The Royal Meteorological Society is pleased to be working with the Martingale Foundation through its Solve for X programme – a five-day interdisciplinary challenge designed to bring together PhD Scholars to tackle complex real-world problems in collaboration with industry and academic partners.

The Martingale Foundation supports postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to continue into research careers, helping to broaden participation in advanced STEM and ensure that talent and potential are not limited by background. Through programmes such as Solve for X, the Foundation provides Scholars with access to high-level academic environments, professional networks, and applied challenges that build confidence, experience, and career readiness in research and industry settings.

By engaging mathematics PhD Scholars directly with weather and climate science challenges, the programme also creates an important opportunity to strengthen connections between advanced mathematical training and the real-world application of climate and environmental science – supporting shared ambitions to attract and retain more diverse talent into the weather and climate sector.

Hosted at St John’s College Cambridge and delivered in partnership with the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Newton Gateway to Mathematics, Solve for X provides Scholars with the opportunity to apply advanced mathematical thinking to pressing societal and industrial challenges.

Working in interdisciplinary teams and supported by expert mentors, participants develop and pitch solutions to real-world problems, gaining valuable experience in communicating complex analysis to a range of audiences.

Ella Clarke, RMetS Head of Business Development, said:

“Supporting initiatives like Solve for X is an important part of our commitment to widening participation in weather and climate science. We want to help ensure that talented people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to access, contribute to, and thrive in the sector. By working with the Martingale Foundation, we are also able to engage highly skilled mathematics students in real-world climate challenges, strengthening the pipeline of diverse talent into the weather and climate community.”

The Challenge

As part of this year’s challenge, RMetS is contributing a climate and health-focused case study exploring the relationship between extreme heat and human health outcomes.

Using publicly available datasets, Scholars will examine how projected increases in extreme heat events could translate into future health impacts over the coming century. They will draw on the Met Office’s state-of-the-art UK climate projections and apply established methodologies from the UK Health Security Agency to estimate potential excess deaths associated with extreme heat.

A key aspect of the challenge is communication. Participants will consider how best to present their findings to different audiences, including members of the public – particularly those most vulnerable to extreme heat – and local authority policymakers responsible for planning, adaptation, and prevention. This includes carefully considering which metrics are most meaningful, how to communicate uncertainty, and how to ensure results are both accurate and actionable.

By engaging with these questions, Scholars gain insight not only into the analytical challenges of linking climate and health data, but also into the importance of effective science communication and decision-relevant framing in addressing climate risks.

The exercise reflects the broader role of RMetS in bridging research, operational science, policy, and public understanding – helping ensure that advances in weather and climate science translate into tangible benefits for society.

In addition to developing technical and analytical skills, Solve for X places strong emphasis on professional development, collaboration, and confidence-building.

The programme provides Scholars with access to networks, mentoring, and real-world experience that are particularly important in supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds as they transition into research and professional careers.

By supporting initiatives like Solve for X, RMetS continues to champion both the application of mathematical and climate science to real-world challenges, and the development of a more inclusive and diverse future scientific workforce.