Former BBC weather presenter and Scottish science ambassador Heather Reid is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glasgow.

The 40-year-old, who became popularly known as Heather the Weather during her 15-year career working on BBC Scotland’s flagship Reporting Scotland programme, will receive the degree Doctor of the University for her services promoting science and technology in schools.

Heather studied physics at the University of Edinburgh before joining the Met Office first as a researcher and then a forecaster. In 1994, she became BBC Scotland's weather forecaster.

She was the chairman of the Institute of Physics in Scotland from 1999-2001 and from 2001-2002 worked as a staff scientist at the Glasgow Science Centre where she is currently a trustee.

In 2006, Heather was awarded an OBE for services to physics and has been an honorary lecturer in the subject at the University of Glasgow since 2002.

Heather, who presented the weather on BBC Scotland for the final time on December 22 last year, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being an honorary physicslecturer at the University of Glasgow for the past eight years and it is a tremendous privilege to be awarded with a doctorate for my work promoting science and technology.”

The University of Glasgow will also award four world-renowned academics – Professor Alain Aspect, Dr David Stirling, Dr Andrew Taylor OBE and Professor Zihe Rao – with honorary Doctor of Science degrees this summer.

Professor Aspect from L’Institut d’optique in France will be awarded his doctorate in recognition of the major contribution he has made to quantum and atom optics.

Glasgow-born Dr Stirling is the founder of one of the first successful biotechnology companies, Celgene Corporation, which has a current market capitalisation of £15 billion. He is currently the chief executive of BioTheryx in the US and will receive his doctorate in recognition of the contribution he has made to biotechnology.

Dr Taylor, who graduated in natural philosophy and chemistry from the University of Glasgow in 1972, is currently the Director of the ISIS research facility in Oxford and will receive his honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to chemistry and physics.

Professor Rao, President of Nankai University, is a renowned molecular biophysicist and structural biologist in China. He will receive his honorary doctorate in recognition of the major contribution he has made to science and higher education.

Graham Caie, Clerk of Senate and Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted to recognise Heather Reid for her contribution in promoting science and technology to thousands of people across Scotland and further afield.

“It is also a privilege to be able to honour four distinguished and influential scientists in Professor Aspect, Dr Stirling, Dr Taylor and Professor Rao, who have made a huge contribution in their own professions and beyond.”

The quintet will receive their honorary doctorates at ceremonies in the Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow in June and July.

For more information contact Nic White in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535 or email n.white@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 21 April 2010

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