Dr Natalie Garrett

Areas of expertise

• Stakeholder engagement
• Project management
• Strategy development
• Science communication and outreach
• Data visualisation

Current activities

Natalie began leading a team of so-called 'Deployable Scientists' within UK Applied Science at the Met Office in August 2022. This team of staff rotate through 6-month placements working in teams across the whole of the Science profession. This gives a fantastic introduction to the incredible breadth of work undertaken by scientists at the Met Office, and gives the team a good grounding in the skills needed to further their careers. In so doing, this team helps meet organisational need through rapid deployment into priority areas. Additionally, Natalie is leading on a piece of work around the UK's National Framework for Climate Services, and has recently started a part-time secondment into the Markets directorate, to oversee delivery of key Climate Services for Local Authorities.

Natalie was the Private Secretary to the Met Office Chief Scientist (Professor Stephen Belcher) between January 2020 and October 2022. In this role, Natalie provided support in delivering the Met Office Science Programme. This included running the Chief Scientist's office, writing reports and briefs on key scientific issues, planning and delivering external review meetings, and leading the Met Office Science Communications Team. Prior to this, Natalie worked in the International Climate Services team at the Met Office.

Career background

Prior to joining the Met Office, Natalie worked as a research fellow at the University of Exeter's School of Physics. She often worked collaboratively with industrial sponsors and she specialised in advanced biophotonics, particularly applications involving nanoparticle transport in biological systems. Additionally, Natalie founded the Early Career Researcher Network at the School of Physics, helping to support early stage researchers and represent them at the College level. Natalie has a PhD and an MPhys degree both in Physics, from the University of Exeter.

Natalie is passionate about science communication and has undertaken a multitude of outreach activities in her capacity as a STEM Ambassador. In November 2015, she was voted for by school pupils from across the UK as their overall favourite to win the 'I'm a Scientist, get me out of here' outreach competition's Osmium Zone. As part of an Institute of Physics sponsored lecture tour of the South West in summer and autumn 2015, Natalie also talked about her research to over 1,500 school pupils to encourage them to consider STEM careers.  More information about the lecture tour is available here and here.