From the faculty…Dr Mike Byrne
Mike Byrne is a Reader and Deputy Head of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, where he leads the Climate Dynamics Lab. His work focuses on how the climate system has changed in the past and how it may evolve in the future.
Here, Mike shares insights into his teaching and work, including leading a £1.2 million research grant focused on extreme temperatures, and reflects on receiving a Philip Leverhulme Prize for his contributions to climate science.
Please introduce yourself and your role at the University.
My name is Mike Byrne, and I am a Reader in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, where I also serve as Deputy Head of School. I’m originally from Ireland and worked in the United States and Switzerland before joining the University of St Andrews in 2018.
What’s your area of teaching and/or research?
I lead the Climate Dynamics Lab at St Andrews, where we pursue research to advance our fundamental understanding of the climate system, how it has changed in the past, and how it will evolve into the future.
I teach across the School’s BSc degree programmes, including an introduction to atmospheric science for first-year students and coding and computer modelling for third-year students. I also lead the ‘Highland Fling’ residential field trip for first-year students. I am passionate about helping students develop robust quantitative scientific skills that will open up a wide range of future career opportunities.
What are your current priorities in your role?
My current priority is leading a five-year, £1.2 million research grant focused on extreme temperatures in a changing climate. Working with three postdoctoral researchers and two PhD students, we are analysing climate models and observational data, while developing new theories to better understand and predict how these high-impact weather events are evolving in a warming world.
Tell us about your proudest achievement.
The proudest achievement of my working life was receiving a Philip Leverhulme Prize for research accomplishment, including for the development of what was described as “a seminal theory explaining how land temperature and humidity respond to climate change”.
What’s the best thing about teaching at St Andrews?
Our students! They are a joy to work with: smart, ambitious, and always eager to learn.
What’s your top recommendation for families visiting their students at St Andrews? Take a stroll along the beautiful East Sands and finish with something delicious from The Cheesy Toast Shack!
This article first appeared in LINK – the newsletter for members of our Family Programme.