Legacy Fund Report from an Early Career Scientist
Originally set up in 1961, the Legacies Fund has assisted numerous members of the Society, financing grants for scientific activities. We asked one of our successful legacy fund recipients, Toby Jones, a PhD Student in Mathematics and Statistics, to share how the fund supported his attendance at the Early Career and Student Conference.
I would like to extend my thanks to the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) for their support through their Legacy Fund. Without this financial assistance, I would not have been able to attend their recent Early Career and Student (ECS) Conference. The award is available for members to help finance expeditions, carry out research, or attend meteorological conferences.
The RMetS ECS Conference 2023, was held at the University of Reading on 4th and 5th July. The conference provided a platform for students in meteorology and climate science to showcase their research and network with peers. I enjoyed attending the wide range of sessions covered, from “Tropics” to “Data Science”. Each session was informative, engaging and seeing the differences in approaches and perspectives gave me new ideas for my own work in the future.
Due to the wide scope of the conference, I was able to network with attendees who I may have otherwise never met. In particular, during the workshop on “Communicating your Science”, our group was from a variety of different fields, which led to interesting discussions about our assigned task.
Being able to present my research at the conference would have been impossible without the Legacy Fund. It was the first time I had presented a poster at an academic conference, giving me the opportunity to enhance my presentation skills and help me effectively communicate my research to a diverse audience. Feedback received during the poster session will help me better communicate my work in the future. Furthermore, I was delighted to receive a poster prize, particularly because of the number of other brilliant posters presented at the conference.
Attending the RMetS ECS Conference was an enriching experience that allowed me to present my research, engage in discussions with those in my field, and expand my knowledge of meteorology and climate science. The conference and my participation in it contributed significantly to my professional and academic growth; this would not have been possible without the financial support provided by the RMetS Legacy Fund.
Thank you once again,
Toby P Jones