Exploring New Horizons with Support from the RMetS Legacies Fund
Matthew Priestley shares how the member-exclusive RMetS Legacies Fund enabled him to present his research and engage with new audiences and subject areas at the 20th Cyclone Workshop, hosted in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada.
I am incredibly grateful to the Royal Meteorological Society’s Legacies Fund for supporting me in attending the 20th Cyclone Workshop, hosted in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada from the 21-25 October 2024. The support from the fund was vital in allowing me to attend the workshop and without it this would not have been possible.
The workshop focuses on the latest research in the areas of synoptic and mesoscale meteorology, particularly focussing on extratropical cyclones, tropical cyclones, global atmospheric dynamics, extreme/high-impact weather, and predictability. The workshop was 5 full days and featured presentations on the latest research, interactive panel discussions, as well as poster and networking sessions.
As part of the workshop I gave a talk on my latest research, which was recently published in one of the Society’s journals, to a new and diverse audience. As my research focus is largely on European storm impacts, I regularly present to those who are affected, however, this workshop was the perfect opportunity to interact with those based in North America and share my findings, methodologies, and develop new networks with those working in similar areas. The feedback received has proved very valuable in further developing the next stages of my research beyond this work.
Another reason for my attendance at the workshop, was to share some of the work I am doing as the Society’s Science Engagement Fellow for Insurance. This role brings together those working in insurance related fields, with those in the industry to highlight the opportunities and research ongoing in both. As our engagement has been largely UK and Europe focussed, attending the workshop was a great way to interact with those more geographically distant and widen the community of scientists and professionals we are building. The numerous networking and discussion sessions proved a great platform for this, with numerous new connections formed interested in the Insurance relevant work being done by the Society.
Attending the Cyclone Workshop was a great opportunity to present my research, engage with new audiences and subject areas, and also provide information as to the Society’s industry engagement. Without the support of the Legacies Fund this would not have been possible and so I am incredibly grateful to RMetS to have had this opportunity.