Release Date 01 October 2013

The University of Reading is delighted to announce that Keith Shine formally begins his new post as the University's first Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science today (1 October).

The prestigious title of Regius Professorship was awarded to the University, and 11 other institutions, by HM The Queen earlier this year to mark her Diamond Jubilee. A Regius Professorship is a rare privilege. Before the recent awards, only two had been created in the past century. They reflect the exceptionally high quality of teaching and research at an institution.

Professor Shine joined the University of Reading in 1988 and has been a professor since 1998. His research focuses on the science of climate change and he has made significant contributions to the

United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  Professor Shine was one of 17 University of Reading climate scientists who contributed to the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report published last week. In 2009 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK's academy of science.

Professor Shine said:  "It is a great honour to be appointed the first Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science. The award was only possible because of the outstanding work of very many colleagues at Reading, past and present, over the past 50 years."

Founded in 1965, the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology is internationally renowned for its training and research in weather, climate and physical oceanography.  Its work is also playing a vital role in the improvement of weather forecasting and in understanding climate change. This is the second time the Department has been recognised by HM The Queen. In 2006 the Department was awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

Professor Ellie Highwood, Head of the Department of Meteorology said: "Professor Shine epitomises the qualities of international research excellence and leadership that we were seeking when appointing our first Regius Professor. I am also pleased that we were able to award the title to someone who has contributed so much to the Department over the past 25 years."

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, Sir David Bell, added: "To be awarded a Regius Professorship is a very important honour for the University. I'd like to congratulate Professor Shine on his appointment and thank everyone in the Department of Meteorology for their outstanding work. The recent IPCC report showed how our academic excellence and cutting edge research is shaping the future of climate science.

ENDS

For all media enquiries please contact James Barr on 0118 3787115

Notes for Editors

Find out more about Regius Professorships

The University of Reading is ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world (THE World University Rankings 2012).

Its Department of Meteorology is internationally renowned for its excellent teaching and research in atmospheric, oceanic and climate science. Established in 1965, Reading is the only UK university which offers a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in meteorology. The University of Reading is world-renowned for its pioneering research on weather, climate and earth observation and is also home to the Walker Institute for Climate System Research.