Baden Gilbert's story of how he joined the Bureau is a unique one.
After coming runner-up on Australian Survivor in 2019, he turned to meteorology and is now working as a meteorologist in the National Production Services (NPS) team in Brisbane.
What made you want to study meteorology?
Meteorology is at the triple-point of traits in a job that is important to me. It combines the application of high-level scientific and technical knowledge, work that has an impact on the day-to-day lives of the broader community, and my innate fascination with the weather itself. To go from the kid watching the weather report and wondering how it all works, to making the forecasts that go out to millions of Australians every day is something that still blows me away.
What did you love about your meteorology training?
The first 9 months of a meteorologist's career are focused on attaining the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) Basic Instruction Package in Meteorology (BIP-M). During this time, my knowledge was built from the ground up to a functional understanding of atmospheric dynamics and their effects on weather and climate. This process was something that I thoroughly enjoyed (even when it was busy!), and I cannot recommend it enough.
Tell us a bit about your work with the Bureau now. What does your day-to-day look like?
I am currently moving between two different roles in NPS. The first role is centred around using the Graphical Forecast Editor to produce forecasts for the public across the country. The team acts as the "engine room" of the forecasting process, performing routine and situation-dependent interventions to increase the quality of forecasts being produced.
The other role is focused on high seas forecasts and warnings, which are used by vessels in the ocean from Indonesia to Antarctica, as well as analysing the MSLP (Mean Sea Level Pressure) charts that are used throughout the Bureau and wider public to communicate the current state of the atmosphere.
What do you love about working at the Bureau?
That I get to think about the weather for a living, it's so cliched, but the weather is so inherently fascinating, and there's always more to learn about it.
What is one interesting thing your colleagues may not know about you?
I was runner-up on Australian Survivor in 2019, which involved a gruelling 50 days living on a beach in Fiji with very meagre supplies and brutal challenges almost every day. It's an experience that is truly unique and one that I am so thankful that I got to have.
What is your favourite weather or science fact?
The collection of all the electrons travelling through wires and cables across the world that make up the Internet together weigh about as much as a strawberry.