Climate change work wins Uni Queen’s Anniversary Prize

The University of Reading has been presented with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London.

The University of Reading was honoured with the award, the highest national honour for a UK institution in higher and further education, for its work on climate change.

HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Princess Royal presented Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Joy Singarayer, joint head of the Department of Meteorology, with the medal and citation for the award at a ceremony on Thursday, 17 February.

Also attending the ceremony were the University of Reading Chancellor, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, and representatives of the University’s academic staff and students, studying topics as diverse as water, wind, heat and ice, from the tropics to the poles. Attending the event were hydrologist Dr Liz Stephens, ecologist Dr Vicky Boult, polar ice researcher Dr Holly Ayres, PhD student Chloe Brimicombe, who studies heatwaves.

The University's nomination to the awards committee was titled ‘Tackling the Impacts of Climate Change - From Global to Local' and outlined the work of the meteorologists, climate scientists, hydrologists, ecologists, soil scientists and ‘big data' specialists.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "It was a great honour for the whole University to win this award, which reflects the work being done by everyone across our institution to fight climate change. Their Royal Highnesses showed great interest in our work, and I was pleased to introduce them to colleagues and students whose efforts every day contribute a great deal to our University.

“We all play an important role to tackle climate change, in our research and study, in our decisions and investments, and in helping others to understand what is at stake. I am proud of our community as we work collectively towards this vital common goal.”

The latest award is the fifth for the University of Reading, having also been award a Prize in 1998, 2006, 2009 and 2012 for work on Shakespeare’s plays; weather science; archaeology; and typography.