Richard Dixon wrote:
Same here - my careers guidance form was apparently one of the most
negative the careers bloke had seen as I'd simply tailored the
computer form to spit out "meteorologist".

I applied to Reading Uni to do a BSc in Meteorology and was accepted but
only if I did a foundation year first. This was because I didn't have
A-level maths (but I did have A-level physics). At the time I didn't want to
do a 4 year degree so I ended up doing Applied Environmental Sciences with
meteorology at Middlesex Uni.

Ironic really, because I spent the next 8 years at various universities
studying for a BSc, MSc and PhD........ I always wonder whether I made the
right choice by turning Reading Uni down. Oh well.
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

Graham P Davis wrote:

Richard Dixon wrote:

On 18 June, 15:18, Graham Easterling
wrote:

By having such firm regulations as to which degree is really relevant,
it's easy to discount proven ability & aptitude.

Prime example - and he'll murder me for saying this on here - but
waghorn (a rare poster on here now) has an education in fine art - and
having taught himself meteorology over the years, recently published
his first paper with my former supervisor:

http://www.abuhrc.org/Publications/AA2.pdf

Proof if ever there was that you don't need the qualifications to have
the ability !


Also, having the qualifications doesn't doesn't mean you have the ability.
I've known a few who, though they were well-encumbered with degrees, bring
to mind phrases such as "two short planks" and "Toc-H lamp".

When I started in the Met Office, someone said to me, "forecasting isn't a
science - it's an art!" In those days, at the sharp end of the business, I
think it was true but it's less so these days.


Some years ago the then head of the Met Office College told me that, in
general, in his experience there was an inverse relationship between the level
of academic qualifications and the natural ability to perform as an operational
forecaster.

--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.

On 18 June, 21:32, "Norman" wrote:

Some years ago the then head of the Met Office College told me that, in
general, *in his experience there was an inverse relationship between the level
of academic qualifications and the natural ability to perform as an operational
forecaster.

For me, enthusiasm gets you as far as intelligence when it comes to
getting "qualifications". Certainly did in my case.

Would be interesting to know if said head of MO college had any
qualifications to start off with. I work in a company where PhDs meet
head on with barrow-boys and there's much snobbery/inverted snobbery
towards the qualified/non-qualified from the non-qualified/qualified
which always fascinates me.

Richard

In article , Norman
wrote:

Some years ago the then head of the Met Office College told me that, in
general, in his experience there was an inverse relationship between the
level of academic qualifications and the natural ability to perform as an
operational forecaster.

When I was instructing at Shinfield Park (the Met. Office College) it was
widely agreed that if you wanted to take the graduates on the long course
down a peg, you set them exam. questions with numerical answers. Amazing how
errors of a factor of 100 rarely seemed to ring any alarm bells.

--
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

Quoting from message
posted on 18 Jun 2009 by Tom Allen
I would like to add:


"Elaine Jones" wrote in message
...
When I was in school meteorology was part of the Physical Geograpy
syllabus (sorry can't remember whether it was O or A level or both).

Is it taught today?


http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/education/teachers/
Tom

Thanks Tom and the others - I didn't actually need to know, I was just
wondering.


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