Events

150th Anniversary Celebration: RMetS Quarterly Journal Marks a Century and a Half of Scientific Excellence

15 September 2023

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) recently held a 150th anniversary celebration of its Quarterly Journal, a historic milestone in the world of meteorological and climate science.

The event attracted a cross-section of the meteorological and climatological community. Delegates were enthralled with talks from prominent figures in the field, reflecting on the journal's historical significance, its role in shaping the discipline, and its increasing importance in the face of modern climate challenges.

Among the many engaging presentations were:

Advances in Climate Science through the Pages of the QJ, by Joanna D. Haigh (she/her), Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Imperial College London.
Numerical Weather Prediction: The quest for accurate rainfall forecasts, by Prof. Brian Golding, OBE (he/him), Fellow in Weather Impacts, Met Office.
The Sea, The Sea – a fine tradition of oceanographic research in the Quarterly Journal, by Bablu Sinha (he/him), Senior Scientist, National Oceanography Centre.

Joanna D. Haigh discusses Advances in Climate Science through the Pages of the QJ.

A vibrant panel discussion on scientific publishing then ensued. Expertly Chaired by Fran Morris, a Post Doctoral Researcher Assistant at the University of Oxford, the discussion delved into several crucial aspects of scientific publishing:

Sourcing Reviewers: The panel emphasised the importance of finding qualified reviewers for scholarly articles. Reviewers play a pivotal role in maintaining the quality and integrity of published research, and RMetS is keen to hear from individuals who would be interested in supporting the advancement of science in this capacity. Interest may be expressed by contacting Dr Alison Brown, RMetS Head of Publishing and Scientific Engagement via alison.brown@rmets.org.

Artificial Intelligence's Impact: The conversation also covered the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the future of publishing. Participants discussed how AI technologies can assist in various aspects of the publishing process, from manuscript review to content recommendation, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of scientific publishing.

Open Access: The panel discussed RMetS' approach to Open Access, which acknowledges that while Open Access is an important trend in scholarly publishing, it has not yet become the standard worldwide. RMetS, being a Society with global influence, recognises the need to provide options that cater to the diverse publishing landscape. By offering a hybrid model for the Quarterly Journal, RMetS ensures that international authors continue to have an accessible route to publishing their research whilst also accommodating the various funding mandates that encourage open access publishing.

Poster presentations from prize winners of Past L F Richardson Winners and RMetS Early Career and Student Conference Prize Winners 2023.

The day’s programme concluded with poster presentations from prize winners of Past L F Richardson Winners and RMetS Early Career and Student Conference Prize Winners 2023, offering the chance to celebrate the promise and potential embodied by the students and early career professionals who will shape the next 150 years of meteorology and climate science.

Cutting the cake at QJ 150th Anniversary Event.

The RMetS Quarterly Journal, which documents the results of new research in the atmospheric sciences and associated field, is available via members’ online dashboards. To learn more about RMetS Membership, please click here: https://www.rmets.org/membership