My PhD focusses on enhancing green infrastructure in the West Midlands to deliver wide-ranging benefits for humanity and the wider natural environment. By coming to Lancaster, I was able to acquire the skillset required to work within environmental research. The flexibility provided by the Environmental Management course really caught my eye, as I could pick different optional modules to suit my needs. For example, I learnt how to conduct statistical analysis in R with Data Collection and Analysis, plus developed a firm understanding of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) from Geoinformatics.

A big part of the Master’s programme is conducting independent research through the dissertation module. I chose to work with an external partner to consider how trees can mitigate the impact of heat in small towns through the case study of Ambleside. This was really valuable to gain experience liaising with external partners, plus meant I could work on a project with real-world impact. This also had significant overlap with my PhD – solidifying my choice to pursue further study.

As a student at Lancaster, I learned how to blend empirical results with qualitative data to form convincing conclusions. The use of both quantitative and qualitative toolkits has not only made my research more effective, but also set me up for success as I enter the business world. Even more, I had the privilege of being surrounded by incredibly smart, driven people at Lancaster. The collaboration and spirited debate that I participated in on my program instilled in me the importance of teamwork and interpersonal relationships.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that Lancaster University has provided to me. I approach my work as a consultant each day knowing that my time abroad has prepared me for the challenges I will face.

I’m currently searching for PhD and employment opportunities to pursue a career in volcanology and hazard management. I attended weekly careers talks organised by the university, offering insight into future careers and what employers are looking for from candidates.

The variety of modules accessible via this degree helped me develop and gain a wide range of transferrable skills, such as coding, collaboration, and so much more. Lancaster University and the wider community have so much to offer and I cannot recommend enough to study Volcanology and the Environment here.

For my Master's project I even brought in a social science element that was unfamiliar to me. I've really benefitted from the diverse academics across my department!

After finishing my Master's degree at Lancaster, I have taken up a PhD position at Nottingham Trent University where I will be researching non-invasive monitoring of solitary bees using vibrational measurements.

I will be working to develop novel techniques to monitor the behaviours of pollinators such as the solitary leafcutter bee, using accelerometers and machine learning to produce long-term datasets of behavioural information. I can't wait to keep working in multidisciplinary research!

My first placement is in the Public Health department, giving me experience in tasks such as public consultations, report writing, community engagement and health needs assessments. I use both the knowledge and skills that I learned during my time at Lancaster in my day-to-day work, especially skills such as critical thinking and analysis. The awareness my Master's gave me of how social issues play out in varying forms on both a national and local level is crucial in local government work and the public sector more generally. My academic assessments prompted me to explore different forms of writing and often gave me the freedom to explore the topics and themes I found most interesting.

I really enjoyed studying for my Master's at Lancaster and the development it provided for my transferrable skills has been invaluable. I am not sure where I want to take my career after the Graduate Scheme but I know that my Master's helped me gain a place and I will continue to use what I have learned in any role I work in.

In terms of my academic work, I collaborated with the Fylde Council on my undergraduate dissertation which investigated the successional health of the Fylde Sand Dunes and evaluated the effectiveness of the Fylde Sand Dune Action Plan’s monitoring techniques. Furthermore, for my postgraduate dissertation, I investigated the gendered impacts of heatwaves and worked closely with Lancaster City Council. This project involved me learning about the disproportionate health impacts experienced by women during heatwaves, engaging with local women to understand their perceptions of heatwave risk and views on sustainable cooling strategies, advocating the amplification of women’s voices, and producing a heatwave risk map for the Lancaster District.

Currently, I am preparing to start working on the Local Government Association’s Impact scheme (formerly the NGDP) at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. This programme involves undertaking a number of placements within different council departments and completing a Level 7 Qualification in Management and Leadership accredited by the Chartered Management Institute.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I have been provided by Lancaster University, as well as the staff and students that have supported me throughout my academic journey. I will cherish my experiences for the rest of my life.