For a podcast from a nation obsessed with the weather, we’ve been remarkable restrained in discussing it so far. No more! We’re going full-on into weather forecasting and measurement, to discover what Lancaster can tell us about the world.
Dr James Heath, from Lancaster Environment Centre, is one of the team taking daily readings from the Hazelrigg Weather Station, which measure temperature and rainfall, and contributes to long-term Met Office records. He has always been obsessed with the weather, and recent years have brought a lot to think about in his role.
We learn about Hazelrigg’s origins; James’s family links to the Met Office – and the lack of Bill Giles and Michael Fish at mealtimes; why the way we manually measure the climate in the long-term has not changed in decades; and discover what the term ‘since records began’ when we hear about record-breaking weather events.
Find out the limits of weather stations when it comes to recording patterns beyond a small geographic area; the differences between the weather and the climate; and the changes Hazelrigg has tracked that are reflected across the globe – both for heat and for rainfall levels.
Plus, are the Norwegians – and their natural gloom – really so much better at forecasting weather in Lancaster? Is Jan always such a slacker when it comes to homework?
See links to the Hazelrigg Weather Station here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/environmental-science/facilities/
Read about the record breaking weather patterns from spring 2025 here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancaster-scientists-measure-record-breaking-spring-weather
And find out more about the lawnmower aurora incident here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37168678
Transforming Tomorrow
Sustainability is key for any business that wants to build a lasting legacy. From carbon footprints to biodiversity to modern slavery, seabeds to factory floors, everything matters.
On Transforming Tomorrow, we make the complex understandable, the theory practical, as we guide you through the ever-changing and often exciting world of sustainability in business.
Speaking to internationally renowned experts and business leaders, we uncover how to mainstream environmental, social and economic sustainability into purposeful business strategy and performance.
Whether you are leading transition in your business, want to build a corporation with a green heart or change your individual actions, or just want to know more about how space weather might affect your operations, Transforming Tomorrow is the show for you.
Hosts Jan and Paul bring insight, perspective, and not a little amount of disagreement, to all the subjects, helping you find the message among the madness.
Join us every Monday to uncover new insights and become a little more inspired that you can make a difference.
You can find transcripts for most episodes at: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/resources-for-education-and-practice/transforming-tomorrow-podcast/transcripts/
Send your questions on any of the issues we discuss in Transforming Tomorrow to [email protected] or fill in our feedback form here: https://forms.office.com/e/7Bw4rDiRDt
Find out more about the Pentland Centre and its work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/
Meet the Hosts
Professor Jan Bebbington is the Director of the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University. Jan is an expert on accounting, benchmarking (to her co-host’s annoyance), and how business and sustainability intersect.
Jan loves nature and wants to protect it – and hopes she can change the world (ideally for the better). She is also motivated to address inequality wherever it is found and especially to eliminate forced, bonded or child labour. Transforming Tomorrow is one small step on that quest.
Paul Turner is a former sports journalist who now works promoting the research activities in Lancaster University Management School – a poacher turned gamekeeper as his former colleagues would have it.
Paul has always been interested in nature and the natural environment – it comes from growing up in Cumbria – and has been a vocal proponent of the work of the Pentland Centre since joining Lancaster University. He does not like rankings and benchmarking, and is not afraid to say so.