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Climate Modelling Summer School

Dates: 10th September 2023 to 22nd September 2023
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Applications closed

Climate models are important tools for learning about the earth, and for assessing current and future risks of climate change. Our Climate Modelling Summer School covers the fundamental principles of climate modelling through a mixture of lectures and practical assignments over twelve days.

You will receive expert tuition from leading researchers from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of Reading.

During the first week, you will be introduced to numerical methods used in climate models and supported to implement your own numerical methods in Python.

In week two, you will develop advanced diagnostics and apply them to the output of a range of climate model outputs. With the assistance of leading scientists, you will go through the entire process of experimental design to scientific analysis and presentation.

If you want to become a climate modeller or work in the natural sciences, our Climate Modelling Summer School will provide the foundation you need.

We encourage UK-based and international post-doctoral researchers and PhD students to apply.

How to apply

Applications are now closed.

We encourage UK-based and international post-doctoral researchers and PhD students to apply to attend the summer school. Places are limited and are awarded on a competitive basis. All places will be awarded on merit and applications scored on each student’s suitability for the course and how they stand to benefit from it.

We look for students who have a strong interest in:

  • Learning about the mathematical and numerical foundations of climate models;
  • Becoming experts in climate modelling;
  • Acquiring the know-how needed for designing and operating modern climate models;
  • Applications are now closed.

    Subscribe to our Reach for the Skies mailing list to be kept in the loop about upcoming courses.

    Prerequisites

    Applicants must be familiar with the following in order to be able to take part:

  • Python programming, including matplotlib and NumPy
  • Mathematical pre-requisites in this worksheet
  • Learning outcomes

    We aim for students to:

  • Understand the fundamental principles of the science in climate models;
  • Learn about the connections between different areas of climate science;
  • Know how climate models operate on supercomputers;
  • Assess the quality of model results and perform high-level analysis;
  • Recognise the ways that climate science is used for policy making.
  • Teaching staff

    This course is delivered jointly by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of Reading.

    Our curriculum is led by Professor Pier Luigi Vidale, a climate system specialist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Reading, and Dr Hilary Weller, Associate Professor of Computational Atmospheric Dynamics at the University of Reading.

    The teaching team will include UK and international researchers who are leaders in their field.

    Course Schedule

    The school is an intensive twelve day programme, running Monday to Friday, between 10th and 22nd September 2023, and 09:00-20:00 BST on most days.

    The 2019 course programme provides course applicants with an idea of what to expect, although there will be some changes for 2023.

    The school includes advanced theoretical lectures and seminars, complemented by hands-on workshops to put learning into practice.

    Students are expected to attend all aspects of the programme.

    Costs

    There is a charge to attend the Climate Modelling Summer School. This charge contributes to the cost of teaching, facilities, refreshments and all activities. You will be asked to pay for your place on the course via the University of Leeds online store once you have been offered a place. The course fee includes all tuition, activities and materials, and full board accommodation at Fitzwilliam College in single en suite rooms.

    Full academic price: £2,503
    Educational discounted price: £1,669

    This may be available to students or post-doctoral researchers not eligible for the subsidised rate.

    NCAS subsidised price: £1,117

    This subsidy is for UK & EU students attending UK universities or students that are supervised by NCAS staff.

    A partial sponsorship may be available for those not eligible for a subsidised rate. Those candidates must declare, upon applying, how much they expect to be able to contribute to the course costs.

    The NCAS subsidised price is the lowest rate that will be offered to any student.

    Attendees from commercial organisations should contact training@ncas.ac.uk to discuss the course fee.

    Travel and Accommodation

    Students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transport to and from Cambridge. Students are expected to be in Cambridge from 4pm Sunday September 10 to 4pm Friday September 22 2023.

    Full board accommodation in single, en suite rooms will be provided for all students at Fitzwilliam College and this is covered by the course fee.

    Terms and conditions

    Fees

    Attendees are required to pay in full by credit/debit card or provide a valid purchase order from their home organisation by the confirmation deadline. All payments and refunds are processed by the University of Leeds.

    Cancellations/ refunds

    Attendee cancellations are subject to a £50 administration fee, plus any accommodation cancellation costs incurred by us, where the cancellation is made more than six weeks (twelve weeks for the Atmospheric Measurement Summer School) before the date of the training course. The remaining balance of the course fee will be refunded.

    No refund is payable for a cancellation made within six weeks (twelve weeks for the Atmospheric Measurement Summer School) immediately prior to the training course – in this event the full course fee will remain payable. In the event that a place can be filled by another student then the full fee (less the £50 administration fee) will be refunded once the replacement student has paid in full.

    All cancellations must be sent in writing to training@ncas.ac.uk.

    Amendments and cancellations

    It may be necessary for us to change the content and timing of a course, the staff, the date or the venue. In the unlikely event of the course being cancelled, we will provide a full refund. For all bookings, the liability of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science/University of Leeds shall be limited to the amount of the fee paid to the National Centre for Atmospheric Science/University of Leeds by the delegate.

    Access to Systems and Software

    By applying for and accepting a place on the course you are confirming that you are aware of the technical requirements and that it is your responsibility to ensure you can fully engage with all aspects of the training. If you have any questions, please email training@ncas.ac.uk.