On 18 June, 12:40, Graham P Davis wrote:
Graham Easterling wrote:
Back in the early 70's I studied Meteorology as part of my Geography
BSc. Strangely, when I applied for a job at the MetO, my BSc wasn't
science as they didn't consider Geography a science (even though I
specialised in meteorology & geomorphology). They were only interested
people with pure science degrees.

When I had to choose between Arts and Science for the sixth form in 1960,
the science subjects were Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry,
Botany, Zoology. The rest, as I recall, including Geography, were Arts
subjects. We had to choose four to take at A-level and I went on the science
side.

A couple of years later, I chose to get a job instead of going to university
as money was a bit short. I'd no idea of what I was going to do but had
always been interested in the weather. I was surprised when the headmaster
said I didn't need geography and that science subjects were required. He
also said that there weren't many jobs worse paid than teaching but, in the
Met Office, I'd found one. Later, in the forecasting courses, I realised why
Science and not Geography was so important.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks., UK. *E-mail: newsman not newsboy
"I wear the cheese. It does not wear me."

Whilst fully accepting your point that pure science is important in
modern meteorology, clearly studying meteorology as part of a BSc in
Geography does not make it an art. It certainly stretched my Physics
knowledge, I've still got my books on cloud physics purchased at
Dillons nearly 40 years ago. The trouble with classifying geography is
it can be studied from a human geography perspective (making of the
landscape, evolution of towns etc.) or a scientific perspective
(geology, geomorphology, hydrology, meteorology etc.)

By having such firm regulations as to which degree is really relevant,
it's easy to discount proven ability & aptitude. Also, a Steve W says,
how many people applying for courses really know what they want.

Steve Jackson probably has a useful view on this

Graham
Penzance (18.2C bright - glimpses of sun)

www.turnstone-cottage.co.uk/weather.html