Welcome to the 2016 edition of the Environmental Science Newsletter from Plymouth University. This edition contains the latest on our new Environmental Science programme, an outline of our careers fair, photographs of our Graduation ceremony, edited highlights and links to our Question time event, a graduate employment focus and an account of our latest overseas research projects.

Dr Paul LuntAssociate Head of School

NEWSLETTER2016

ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCEWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

BSc Environmental Science: Focus on Science and Employability

Our exciting new module ‘Environmental Issues and Communication’ enables second year BSc Environmental Science students to develop their communication skills while exploring ‘burning’ issues such as fracking, climate change, genetically modified crops, biofuels, animal testing and nuclear power. It also provides a unique opportunity for students to improve their employability prospects by learning and applying leadership skills.

Communication and interpersonal skills are among the top 10 skills desired by graduate employers, along with motivation, initiative, negotiation, organisation, numeracy, valuing diversity, ability to adapt, working under pressure and team working (STEMNET). All of these were put to the test during a three-week long leadership course run by Education Through Expeditions (ETE) and delivered by Plymouth University ‘Explorer in Residence’ Antony Jinman and mountaineer Paul Hart. Interactive workshops provided students with the background theory and basic skills necessary to put their leadership knowledge to practice during a two-day trekking expedition over Dartmoor. Tasks included navigating a small group over sections of moorland and taking part in scenario-based exercises with Dartmoor Search & Rescue. Frequent briefing and de-briefing sessions throughout the expedition provided plenty of opportunity for reflective learning and to benefit from the immense experience of the instructors, both experienced polar and mountain explorers. Support staff provided safety backup and enabled students who could not take part in all of the physical tasks, or needed to be home overnight, to successfully complete the course.

Feedback from students has been fantastic, and the experience has already prompted some to apply for scholarships and funding to spend time abroad working on sustainability and environmental projects. Student participant Kyle Hutchens sums up the value of leadership training to him and his peers:

“Employers want a varied set of skills and experiences; it’s just not enough to obtain a standard degree anymore. This is where the Environmental Science leadership module comes in. Personally, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to gain valuable skills such as leadership and communication, of leading people over Dartmoor, along with the key concepts learned over the twelve hours of workshops, have definitely made me a more rounded and more employable individual in my eyes. I hope that others can share in the amazing experience I had, in a beautiful setting, with some fantastic people.”

Slapton Residential Fieldtrip After a few weeks making new friends and getting to grips with the programme, students are whisked away to the beautiful South Devon countryside for the Slapton residential fieldtrip. Students apply the knowledge and skills acquired so far to track carbon through the environment by measuring the quantities stored in trees and used by aquatic invertebrates on the nature reserve. A further sustainability day at Sharpham Estate reviews generation of low carbon renewable energy; students forage for and try wild foods and contemplate landscape change whilst paddling a canoe on the Dart Estuary.

This fieldtrip is a highlight of the first semester for many students and the chance to experience first-hand the diversity and interdisciplinarity of environmental science. But it’s not all work, work, work. What students also enjoy is the opportunity to get to know each other, and form the social bonds that will last throughout their degrees and beyond. And let’s not forget the staff - it’s a great chance for them to get to know students away from the campus…and show that they are ‘normal’ people too!

Malaysia Fieldtrip, Year 2 Environmental Science Students, Spring 2015 Malaysia 2015 proved as exciting as ever. In addition to the field studies, this year we hosted a mini-conference at our Fraser’s Hill research station. Deans and Heads of School from the University of Malaysia joined us to discuss collaborative research projects and hear from students about their projects. Once again, the expedition enabled the students to experience the beauty and diversity of life in the tropics and they had an amazing time. 2016 will be our 20th anniversary for the expedition and we are all looking forward to a special celebration.

The Aquatic Biodiversity & Ecosystems Conference – Liverpool 2015 led by Dr Louise Firth

The Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conference was a meeting for aquatic scientists (both marine and freshwater), led by Dr Louise Firth, with a focus on evolution, interactions and long-term change - particularly how these shape patterns of biodiversity and the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The scope was deliberately broad, encompassing natural and highly modified habitats in both marine and freshwater aquatic systems. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology were the key focus, but the meeting also catered for an interdisciplinary approach to studying and managing aquatic ecosystems, especially unravelling local and regional scale impacts from global climate driven change.

The conference was jointly hosted by the University of Southampton and Plymouth University between August 30th and September 4th 2015. Over 300 delegates from over 40 countries representing all continents came to the conference. There was a stellar line up of plenary speakers linked with the conference themes: Steve Hawkins (University of Southampton) and Brian Moss (University of Liverpool) gave a regional perspective on day 1. The “Conservation, management and policy” talks featured David Lodge (Notre Dame University) and Jake Rice (Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans) and the talks on “Global environmental change” featured Brian Helmuth (Northeastern University) and David Dudgeon (University of Hong Kong).

The prize for best student oral presentation was awarded to Rebecca Atkins (University of Georgia) and the prize for best student poster presentation went to Elizabeth Elliott (MSc Environmental Consultancy, Plymouth University).

If you would like to know more about the Malaysia fieldtrip, please see this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-1xV7yD5jY

Liam Eslick took a GoPro camera on the 2015 Malaysia fieldtrip and uploaded a compilation of his experiences, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/QCTx_XaFrpk

ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION TIME,October 2015

OUR AIM: Tackling the key environmental issues facing the globe today, our five panellists respond to searching questions set by students and staff of the BSc Environmental Science degree.

Molly Scott-Cato: A leading environmental and community activist and green economist who is the current Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South West England electoral region for the Green Party.

Maya Plass: A graduate of the BSc Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology at Plymouth University, Maya is director of Learn to Sea, a marine education centre in south Devon, and is an accomplished writer and broadcaster.

Tim Lenton: Chair in Climate Change and Earth Systems Science at the University of Exeter, Tim Lenton’s research focuses on understanding the behaviour of the Earth as a whole system. He is co-author of the book ‘Revolutions that Made the Earth’ with Andrew Watson.

Oliver Slaughter: A Stage 4 undergraduate student studying for a BSc Environmental Science at Plymouth, Oliver has taken an active role to promote environmental change at the University including work on sustainability with the Students Union, NUS and the Environment Society.

John Bull: Associate Professor and Admissions Tutor in Environmental Science and School Lead for International Recruitment where he has taught for over 40 years on all aspects of environmental problems and their solutions.

OUR PANEL

“I thought the event was really great. It made me see how relevant our course is and how important education is in learning about key environmental issues.”

“The event provided a good platform to drive home the importance and relevancy of environmental science. It was sobering and affirming.”

“I thought having a student voice was a great way to connect with the panel as it shows that people starting out in their career can speak up about the big environmental issues in the world.”

OUR AUDIENCE

See and hear the full event on YouTube at https://youtu.be/a1-iuEVR9M4EQT will be running in October 2016 and will be open to all alumni. Please email John Maskall at jmaskall@plymouth.ac.uk if you are interested in attending or acting as a panellist.

EDITED HIGHLIGHTS FROM ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS

QUESTION:“Which one environmental issue do you think should be at the top of the UK government’s priorities right now?”

Faith Jordan, Plymouth University

“Climate change……one thing we need to do urgently is to end all subsidies to fossil fuels which in the UK are subsidised five times as heavily as renewables. On a global basis, the amount of money spent subsidising fossil fuels is equivalent to that spent on healthcare.”

“By tackling climate change we can tackle a lot of other environmental issues at the same time….and we need to get science more in politics….MPs are real people…..give yours a call and talk to them about environmental issues.”

“Secondary to resolving issues about our carbon emissions we need to create an ecologically coherent network of marine conservation zones….generating habitats that are potentially more capable of withstanding the effects of climate change”

“Climate change again…..but also the other issue of pressures on the land surface from the growing population and changing dietary trends which leads to the expansion of global agricultural land and pressure on the remaining natural ecosystems.”

“It’s an absolute no brainer…….you’ve heard it from everybody - climate change is the biggest issue facing us. Our current transport system is based on nineteenth century technology. Politicians need to seriously look at developing a completely reliable alternative to the internal combustion engine.”

Molly Scott-Cato, Green MEP

Oliver Slaughter, Plymouth University

Maya Plass, Marine and Coastal Ecologist

Tim Lenton, University of Exeter

John Bull, Plymouth University

“Environmental Science is a great course for many things. To this day the things I learnt support my technical work in so many ways. In particular when it comes to communicating between the data-driven and social science-driven aspects of my work.

I had many students come and chat to me about the work PML does and about my personal work and career path. They were well prepared with questions thanks to an earlier session where they had discussed how to make the most of these sort of networking opportunities.

As is obvious from this post, I started my career journey with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science at Plymouth University. I selected modules covering current and past climate change, and the marine environment. Crucially I selected a research

project within these topics, looking at extremes of temperature and precipitation in relation to the North Atlantic Oscillation and future climate scenarios.”

Read more:

Hayley Evers-King, Marine Earth Observation Scientist, Plymouth Marine Laboratories (PML).

https://sciencesightseeingandsustenance.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/from-environmental-science-to-earth-observation/

Hayley Evers-King,Environmental Science Graduate

Environmental Science Graduation,September 2015

Many students aspire to work for an environmental NGO when they graduate, but few arrive at Plymouth University with several years’ experience in running their own charity. We are therefore delighted that Robin Johnson, founder and Director of World Conservation and Wildlife Trust (http://www.wcwtinternational.org),has chosen to study environmental science at Plymouth University.

Robin founded WCWT in 2009 while still at school in London,having recognised a lack of knowledge and awareness about environmental issues such as climate change and human impacts on the environment among his own age group. Using money raised through school fundraisers WCWT collaborated with other organisations including the WWF, Environmental Investigation Agency, and RSPB to develop projects and host events targeted at young people. Robin has also made short films aimed at educating people on issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, the most recent focusing on human impacts on oceans. This can be seen on the WCWT website or on YouTube at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVe2G8z3F-s.

Robin is clear about his ambitions for the charity while studying at Plymouth University – and beyond. A key priority is to ensure that the information on the website is constantly updated and improved, and that WCWT continue to use social media to engage young people in environmental issues. The charity already has a large following among younger members of society and an expanding portfolio of connections to schools in England. Says Robin, “I feel the best thing for WCWT is to continue to educate, and hopefully eventually be able to influence and advise ‘decision makers’ as well as the general public. It is vitally important that people, especially the ones who will be inheriting these environmental problems, know exactly what they are.”

More information about World Conservation and Wildlife Trust can be found through their website, Facebook or Twitter, or email Robin direct at robin.johnson@students.plymouth.ac.uk

Website: http://www.wcwtinternational.org/

Twitter: @SaveMarinelife

Facebook: W.C.W.T (World Conservation and Wildlife Trust)

Student News - World Conservation and Wildlife Trust

Congratulations to Gregory Wannell for winning the 2015 ISSR prise for the best honours project on a topic related to Sustainability. Gregory’s research investigated the genetic population structure of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L. 1758) across England, Wales and Brittany. He revealed, through analysis of microsatellite DNA variation gathered for the SALSEA-Merge project, the existence of five distinctive genetic populations within 35 river catchments that drain into the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. The findings were largely consistent with

previously published genetic structuring in this region and likely influenced by the geographic distance between catchments. However, clustering was also found in some areas to be independent of geographical distance. Individual assignment tests were performed on the salmon and found that 52% could correctly be assigned to a population of origin and 68% to the region of origin, with success as high as 80% in some regions. Atlantic salmon is a species of major conservation and management concern in Europe, where population abundance has declined by 66-81% over the past 40 years. The application of these findings for future conservation and management is discussed throughout.

Student Achievements - ISSR Sustainability Student Research Prizes 2015

“In September 2015 I graduated after three very enjoyable years studying for my degree in BSc (Hons) Environmental Science. At the beginning of August 2015 I started my new job as a Biogas and Water Recovery Plant Operator at Wyke Farms LTD. Wyke Farms, in Somerset, is an award winning cheddar cheese manufacturer whose goal is to become a sustainable business.

Wyke Farm has three giant digesters to break down organic waste to natural energy. We use the by-products of cheese making, farmyard manure, apple pomace from local cider mills and other waste feeds to produce electricity and gas. We use electricity to power our cheese factory and clean the biogas to send back to the national grid. Digestate is a waste product of the process rich in nitrogen, phosphate and potash which is a great fertiliser and applied back on to the fields.

We have a Water Recovery Plant that cleans the water from the cheese making process.The water is filtered through ultrafiltration membranes and then through reverse osmosisbefore it is supplied back to the factory.

My job is to run the plants, carrying chemical tests and making sure that both plants are running efficiently. The Environmental Science course set me up perfectly, providing me with knowledge of sustainable management and an experience of biological and chemical monitoring.”

James Barwick BSc (Hons)Biogas Plant and Water Recovery Plant Operator

If you are interested in finding out more aboutWyke Farms’ 100% Green Farm go online:http://www.wykefarms.com/ or arrange tovisit our Sustainable Energy Visitor Centre.

Alumni News - James Barwick, Wyke Farms

Plymouth University staff initiate Malaysia’s first marine ecological engineering projectResearchers from Plymouth University are set to play a key role in Malaysia’s first marine ecological engineering project. The British Ecological Society-funded “Eco-Engineering: design with nature” project will see the scientists, led by Dr Louise Firth (Plymouth University) and Dr Su Yin Chee (Universiti Sains Malaysia), assess how small-scale novel engineering interventions on artificial coastal structures can provide important habitat for marine organisms and enhance local biodiversity and ecosystem services. The 18-month project represents the beginning of collaboration between Plymouth University, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Aberystwyth University and the University of Southampton.

Penang Island is one of the fastest growing and most densely populated regions in Malaysia. To accommodate the burgeoning population, the local council are planning to construct two artificial islands and reclaim a large tract of land off the iconic Gurney Drive, Georgetown. The islands will be connected by bridge and will house 200,000 people and provide development opportunity for the retail and recreational sectors. The islands have attracted much negative criticism from locals and environmental groups alike, due to the potential negative environmental impacts.

The project will trial a number of small-scale ecological engineering experiments on existing artificial structures to investigate the efficacy of these techniques in the region. In September 2015, Louise visited Penang to oversee the drilling of artificial rock pools - this is the first ecological engineering experiment to be initiated in Malaysia. If results are positive the goal is to scale up and team up with a range of scientists and engineers to consider large-scale approaches for the artificial islands.

The drilling of artificial rock pools on the newly constructed rock revetment at Karpal Singh Drive.

“Embracing” the international exchanges aspect of the project at Straits Quay!

Congratulations to Nichola Ciera who has successfully secured an internship with the United Nations Environmental Programme - Great Apes Survival Partnership (UNEP - GRASP) at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Nichola, who has dual British-Kenyan citizenship, completed her degree in BSc Environmental Science in 2015. During her BSc studies Nichola took part in field expeditions to Malaysia, Italy and Kenya. Nichola’s internship will be for 6 months during which she will be focussing on sustainable development projects. Nichola was very grateful for her time at Plymouth where she carried out her final year project on Primate feeding behaviour and is looking forward to her first project with UNEP, investigating the impacts of palm oil on biodiversity in Africa and Asia.

Alumni News - Great Apes Survival Partnership

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Dr Alison Turner returned to Plymouth in September 2015, following two years in Australia where she worked as an environmental and engineering consultancy with Golder Associates. Alison was based in Perth, advising on the environmental management of mining projects in Australia and Asia. Alison specializes in water quality issues arising from acidic and metalliferous drainage (AMD) and used her expertise to provide advice on environmental impacts and corporate risk.

Alison completed her PhD at Plymouth in 2011 in analytical geochemistry and GIS-based risk assessment, describing herself as an (all-singing, all-dancing) Environmental Geochemist. Alison adds to our considerable research expertise in the mining sector and will provide supervisory support to our final year students who are interested in evaluating legacy and current activity in the south west. Alison is pleased to be back and looking forward to working with new students and old friends.

New Lecturer on the Extended Science program

The recent Environmental Science Careers Fair provided our students with a range of employer presentations and networking opportunities, providing real insights into their working roles, how they gained their first positions, career progression and essential advice as to how undergraduates may enhance their employability. The fair was very well received by the students, with many commenting how it gave them key employer information, a realistic job profile and the contacts to pursue such opportunities

“Employability. The one word (other than deadline) that strikes fear into the heart of a modern university student. With tens of thousands graduating from university each year, the graduate job market is inundated with unemployed students. Employers want a varied set of skills and experiences, it’s just not enough to obtain a standard degree anymore. This is where the Environmental Science and leadership module comes in. Personally, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to gain valuable skills such as leadership, good communication and improve my scientific knowledge. Part of this module involved a trek across Dartmoor, where we were split into small groups and took it in turns to lead our group across the huge expanse of National Park. This experience vastly improved my fieldwork and teamwork skills, and the key concepts I have learnt over the 12 hours of workshops have definitely made me a more rounded and more employable individual in my eyes. Funding for this project is vital to support future graduates, but can be hard to obtain. However, I hope that others can share the amazing experience I had in such a beautiful setting, with some fantastic people.”

Environmental Science Careers Fair 2015

Kyle Hutchens, Stage 2 Environmental Science Student