Highnesses participating in a television weather forecast with students and staff. Throughout the visit, there were many opportunities to highlight to Their Royal Highnesses the University's leading work in Meteorology, Climate Science and Physical Oceanography. All-in-all, it was a great day for Reading."
Laura Tobin said: "I'm used to presenting the weather to millions of people watching at home, but I don't usually have such a high-profile audience with me in the studio.
"I've always known I wanted to be a weather forecaster and the University of Reading was my first and only choice to study Meteorology. I owe my career as a meteorologist, forecasting for pilots at the RAF and now a weather presenter, previously at the BBC and now ITV's Good Morning Britain, to the excellent scientific grounding I received as a student.
"It was wonderful to be back on campus and to meet up with some of my old lecturers, and being able to pass on some tips and advice to today's students, who may well be the forecasters and weather presenters of the future."
BACKGROUND
The University of Reading is in the top 1% of universities worldwide (THE World University Rankings 2014).
Its Department of Meteorology is internationally renowned for its excellent teaching and research in atmospheric, oceanic and climate science. The University of Reading carries out pioneering research on weather, climate and earth observation and is also home to the Walker Institute for Climate System Research.
Regius Professorships are created when a university chair was founded or endowed by a Royal patron. Before 2012, they were limited to a handful of the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland: Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Trinity College, Dublin.