The Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading has a long and established track record of working with both commercial and academic partners on a very wide range of subjects, from individual student project work to multi-year commercial research programmes. Our approach is proactively to seek engagement with potential beneficiaries who would benefit from our expertise and proven research impact, both to plan our research and to advertise our capabilities. Some projects are designed to address a specific question, others are broader in scope and application.

Historically, the Department of Meteorology grew as a result of the close proximity of, and strong working relationship with, the Met Office and later ECMWF. The legacy of this history is that the application of world-class research into weather and climate has always been at the heart of our work. At the same time, the scope and coverage of related disciplines has increased enormously in the last two decades, such that we can now offer expertise in environmental research areas from aerosols to vulcanology. We warmly welcome partnership enquiries: please contact us for an initial project discussion. Some examples of current partnerships are featured below.

Industry-partnered MSc projects

Every year, we engage with a number of companies in industry partnered MSc projects, part of our departmental Knowledge Exchange Programme. Such projects aim to provide relevant, stimulating and topical real-world research experience for our MSc students, with particular emphasis on industry decision-making in relation to weather information and processes.

Previous project sponsors have included insurance and reinsurance companies, catastrophe and risk modelling organisations, banks, energy companies, weather forecast and data providers and charities. The MSc students present their work at an industry presentations day, usually in late June, attended by sponsor companies together with academic and research staff and students. The informal structure of the day provides ample opportunities for discussion and networking, for industry partners and potential partners to learn more about research engagement with us, and for students to meet with prospective employers.

Other than any student expenses incurred, there is no charge for participation in the MSc projects programme. If you would like to express interest in taking part in our 2019/20 programme, or if you are interested in coming along to our next industry presentations day in early July 2020, please contact Jessica Gardner. Sponsor company involvement can be as much or as little as you wish, with a minimum involvement of a project brief followed by two meetings with the student during the summer term.

Meteorology careers event

Every year, normally in January, the Department of Meteorology hosts a careers event, in which a number of companies are invited to give a series of brief presentations on relevant career opportunities. The afternoon event consists of presentations followed by a 1:1 networking session between company representatives and our undergraduate and postgraduate students and early career postdocs. Normally demand is high for the six presentation places available, and an early expression of interest is advised! If you would like to register your interest for our January 2021 event, please contact Jessica Gardner. This event is free to participants.

Industry placements and internships

Research experience placements at the Department of Meteorology

Space Internship Network (SpIN)

The Space Internship Network has been launched by the University of Reading to link the most enthusiastic and talented students from across the disciplines with employers throughout the sector. SpIN is National. Students from any university can participate, and the space sector is wide, encompassing companies that build and launch satellites, through telecommunications and navigation to those delivering services derived from satellite data to users anywhere on the planet. SpIN has been developed to give students a real world taste of working in companies in the sector, to help them appreciate how exciting it is, encourage them to consider careers in the sector and to understand exactly what skills will be important as they enter the workplace.

For more information: SpIn scheme or contact Kathie Bowden