RMetS Local Centres are friendly, volunteer-led groups across the UK, bringing together anyone with an interest in weather and climate – from newcomers to seasoned professionals. 

Each Centre runs events, talks, and meet-ups designed to spark conversation, share knowledge, and connect people in their region. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, meet like-minded people, or get more involved with RMetS – our Local Centres are a great way to connect. 

We caught up with Greg Wolverson, the Committee Chair of the RMetS Scottish Local Centre, to hear more about what the Centre does, why it matters, and how anyone with an interest in weather or climate (no expertise required!) can get involved. 

For anyone who’s never heard of a Local Centre – what is the Scottish Local Centre, and who’s it for? 

GW: The Scottish Local Centre is one of a number of a volunteer-run RMetS hubs based across the UK. We run a series of events in Scotland tailored towards our members, including talks, field trips and networking events, and it is open to everyone!  

The committee also do a lot of work in the background on other projects. For example, the development of a new Education Forum to support the work of teachers within weather and climate in Scotland alongside the wider RMetS Education Committee. 

The Scottish Local Centre has a long history dating back to the founding of the Scottish Meteorological Society in 1855 before amalgamating with the Royal Meteorological Society in 1921, which is well worth reading into. 

Read more about the history of the RMetS Scottish Local Centre.

What kind of events or activities do you run, and who usually comes along? 

GW: We aim to deliver a varied programme through the year so there is something for everyone– from cutting-edge academic developments to exploring the influence of the climate on leisure activities such as gardening and mountaineering.  

The goal is to provide an active community based in Scotland for anyone with an interest in weather and the climate. 

What would you say to someone who’s curious about weather but thinks they need to be an expert to take part? 

GW: To come along and try! We have a mix of events so there should hopefully be something for everyone. Plus, we provide tea and biscuits at the start of all our talks whilst everyone has a good catch-up 😊. 

You’ve done hybrid events and hosted meetings in different locations – how has that helped reach more people across Scotland? 

GW: Developing our hybrid capability hasn’t been easy, but we think it’s really important that everyone can interact and enjoy the events however it suits them. It’s allowed people to join from all over Scotland, and even from across the world! We also record our talks, so if you are unable to attend on the day then you can always catch up afterwards. 

Whilst most of our events are based in Edinburgh, we’re making a real effort to host more events across Scotland to make it as accessible as possible for members. 

What do you enjoy most about working with your fellow volunteers? 

GW: The amount I have learned from them all – there is so much experience on the committee from a great range of backgrounds. I’m very grateful to have learned so much from them, and their incredible enthusiasm for meteorology and the Society. 

Why do you personally choose to give your time to help run the Centre? 

GW: I find the work of the Society very worthwhile, which has supported my career and professional accreditation. I have also attended some great events and met lots of interesting and inspiring people, so it is rewarding to be closely involved with the RMetS Scotland and hopefully make it worthwhile for others. 

Have there been any standout talks, events, or moments that really stuck with you or inspired you? 

GW: All of our talks and events have been fascinating and entertaining in different ways. However, we held a talk in Aberdeen early in 2025 which was our first event away from Edinburgh for several years and it was a thrill to see so many people attend and enjoy themselves. The talk that evening was a fascinating look at the science of avalanches in Scotland’s mountains, which was really engaging, and I think the audience could have kept asking questions all night! 

How do you keep things fresh, fun, and engaging year after year? 

GW: The Society ran a detailed members’ survey between 2023 and 2024 which provided useful feedback around how we run the centre in Scotland, which we have been using as a guide to what our members would like to see. We also work closely with all the staff at RMetS to share ideas and makes sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. 

But we’re always open to ideas and suggestions from members if anyone would like to get in touch at scotland@rmets.org or to speak to one of the committee members at our events. 

Are there any exciting plans or new ideas coming up for future events? 

GW: We’re trying some new venues this year to make sure our events are as comfortable and accessible as possible. There is also some work in the background to enhance the benefits of the local centres as weather and climate-focussed, community hubs. We are strengthening ties between the various local centres to make sure we can all offer exciting programmes of events and act as a local hub for all things weather and climate. 

And finally – if someone’s thinking about coming to an event but hasn’t made the leap yet… what would you say to them? 

GW: Come along and try – you’ll meet lots of like-minded people and hopefully learn something new. If you have any questions at all then feel free to contact us at scotland@rmets.org. 

Learn more about RMetS Local Centres.

Gregory Wolverson FRMetS CMet, Met Office Advisor (Civil Contingencies) 

Greg is a Civil Contingencies Advisor for the Met Office working in Scotland, which involves working closely with responders to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather. This takes him all across Scotland to assist resilience partners with training & exercising, as well as the live response to direct impacts from severe weather. 

Greg is a keen golfer in his spare time, and his claim to fame was providing the weather forecast service for the Open Championship for a number of years, which brought together two of his passions.