Category: Ecology and conservation

waterfront with rotting boats and eroded docks

Brighton marine expert warns of rising waterway pollution risks

Are you passionate about protecting our planet and tackling environmental challenges? At the University of Brighton, you’ll learn from leading experts who are shaping real-world solutions.

Marine pollution is becoming an urgent environmental challenge, and Brighton-based expert Dr Corina Ciocan is leading the conversation. Featured on national and regional television, Dr Ciocan has raised awareness of the growing threats posed by plastics and abandoned vessels in UK waterways.

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Shropshire landscape at the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve, England, UK

First steps into the wild: Year one ecology field trip to Preston Montford

Starting university is a big moment and at the University of Brighton, students on our Ecology and Conservation BSc(Hons) course, kick off their journey with boots on the ground and binoculars in hand.

The first-year field trip to FSC Preston Montford is more than just an introduction to ecological fieldwork, it’s a chance to build friendships, explore nature, and begin developing the skills that will shape your future career.

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Group shot of students in safari holding samples

From field to future: How Brighton’s South Africa trip boosts careers in Ecology

“I have learnt so much so quickly in a short period of time, it has made everything I have learnt far more clear.” – second year student

If you’re considering a career in ecology, conservation, or environmental science, the Ecology and Conservation BSc (Hons) at the University of Brighton offers more than just academic excellence – it offers real-world experience that sets you apart in the job market.

One of the most impactful opportunities is the second-year field trip to South Africa, where students spend 12 days at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve applying ecological theory in a dynamic, international setting.

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talk poster Remanufacturing: The ultimate pathway for a circular economy

Remanufacturing: The ultimate pathway for a circular economy

Inaugural lecture from Professor Yan Wang

The University of Brighton’s public lecture series continues this autumn with thought-provoking, educational talks from leading academics. 

Yan Wang, Professor of Circular Manufacturing, will be unveiling the secrets of remanufacturing as a powerful pathway to improve sustainability and protect the planet. She will demonstrate how restoring end-of-life products can provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to producing new products, and even recycling. Join her on Thursday 4 December 2025. 

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Dr Corina Ciocan in lab

Tackling microplastic pollution in England’s rare chalk streams

Chalk streams are being impacted by microparticle pollution, according to a new study.

Fewer than 300 chalk streams exist worldwide, and England is home to most of them – but these irreplaceable habitats aren’t safe. A first-of-its-kind study on the River Itchen, by the University of Brighton and Upper Itchen Restoration Community Interest Company  (UIR CIC), has revealed tiny plastic and fibreglass particles in its headwaters, raising urgent questions about the health of one of England’s most important freshwater ecosystems.

Citizen scientists from the local community, working with researchers, detected microfibre and microparticle pollution at every site sampled in spring 2025. Microfibres – often shed from clothing – dominated the samples, while fibreglass, rarely reported in rivers, was also present, together with tyre particles from road run-off. Such contamination can disrupt the river ecosystem, posing risks to insects, fish and mammals that depend on these chalk streams.

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stork sitting in nest

Could white storks return to London? University of Brighton launches landmark public survey

Could white storks make a return to the skies in London? A new survey led by the University of Brighton and rewilding charity Citizen Zoo asks the question.

The Thoughts on Storks survey is part of an ambitious effort to explore whether these elegant birds could live and breed in the capital once again – centuries after disappearing from the UK due to hunting and habitat loss.

White storks were once native to Britain but vanished around the 15th century. Now, thanks to a successful reintroduction project led by the White Stork Project at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, wild storks have begun breeding here again for the first time in over 500 years. Sightings across Greater London are becoming more common – prompting experts to ask: could the capital be their next home?

That’s the question driving an innovative new project led by Dr Rachel White from the University of Brighton’s School of Applied Sciences, exploring whether the capital’s urban landscape could support these iconic birds, just as other European cities have done. It asks residents and visitors to share their thoughts on storks, their knowledge of the species, and how they feel about sharing the city with more wildlife. 

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Three young teens stood on Brighton pier on a sunny day looking out to sea.

University unveils extra financial support for students applying through Clearing with Brighton Summer Boost initiative

For the first time, the University of Brighton is extending its Brighton Boost financial support initiative to students applying through Clearing in 2025 – helping to remove barriers and create opportunities for those who may have thought university was beyond their reach.

The Brighton Summer Boost package has been introduced to make sure that students applying through Clearing and who need extra support to start university aren’t left behind. It’s the first time that the university has offered dedicated financial assistance during the Clearing period – which opens on 1 July 2025 ready for students to start their course in September – providing targeted help to ensure every applicant who needs it can start university with confidence.

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Andy with copies of his new book

Brighton lecturer’s new book reveals the hidden universe living beneath our feet

A newly released book takes us on a microscopic safari featuring weird and wonderful creatures shows why the humble Moss plant could hold the key to major scientific breakthroughs.

What if the greatest wildlife safari on the planet wasn’t across continents, but on your doorstep? In his curiosity-fuelled new book “Moss Safari: Exploring the secret life in moss”, Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt, takes readers into the fascinating microscopic world of everyday moss.

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top view of swimming pool

Pioneering new project explores inclusive open water swimming with visually impaired community

A groundbreaking project is supporting visually impaired people across Sussex to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of open water swimming.

Led by researcher Sadie Rockliffe from the university’s School of Business and Law, the project focuses on making blue spaces, such as seas, lakes, and pools, more welcoming and accessible to people with sight loss.

While outdoor swimming is increasingly recognised for its health and wellbeing benefits, many blue spaces remain inaccessible to people with visual impairments. Often designed with sightedness as the default, these environments can overlook the importance of other senses, such as touch, sound, rhythm, and temperature, which are essential for many swimmers, with or without sight.

Sadie’s research project challenges this sight-centred approach by exploring how people with visual impairments connect with water through their other senses – and by working directly with participants to reimagine these environments as more inclusive, community-focused, and responsive to diverse sensory experiences.

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