The School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences is one of the largest Schools at Reading and one of the largest and most successful Schools of its kind in the UK. The School has over 250 staff, including 66 academic staff, 16 associate sessional staff, 47 senior research staff (at grade 7 up to Professorial level), and 76 other research staff.

The School is home to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Meteorology, and our Environmental Systems Science Centre, and to much joint activity and many joint posts across these departments. The School is proud to host important national activity in the atmospheric and earth sciences, including the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, and large parts of the NERC National Centre for Atmospheric Science, (NCAS Climate and NCAS Models and Data) which add hugely to research activity and environment across both departments. We are also home to the Statistical Services Centre, a commercial consultancy and training unit, working for clients across the UK and globally, and integrated into the teaching of statistics across the School. We host and lead the University’s Walker Institute for Climate System Research, which is at the forefront of the science of climate change and its implications for future human society. A huge and distinctive asset to the School is that we are also home to approximately 30 Met Office scientists, embedded into our research activities.

This large activity is supported by significant investment by research funders and other partners. Our research effort is supported by £40M of competitively won research grants and contracts (with NERC the largest funder), supporting over 120 research staff and over 110 PhD students.

Our excellent research is reflected in a strong performance in the 2008 RAE with, across the School, 60% of our research rated Internationally Excellent or World Class, this rising to 75% for our submission in Earth Systems and Environmental Science, related to our work in weather and climate. Reflecting this research reputation, our staff are embedded in decision-making and leadership roles across the academic community and beyond, for example on the Councils of BBSRC, NERC, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the Institute of Physics, on the Defence Strategic Advisory Committee, the Space Council, the UK Government Climate Change Committee, and the Board of the Met Office. Our staff Chair the European Space Agency Earth Science Advisory Committee, and head up the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, and the British Atmospheric Data Centre, Computational Modelling Services and Climate arms of the NERC National Centre for Atmospheric Science.

Building on this research activity, we deliver courses at BSc and MSc level in Mathematics, Statistics, Meteorology and Climate, including a range of joint courses at BSc and MSc level, between the two departments and with a range of other departments across the University, with approximately 450 full-time undergraduates and approximately 60 students on taught postgraduate courses currently registered with the School.

The School has been awarded the Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of its commitment to good employment practice for women working in its departments, and is proud to host the South East hob of UKRC, the UK’s lead organisation for the provision of advice and policy consultation regarding the under-representation of women in science, engineering and technology. For more information about the Athena SWAN charter, visit www.athenaswan.org.uk/html/athena-swan/