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Looking to the skies: Laura Tobin awarded Alumnus of the Year – University of Reading

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Looking to the skies: Laura Tobin awarded Alumnus of the Year

Release Date 07 July 2016

Laura Tobin - centre - with graduates in the Department of Meteorology

TV meteorologist Laura Tobin has been awarded the Alumnus of the Year Award 2016 by the University of Reading.

Laura, who currently presents the weather forecast daily on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, was presented for the award by Professor Keith Shine, Regius Professor of Meteorology, as part of the University of Reading’s graduation ceremonies on Thursday 7 July.

A Reading graduate in physics and meteorology, Laura has had a successful career to date providing weather forecasts for the Met Office, Royal Air Force, BBC Weather, and on ITV.

On receiving her award, Laura said: “It’s weird to think people are looking up to me, because I still look up to so many colleagues at various places where I have worked.

“My geography teacher really inspired me to love the weather, and then I’ve gone on to do this. It would be lovely to think that I could inspire at least one person to think that they would want to be me one day. I’d happily hand over that alarm clock for 3.30am.”

Laura Tobin will be a familiar face to many as a TV weather broadcaster over the last decade. After graduating from Reading, she joined the Met Office and worked with the Royal Air Force, before becoming a BBC weather presenter. In 2012 Laura joined the Daybreak team on ITV, which became Good Morning Britain in 2014.

'Laura is a highly visible role model who shows where scholarship in STEM subjects can lead' -- Professor Keith Shine

Laura has been praised for introducing her audience to the scientific basis of forecasting, translating complex terminology to those who don’t have a background in meteorology. She is also a STEM ambassador, encouraging young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities.

Presenting her for her award, Professor Shine said: “While Laura’s role is to provide some level of entertainment, she never loses sight of the fact that meteorology is her profession and the weather forecast is her message.

“Laura has been very active in promoting the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects at school. It is hard to overestimate the importance of such activity. Laura is a highly visible role model who shows where scholarship in STEM subjects can lead.”

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