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University of Reading

Royal recognition for Reading climate scientist

Tuesday, 01 October 2013

Keith Shine

Professor Keith Shine

The University is delighted to announce that Professor Keith Shine formally begins his new post as the University's first Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science today.

The prestigious title of Regius Professorship was awarded to the University, and 11 other institutions, by HM The Queen earlier this year to mark her Diamond Jubilee. A Regius Professorship is a rare privilege. Before the recent awards, only two had been created in the past century. They reflect the exceptionally high quality of teaching and research at an institution.

Professor Shine said: "It is a great honour to be appointed the first Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science. The award was only possible because of the outstanding work of very many colleagues at Reading, past and present, over the past 50 years."

Professor Shine joined the University of Reading in 1988 and has been a professor since 1998. His research focuses on the science of climate change and he has made significant contributions to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

Professor Shine was one of 17 University of Reading climate scientists who contributed to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report published last week. In 2009 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK's academy of science.

Professor Ellie Highwood, Head of the Department of Meteorology said: "Professor Shine epitomises the qualities of international research excellence and leadership that we were seeking when appointing our first Regius Professor. I am also pleased that we were able to award the title to someone who has contributed so much to the Department over the past 25 years."

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell, added: "To be awarded a Regius Professorship is a very important honour for the University. I'd like to congratulate Professor Shine on his appointment and thank everyone in the Department of Meteorology for their outstanding work. The recent IPCC report showed how our academic excellence and cutting edge research is shaping the future of climate science.