Professor becomes new head of Royal Meteorological Society

Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE has today (1 October 2026) become the President of the Royal Meteorological Society. Emily is Professor of Environmental Data Science in this Department.

Emily is also the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, a role she was appointed to in November 2025.

A mathematician and climate scientist, Emily is also a Fellow of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, a Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), and an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute.

Here at the University of Cambridge, she is Academic Director of the Institute of Computing for Climate Science, and co-Director of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration.

She worked for more than a decade at the British Antarctic Survey where her work included leading a UK national research programme on the Southern Ocean and its role in climate.

Regarding her election, Emily says: "It is an honour to take on the role of President of the Royal Meteorological Society at a time when the impacts of extreme weather and climate change are increasingly being felt, and trusted science and expert advice have never been more important.

"The Society helps to ensure world-leading weather and climate knowledge supports people to make informed decisions, strengthening resilience and contributing to a sustainable world where people and nature can flourish."

Congratulations to her Emily on her new role.