21 May 2026
One of the UK’s leading experts on weather and flooding, Professor Hannah Cloke OBE, has been appointed Regius Professor in Meteorology and Climate Science at the University of Reading.
The appointment is a rare honour recognising her position as a world-leading scientist in her field, becoming only the second holder of the University of Reading’s sole Regius Professorship.
To mark the appointment, Professor Cloke will deliver a keynote public talk in Reading next month, exploring how human imagination is at the heart of weather and climate science. The talk will explore what is happening to our weather, and why; what this could mean for Reading and towns and cities like it across the country; and how science can put people in charge of their own futures, by helping communities to prepare and respond.
Professor Hannah Cloke, who joined the University of Reading in 2012, said: “The weather is rightly a British obsession, because it affects every part of our lives. By understanding it better, we can make better decisions and prepare for what’s ahead.
“Weather and climate science are too important to leave to the scientists. With extreme weather affecting homes, health and neighbourhoods, people should know that we have the power to see and shape our own future. This event is an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and explore what lies ahead with curiosity and confidence.”
"The climate futures we dare to imagine” will take place at Reading Town Hall on Monday 15 June (7–8.30pm) as part of Reading Climate Festival. The event will include a panel discussion and opportunities for audience questions.
Find out more and book your place: The climate futures we dare to imagine
The title of Regius Professor is awarded by the Sovereign and is given only to a small number of universities in recognition of outstanding research.
Professor Hannah Cloke has been honoured with the title for her internationally recognised work in hydrology and meteorology, specialising in floods, climate extremes, and disaster risk reduction.
A Research Fellow at the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Professor Cloke has developed flood forecasts and heat hazard warning systems. In 2019, Regius Professor Cloke was awarded an OBE for services to flood forecasting and the development of hazard early warning systems.
Professor Cloke supervises a large and internationally diverse cohort of PhD researchers, working closely with operational partners including the Met Office, Environment Agency, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to ensure research delivers real-world impact.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "Professor Hannah Cloke helps people see the world around them more clearly, and show what changing weather means for us all.
“Her research has already helped communities around the world prepare for floods and extreme weather, and her ability to clearly explain complex ideas helps us dare to dream of new futures. Anyone with wants to understand more about our changing weather, and what it means for Reading and beyond, should come to her talk and join the conversation.”
Professor Keith Shine, who was the first holder of the post, hands over the Regius Professorship having been appointed in 2013. In the role, Keith has made many important contributions to understanding how energy from sunlight and heat moves through the atmosphere, pioneering methods to quantify the role of greenhouse gases, air pollution, clouds and aviation in driving climate change.
Alongside her internationally recognised research, Regius Professor Hannah Cloke is a leading public voice on climate, flooding, and environmental risk. She regularly provides expert commentary for national and international broadcasters and publications, helping audiences understand the links between extreme weather, flooding, and climate change. Beyond broadcast and print media, she advised on the Chloe's Ark climate drama on BBC Radio 4, collaborated with the Science Museum on public engagement projects, and advised governments and filmmakers on flooding, climate change and extreme weather.
Journalists, broadcasters and organisations are invited to contact the University of Reading Press Office for interview opportunities.
For enquiries, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk.
Read more about Professor Hannah Cloke’s research and expertise:
‘Japan earthquake could be a precursor for something bigger’
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