STEM Untapped

Kirsty McCabe - Broadcast Meteorologist

November 15, 2022 STEM Untapped Episode 11
STEM Untapped
Kirsty McCabe - Broadcast Meteorologist
Show Notes Transcript

In this podcast, the students are going to introduce you to Kirsty McCabe who is a Broadcast Meteorologist. Kirsty presents and write about the weather for Sky News and the Royal Meteorological Society.

If you're interested in meteorology, Kirsty recommends...
Taking the Online Course Come Rain or Shine which will help you understand the weather
 Watching the weather on as many channels as possible

If you know a group of students who would like to interview female or non-binary role models, please get in touch by emailing podcast@untappedinnovation.com

Likewise, if you know anyone who would be a great role model, let us know by emailing podcast@untappedinnovation.com

Follow us on Instagram @STEMUntapped
Check out our website

If you know a group of students who would like to interview one of our role models, please get in touch by emailing podcast@untappedinnovation.com

Likewise, if you know anyone who would be a great role model, let us know by emailing podcast@untappedinnovation.com

Follow us on Instagram @STEMUntapped
Connect with us on LinkedIn @STEMUntappedCIC
Check out our website

Intro 00:00

Hello, and welcome to the Stem Untapped Podcast series. We're delighted that you could join us. Research from Microsoft reveals that having a role model was one of the most effective ways to prevent girls falling out of love with STEM subjects. As all partners at Untapped are female scientists, and many of our clients and associates are female scientists, we felt that we had a unique opportunity to map students with a variety of role models of their choice. This way, students can ask the questions that are most important to them, allowing them to gain access into a diverse array of different STEM careers. In this podcast, the students are going to introduce you to Kirsty McCabe, who's a broadcast meteorologist. Kirsty presents and writes about the weather for Sky News and the Royal Meteorological Society.

 

Kirsty McCabe 00:52

I'm Kirsty McCabe and I'm a Broadcast Meteorologist. And that means I basically tell people what's happening with the weather. So I look at the weather, but then I also try and interpret it so that I can make it more understandable for the public. So I do that in a few different ways. Obviously, there's presenting the weather on TV and radio, but I also write about it as well. And I also talk to people about it. So I've been chatting to people at schools and anyone that's interested in the weather. I do a lot of explainers because I think everyone's always interested in what's going on and why things are happening. 

 

Student Interviewers 01:25

What is meteorology?

 

Kirsty McCabe 01:27

Meteorology is basically studying the Earth's atmosphere and seeing what's happening in terms of weather and climate. So we're looking at whether it's hot, cold, wet, or dry. And we're trying to work out what's going to happen with our climate. So there's forecasting, as in what's going to happen on a day to day basis. But then there's also to see whether or not our climate is changing. So it's really the studying of our Earth's atmosphere and the effects it has on us.

 

Student Interviewers 01:56

When did you find out about meteorology?

 

Kirsty McCabe 02:00

Do you know I didn't find out as young as you I think I was always aware of the weather, obviously. But I didn't think about it as a subject to study until later on. So I actually did Geophysics at university, which is looking at more sort of earthquakes and volcanoes and how the planet works. And it wasn't till after I graduated, that I sort of moved more into towards understanding how our atmosphere works. I think nowadays, you can actually do degrees that include both geophysics and metrology. So if I could do all over again, I probably go that route, because I find both of them still really fascinating.

 

Student Interviewers 02:30

When did you know you wanted to become a meteorologist?

 

Kirsty McCabe 02:33

I was working for a magazine called New Scientist magazine. And they have a job section in it. And my friend who I worked with, was looking through it. And he held it up and said, Oh, look, they're looking for weather girls, which isn't the nicest way to describe the job. But it was the Met Office at the BBC who were actually looking for broadcast meteorologists. And although he said it to me as a kind of joke, I thought, actually, I'd really quite like to do that. That sounds right up my street. And so I looked into what you had to have to do it. And you had to have a background in physics. And you didn't have to have meteorology, because you could do the training on the job. And so I thought, well, I've got the right background. So I applied and my first ever interview was all on camera. And they basically made me do a weather broadcast with no experience and no idea what I was doing just to see if I could do it. So they knew if I was somebody that they could work with and train up to do the job.

 

Student Interviewers 03:23

Did you work as something else before becoming as a meteorologist?

 

Kirsty McCabe 03:28

I suppose I started off as a sub editor, which is somebody who corrects spelling and grammar and rewrites a lot of things because scientists are really good at what they do. But sometimes they're not very good at communicating what they do to other people. And so you almost need somebody in between to kind of take what they've done, work out what's interesting, what's new, what's what you'd like to learn from it, and then rewrite it for somebody else to read. So I did a lot of that. But that really helps me when it comes to doing meteorology, and doing weather. I can look all the jargon that comes out the computer models and all the technical words that people talk about. And I can think, actually, all you want to know is that it's going to be quite nice this weekend, but it's gonna be a bit windy. And so it's just getting the information across, I suppose I started in a job that in hindsight was really useful, really good training for what I do now. But my first ever job was as Avon representative, where I went round to people's houses with the catalogue and sold things to them. And that was probably good because it built up my confidence and being able to speak to people.

 

Student Interviewers 04:28

How do you balance your social and family life with your work life?

 

Kirsty McCabe 04:31

Ah now if you are interested in meteorology, the big downside is that there is usually shift work involved. And so that means you'll be working nights, weekends, early and late. I did Breakfast Television for years and that means getting up at 3:30 in the morning. So balancing your social life and family life is pretty tricky. So you have to have somebody quite understanding. And as I've got older and got married and had children, I've started to do as few shifts as I can get away with so that I can then balance things and have a bit more of a social life. So I think if you get into this industry, then you have to accept that at the beginning, you will probably be doing a lot of the earliest, a lot of the nights, a lot of the weekends, all the shifts that nobody else wants to do. But then as you get more senior, hopefully, you'll get to do a little bit more sociable hours, and you can fit other things in. But like everything in life is a bit of a balance. And if you really want to do something, then you won't mind it. It's kind of comes with the job.

 

Student Interviewers 05:28

Why did you pursue a career in TV?

 

Kirsty McCabe 05:30

I think like most people, it's quite exciting. They're sort of the glamour of television, although reality often isn't glamorous at four in the morning when you arrive at work. But it's just something, I did youth theatre when I was younger, so I quite liked the performing aspect of things. And I still sing in a choir now. So I think it's, it's quite nice to be able to have a little sort of nicer outlook for you, I suppose you can sort of perform. Then it's also it's nice that you can communicate, you're educating people and telling them about things. We had a lot of dust due to the Saharan dust the other day, and it's quite nice to be able to explain to people well, you know, actually all the sand and dust that dirtied all the cars that actually came from the Sahara Desert, and it got dragged northwards by strong winds, and then the rain washed it out the sky on our cars. And it's just really nice to be able to explain just everything to people from, you know, how are rainbows made, why is the sky blue? Why is my car dusty? Is it going to be nice? Is it going to snow? It's something that means we've always got able to chat to people and something to talk about. And I just really like, TV is just another way of engaging with people, radio’s really good fun as well. And of course, there's like, as I mentioned, the glamorous side, you get to meet people, and it's all quite exciting.

 

Student Interviewers 06:44

Are there any skills needed to work in the TV part of meteorology?

 

Kirsty McCabe 06:48

You need quite a thick skin, because people will comment on what you look like and what you're wearing. So you need to take on board anything that's useful, but maybe filter out things that aren't quite so nice. You need to talk in public, you need to be confident, I think you also just have to be you. And the best presenters you see on TV are usually the ones are just them, but maybe with just a little bit more energy. So you have to be yourself, be a good communicator, and enjoy it. Because if you enjoy what you're doing that's going to come across. So if you don't like speaking in public, and you don't want to stand up in front of a crowd, then that wouldn't be the job for you. But if you enjoy doing that, then I think you would enjoy doing it.

 

Student Interviewers 07:32

Is it difficult being a woman in TV?

 

Kirsty McCabe 07:35

Yeah, the sad reality is that we as women are still judged an awful lot on what we look like or what we're wearing more than what we're saying, and we don't always get paid the same as men. So I think things are changing. And hopefully they'll change even more. So by the time you guys are finished school, but it is still a battle to be recognised for your ability to do the job and not what you look like doing the job. I think that will change. It has to change. But it's taking time. So it's a little bit harder being a woman in the industry. And I certainly find that when I was pregnant with my children, you get judged a lot on that as well, when people don't have the right to comment on you, and things like that. But they do. And that's when I don't go on social media that much these days. Because I think that's where you get a lot of people will say things on Twitter that they wouldn't ever say to somebody if they met face to face. So I think you have to separate what's real. And that's your friends and family. And then what's not real and that's people that you don't know, seeing things online.

 

Student Interviewers 08:32

Is it normal for a woman to work in this career?

 

Kirsty McCabe 08:35

Yes, I think there's actually quite a good split between men and women doing meteorology. Although we maybe get treated a little bit differently, I think there's still quite a good split. And in the UK I think we're a little bit more respected in some countries do have more women doing it. And it is as something to look at. In other countries, the only men doing it because we consider it to be quite serious. So it changes around the world. But certainly in the UK and America. It's a very respected profession. There's qualifications, you have to have to be able to do the job, and probably a good split between men and women that do it.

 

Student Interviewers 09:07

Is it normal for people to think you're not doing the research or work?

 

Kirsty McCabe 09:12

I think there are a lot of people that don't know, what actually happens when somebody is presenting the weather. And they have this idea that I'm just standing there someone else has told me what to say. And I'm just reading a script. And the reality is that there is no script is all ad libbed. I've spent time beforehand, looking at the forecast model working out what's going on making my own graphics. And so when I go and stand in a studio, sometimes the graphics aren't even there because it's a green screen so I'm doing it more from memory or from a tiny little autocue where I can see not any words but I can see the graphics and so I'm talking off the top of my head. I'm telling the way the story how I think it best suits, but I have to do it to whatever time I get told in an earpiece and director they might see you've got a minute and then they might say oh you’ve only and got 30 seconds. And so when I hear the voice my head going 10, 9, 8, 7, I know I've got to stop talking on zero. So it's quite high pressure. But there's a lot more to it, I think then somebody's watching. And that's the skill of the weather presenter, if you watch them doing it, and they're chatting away, they seem relaxed, they're getting the information across, you've no idea what's going on to be chaos in their ear, they could be things breaking all around them, but they just keep going. And you think, Well, that looks really easy and effortless. And that's because they're good. But the reality is, it's like a swan swimming away, that looks nice and calm on the surface. But underneath, there's a feet frantically paddling and look very similar to what we do.

 

Student Interviewers 10:39

Is it a difficult career path to take? 

 

Kirsty McCabe 10:43

It can be, partly, you have to know what you're talking about. So you need to do the physics and the maths. And that can be quite tricky. And thermodynamics and fluid dynamics are not the easiest thing to get the hang of. But once you've mastered the science, and then you use it in real life applications, it becomes a little bit easier. And then the actual day to day job is good fun. But it's getting your foot in the door. And sometimes that's the tricky bit is finding a job. And then that is often down to being in the right place at the right time. Or even knowing the right people who can say this is coming up, would you like to apply? I think in television, not all the jobs get advertised some of it is more contacts. And they will approach you rather than you find out about the job. So that can make things a little bit harder to find the jobs. But if you get into the industry and work your way up, then the world's your oyster.

 

Student Interviewers 11:33

Have you ever felt attacked or seen as less your career because you're a woman?

 

Kirsty McCabe 11:39

I think there are times when you maybe be in a chat with somebody, and you might be saying the information, but they'll believe it more from a man than from a woman, even though you're both saying the same things. But most of the people I work with are pretty respectful and wouldn't behave like that. And most of the women I know that are also meteorologists are quite strong willed, quite opinionated, so we wouldn't, who wouldn't stand for that. So yeah, if there are ever times when I feel that people are doubting what I'm saying, and they would rather hear it from someone else, then I would make sure that they know. They know what I'm talking about. And they should listen to me.

 

Student Interviewers 12:13

Do you receive any negative comments or being on TV? 

 

Kirsty McCabe 12:16

Oh, yes. And that's the sad reality that you'll get people who they might say something that they maybe think is harmless. So they might say something on social media, like, Kirsty is on today, I much prefer Lucy or someone else. And that's quite hurtful because they don't need to tag you to that post. That might be how they feel. But do they really need to say it? I mentioned when I was pregnant, I got comments saying, Oh, I don't want to see that. And I wish and I can't see Devon and Cornwall now. And that's again, people don't need to see that to you. And I even had somebody write a letter to me when I worked for the BBC in London, and I was doing the weather for the whole country. But I got a letter from somebody saying that I should go back to Scotland and leave the national job to the English presenters, which again, was terribly rude. Because when you're doing national weather you're doing for the whole country, you don't need to be from a specific country to do. So you have people say the strangest things, you never know what's going to come out. But as I said before, it's not maybe real to the person writing it. It's not real to you. You can look at it, read it, laugh about it and forget about it. Because it really, those kinds of comments aren't important.

 

Student Interviewers 13:23

What is your daily routine like when you're working?

 

Kirsty McCabe 13:27

if I'm doing an early shift, then the night before I get everything ready that I'm going to need the next day. So I put out the clothes I'm going to wear even my shoes, the bag, everything's ready so that when the alarm goes off, and I usually have my watch go off, so that it wakes me quietly. But then I have loads of other alarms set up as backup in case I don't wake up. And so then as soon as I wake up, I have to turn off everything, sneak out the room. Try not to wake up anyone else in the house. And it depends, before COVID I used to go into work and get hair and makeup done there. But no, I tend to do a home first because for a while nobody was allowed to do your hair and makeup. So I would do hair and makeup, and then head out to the studio very early in the morning. And then the first thing you do when you get to work is have a look at what's going on with the weather, so what's happened, what's happening, know what's going to happen next. And to do that we look at the radar or the satellite or the computer models. And then we try and build up a picture in our head of what's happening so that we know what the weather story is. And then I'll be writing things for online, I'll be creating graphics I want to use. I think usually you hit the ground running on a breakfast shift. So you very much have to get loads of things all want to be done at the same time. Most of the place I work at, Sky News or I've also disenchanted with BBC, they all need TV and radio and social media. So you're very much trying to do lots of things at once. And you're kept busy, every half hour you do another broadcast or another recording or something even frequently more frequently things in between. So basically from about six in the morning to 10/11 in the morning, you're doing regular broadcasts, sometimes even into lunchtime, and then you're done for the so that is the good thing. If you do an early shift, you usually finish by lunchtime. So that's nice, you get the rest of the day.

 

Student Interviewers 15:16

What is the average salary for a meteorologist?

 

Kirsty McCabe 15:21

It all depends on whether if you're talking about somebody that does broadcasting, or just another meteorologist, because you also get meteorologists who work for energy companies for banks, because they want to know what's happening with long range forecasts and how that's going to impact on businesses. So there's a huge range of jobs you can do. So you might start off as a junior meteorologist, only earning £30k or £40k. But as you become more senior than you could be, especially if you're on screen or in quite a high profile role, then you'll be earning maybe £80k, £90k, if not over £100,000 a year. I think the salaries can be very good if you get the job that works for you. So maybe on average, £50-60,000 would be a reasonable average taking into account that there's lots of different careers that you can follow. Usually, there might be a separate shift allowance or maybe built into the salary. So there's always the potential for meteorologists to do quite well. Because you get paid for those unsociable hours,

 

Student Interviewers 16:22

Do you have a support system, because as you've talked about how people feel entitled to give an opinion on something that's like none of their business.

 

Kirsty McCabe 16:32

My biggest support system would be my immediate friends and family who will not only love me unconditionally, and tell me to ignore all the haters or anything, but they will also be honest with me if I need feedback. But most organisations I've worked with have actually official places where you can get support. Sky, for example, have a good service where if you need any mental help or support, you can contact somebody absolutely confidentially, you don't need to tell your boss or anything so that you can get the help you need. So there are a lot more systems in place now than when I first started out, because your mental health is so important, and will keep you doing the job.

 

Student Interviewers 17:10

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to pursue this career?

 

Kirsty McCabe 17:13

I think you have to work very hard at the start, you have to enjoy it. I think if you have a passion, and whether that's for meteorology, or anything, if you have a passion for something, then that will show and you will do your job well. And people will want you to do the job and progress you through that career. So you have to find something you're passionate about. And I'm passionate about the weather. So if you want to do meteorology, hopefully you would also be passionate about the weather, you need to do the ground work, you need to, I think really helps if you know what you're talking about. So you need to get the qualifications. Because there are times when you're on air when the graphics fail, there’s absolutely nothing there. But you've got two minutes to chat. So you need to know what you're talking about in order to talk about something if there's no script, there's no graphics, there's nothing there, then you need to be able to know your stuff. But I also think you have a Plan B and that your career that you think you might have might not work out. You might turn out that you try it and you do it. But actually you hate television, it's nerve racking, and you're not enjoying it. So you need to think well, what else could I do instead? Do you see in meteorology? Do you like radio? Or is that also too much? Do you prefer producing or being more behind the scenes? Do you want to go work for a company. So there's other options. Or maybe you think, actually, you know what I want to teach meteorology, I want to do something that side of things. So I think the most important thing you do whatever you want to do in life is always have your Plan B there because it never turns out the way you expect it to. So make sure you've got the qualifications to do what you'd like to do. But then also have a few ideas up your sleeve of what you might do in case you can't do what it is you want to do in the first place. And you might find you actually prefer the other stuff more.

 

Student Interviewers 18:49

If you would do anything different. What would it be? And why?

 

Kirsty McCabe 18:53

I think one of the things when you first start out is you put a lot of effort into your career and your job. And I think when you look back at it now, that actually that's not the most important thing. I think we all need to remember that work life balance and that you don't live to work you work to live. When you first start out. If somebody needs to shift coverage, you're always going to go Yes, I'll do it. I'll do it. And you're maybe putting your physical and mental health at risk. I think you need to learn to say no a bit more. So probably start, if I did all over again, I'd probably say no, a lot more. Maybe that wouldn't go down so well. But I think hindsight is a great thing. I think I now know where I'd be firmer and where maybe I'd be like sure that's fine. But I think you have to always be true to yourself. And if you don't, if something's not right for you, then you have to be able to find a way to not do it and hopefully not let people down. But looking after yourself as a priority and time with friends and family is also a priority. When I first started working I was doing so many weekends that I missed out on so many social occasions with friends, and each one on their own is maybe not important. But the cumulative effect of missing so many social events is you can start to feel a bit lonely. So I think it's finding that balance with everything's important. 

 

Student Interviewers 20:08

Do you get recognised when you go out?

 

Kirsty McCabe 20:10

Not often, but I do have, I think a face that seems vaguely familiar. And so occasionally people say, I think I know you and I just tend to go, maybe it's, you don't want to see Oh, yeah. So I tend not to tell people, unless they asked me what I do, I wouldn't say what I do. But I do always get asked for directions. Even if it's abroad somewhere I don't know, I always seem to be stopped in the street and asked for directions. And I don't know whether I just one of those faces that either look confident where I am or friendly enough to approach and I think that's quite often the look off somebody that has weather on TV, we're not super glamorous, but we're quite friendly and approachable. So I always get asked for directions. So maybe that's people recognising me, I don't know. I do get a lot of weird moments of ever get a taxi somewhere. And taxi drivers always want to tell you what the weather's doing and how they got it wrong. And you sit in the back of the taxi thinking, I wonder if you know what I do? I'm just going to keep quiet on this. Just go right? Because you do get a lot of they said this and they said that, and I don't know who they are. But quite often, it's not what the meteorologists have been saying I don't know where they got the information from?

 

Student Interviewers 21:21

Did you meet any interesting people whilst at university or work? Or like when you were starting out? If so, did they influence your decision on becoming a meteorologist?

 

Kirsty McCabe 21:33

I suppose I've met lots of interesting people during work, but usually people who work in other industries. So in music or showbusiness films and things like that. I've met a lot of interesting people. I've never thought I could do their job. In terms of Meteorology, I'm not sure. I don't think I really knew anyone until I started doing the job. I paid vague attention to people on the news. I mean, he would be a bit before your time, but someone like Michael Fish everybody knew of because he had a reputation for missing a big storm that affected the UK, as well as I met people like that. But I don't know the influence my decision to do I think I was quite strong willed and I knew what I wanted to do for me, I wasn't necessarily doing it to be like anybody else.

 

Student Interviewers 22:16

You have any hobbies or interests aside from meteorology?

 

Kirsty McCabe 22:20

Yep. It's hard to fit in with, with shifts and family. But I do like to sing. So I sing in a choir. And that's every Monday and then we do concerts every so often. So that's about the only thing I managed to fit in at the moment is singing, I try and do a little bit of exercise as well maybe, if it's nice weather, then I might pop outside for a bit of a run, but I'm not very good at running. But I do try.

 

Student Interviewers 22:43

What subjects helped you achieve where you are today?

 

Kirsty McCabe 22:47

I would say the most useful things I got from school was maths and physics, without a doubt are absolutely essential to have. If you've got a good grounding in maths and physics, then you will be put off by the trickier bits with meteorology. And then the other most useful thing I learned at school was how to touch type, which sounds ridiculous. But actually I use that every day, every time I'm on a laptop and typing away sending emails or letters to people, it's so much easier being able to type fast. So it's probably one of the most useful things I ever got taught at school.

 

Student Interviewers 23:17

Has anything unexpected happen live on TV?

 

Kirsty McCabe 23:21

Yeah, quite a lot of thing. Things often go a little bit wrong. Sometimes there's, you might have a guest, and there's breakfast TV quite often seems to like to have animals in known again. So there might be a dog running loose around the studio might come up to you when you're doing the weather. Sometimes it's just a simple thing that's gone wrong. Like maybe the batteries have run out on your microphone or your earpiece. So you can't hear anything. What I get a lot in my ear is just counts, so I know when to to start talking when to stop talking. If I can't hear through my earpiece, then there's somebody in a studio called the floor manager. And they can then tell me when to start and stop. And they do that using special hand signals. And they'll stand behind the camera so that they're not visible. So that helps but then I need to find a way to tell them that I can't hear anything. So if you ever watch somebody on TV, that's going to be like tapping their ear subtly, or tapping their watch. That's usually them kind of saying I can't hear or how long have I got, there's all these little signals that we have to kind of communicate the panic that's inside that we're trying not to show. One of the things that we tend to wear when we're on TV, because often it's a full body shot for the weather, and they're going to see your feet then we'll wear maybe a pair of nice shoes, but they tend to be heels and they're not very comfortable. So I would take them off between broadcasts. And then just as I walked back into the studio, I'll pop the heels back on. And one time the main news presenter threw to the weather early. And so as I was walking into the studio with my shoes in my hand and the clicker in the other hand, I could hear my earpiece coming to the weather 10, 9, 8 and I could hear that little advert before the weather playing out and I was thinking Oh good lord, so I had to quickly get in front of the screen. And then I had to decide with the clicker that controls the weather graphics, there's a code, I have to type in to unlock that. And that would take up the rest of the time. And I wouldn't have time to put my shoes on as well. So I had to throw my shoes away, and then type in the code. And then as they came to me, I stood up on my toes, sort of balanced on the balls of my feet as much as I could, to kind of look like I had heels on. Because I was wearing nude shoes. And nobody noticed except the director who very kindly framed the shot and just got the camera to lift up just a little bit higher, so that on most news stations, they have a little ticker that runs along the bottom of the screen that has breaking news or other information on it. And so that that just covered where my shoes would have been had I been wearing any shoes, but nobody noticed. But it's, again, it's one of these things that happens. And part of the job is thinking on your feet and knowing how to cope with the unexpected.

 

Student Interviewers 25:49

Do you have any friends or family in your career? If so, do they support you? Or do they act like competition?

 

Kirsty McCabe 25:58

I would say that we're actually quite a good community as meteorologists go, there are a few that might be, there's an expression sort of elbows out. So there are a few that maybe are looking after number one, and not so concerned about the others. But you always have to remember that as you move your way up in a career, at some point, you'll reach a peak, and you're going to probably come back down again. And you're going to meet all the people in the way up the on the way down, or the people that you met on the way up, if that makes sense. So basically, as you go back down, you're going to meet all those people that you met on the way up. And if you weren't nice to them, they'll remember you. So I think you should always be nice to everyone whether they're more senior or more junior, because one day the person that’s more junior might become more senior, and then you'll be in a pickle. So always be nice to people, you never know who you're going to work with next. And also they might be able to help you. So I think there's a good community with the meteorologists, we all do tend to know each other and help each other out. And I've worked on a few different places now. So I always seem to come across people from previous places where I moved to somewhere else, and vice versa. So there's a few that aren't so nice. But I'd say on the whole, I found some very good friends for life through working in meteorology. It's a bit of a sisterhood with a few brothers in there as well.

 

Student Interviewers 27:09

What university or college did you go to?

 

Kirsty McCabe 27:13

I studied Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh. So that was studying more the earthquakes and volcanoes and how our planet works. And then after that I spent a summer at NASA, I went to NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre. And I did an internship with them, looking at the croastal structure off the coast of Australia and the Philippines trying to analyse that using satellite data. And then I went to the University of Oxford, where I looked more into research into environmental magnetism. And then it's while I was there, I saw the advert for a New Scientist magazine, where they were looking for somebody just to come for the summer, to learn how to be a sub editor. And I thought why really, that sounds interesting. And so I went to go there for a summer and then stayed there for four years because I really enjoyed it. So in terms of universities, I was at Edinburgh, then Oxford, then I've worked at so many exciting places like NASA, New Scientist. And then through the weather side of things. I started off at the BBC Weather Centre, but I was actually employed by the Met Office, I've worked for the Met Office, the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Sky, the Weather Channel when they were based in the UK, as well. So I've been really lucky to have worked for some amazing places. I now also work for the Royal Meteorological Society. And for Metro Weather, which is a New Zealand Company as well. So I'm kept pretty busy. But everything's about weather. And I don't think I'll ever get bored of talking about it.

 

Student Interviewers 28:40

Can you recommend any resources for girls who would like to do stuff in meteorology?

 

Kirsty McCabe 28:46

There's actually a really good online course that you can do. It's called Come Rain Or Shine. And if you have a quick google for that, a quick search for Come Rain Or Shine, then you can actually do some sort of introductions to meteorology. And you can learn about synoptic pressure charts, about cold fronts and warm fronts and how our atmosphere works. So that's quite a really good sort of introduction to how the weather works. Probably the best way to do if you are interested in being a weather presenter is to watch other people do it. So watch the weather on as many different channels as you can, listen to it on the radio and see how people do it and think about how you would do it. How would you tell the weather story?

 

Outro 29:27

Thank you for joining another STEM Untapped podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, then subscribe for free on your podcast app. You can follow us on Instagram @stemuntapped. if you know of a school or group of students who would like to interview female role models to get in touch. Likewise, if you know of anyone who would be a great female or non-binary STEM role model please let us know. More details are all documented in the show notes.