We’re excited to officially welcome our second cohort of MFC CDT students to this year’s Kick-Off Camp, a two-week residential programme held at the University of Reading from 8th to 18th September 2025. The camp was designed for the new students to get an introduction to the courses, hands-on training, and social activities to kickstart their PhD journey with MFC CDT.
Over the two weeks, students gained valuable insights from expert-led lectures and training sessions. Highlights of Week 1 (8th–12th September) include:
- Cohort Conclave by Claire Newbold
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Ocean Dynamics by Alberto Naveira Garabato (UoS)
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Programming: Data Assimilation by Alison Fowler
- Programming:Changepoint Detection by Euan McGonigle
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AI at Natural History Museum by Arianna Salili-James
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Intro to PDEs by Darryl Holm (ICL) and Michele Coti-Zelati (ICL)
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Geophysical Ocean Dynamics Seminar by David Ferreira (UoR)
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Campus tours, a visit to the Natural History Museum with private tour, and a chance to socialise
Week 2 (15th–18th September) will focus on applied skills and presentations:
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Programming: Analysing Ocean Drifters by Adam Sykulski (ICL)
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Intro to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics by Remi Tailleux & Oscar Martinez Alvarado (UoR) and Alessandro Silvano (UoS)
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Probability and Statistics by Adam Sykulski (ICL)
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Intro to Numerical Mathematics by Hilary Weller (UoR)
- Verification of Weather Forecasts by Barbara Casati
- Talk by Laura Mansfield (MPE CDT Alumni)
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Working group presentations and group photos to showcase students’ learning from the two weeks
Alongside the academic programme, the camp includes a series of social events, icebreakers, and networking opportunities to help students build connections within the cohort and the wider MFC CDT community.
The Kick-Off Camp provided a great opportunity for students to develop key skills, explore their research areas, and settle into life at the CDT. Here’s to a successful start for MFC CDT Cohort 2025!
