Emilia Sindila shares how the RMetS Legacies Fund enabled her to present a poster based on a chapter of her PhD research at The Royal Meteorological Society Early Career and Student Conference 2025.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to present a poster from a chapter of my PhD research at The Royal Meteorological Society Early Career and Student Conference 2025, which focused on solar power and weather forecasting using Neural Networks (NN) in Liverpool. My research, which took an application-based approach to forecasting, aimed to identify the most effective methods for predicting solar power and weather, with the results varying depending on NN structure and the time scale over which the forecasting was done.

The feedback and suggestions I received during the conference were not only valuable but also potentially transformative. The other conference attendees opened my eyes to aspects of my research that I had not previously considered and provided alternative approaches I could take to further develop it. This exchange of ideas has the potential to enhance the quality and impact of my work significantly, and I am excited to see how it will shape my future research.

Within the conference, I had the opportunity to meet other research students from various universities and early-career professionals who presented either orally or via poster. Each presentation was a unique and intriguing exploration of the field, offering an opportunity to broaden my knowledge in the various research areas within metrology. I was particularly interested in the presentations that examined AI applications and those given by the Met Office’s early careers team, which explored AI and new models being developed for forecasting. They shared insights into the challenges and potential of using AI in weather forecasting, which was both enlightening and inspiring.

I’m deeply grateful to the Royal Meteorological Society for the invaluable opportunity to present my work and attend the conference with the Legacy funding. This experience has been enriching, and I eagerly look forward to participating in future conferences.