Category: Life at Brighton

Welcoming our first cohort of Global Fellows

The Global Fellowship Scheme provides prestigious awards to enable world-leading researchers and scholars from around the globe to spend between one and three months at the University of Brighton. During this time, they will be able to engage in productive research and build lasting collaborations.

Global Fellows will work in partnerships with University of Brighton colleagues on a joint grant application, produce a co-authored output or co-produced artefact, and share research skills and experience with researchers within our Centres of Research and Knowledge Exchange Excellence and postgraduate students.

We are looking forward to welcoming Professor Alexies Dagnino, University of Valparaiso, Chile in June, who will be collaborating with Dr Melanie Flint.

Continue reading “Welcoming our first cohort of Global Fellows” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment

Ecology and Conservation second-year fieldwork

Applied Ecology and Conservation Field Course module

As part of the second year Applied Ecology and Conservation Field Course module, we visited a range of local wildlife sites, such as the British Wildlife Centre, Waterhall, Knepp Estate, Rye Nature Reserve, Blue Reef Hastings and the Hastings Fisherman’s Protection Society. The module very well attended and the students continued to build a diverse skill set. Along the way there were some interesting talks on ecological processes as well as surveys and management experiences. Opportunities for further involvement in the form of volunteering or final year projects have also arisen and these offer excellent opportunities for employment. One of the highlights was the Knepp bird ringing day were we had the opportunity to get close to some amazing birds thanks to Penny, Josie and Dave.

Yellowhammer bird
Yellowhammer (photo: Zoe Lawson)
A bullfinch sitting on a hand
Bullfinch (photo: Zoe Lawson)

Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems module

This module introduces the principles of marine and freshwater ecology, examining a range of aquatic habitats and investigating ecosystem processes and structures. It investigates the relationships between freshwater and marine habitats and determine how one system influences the other.

The module ended on a high, with a really interesting residential field trip to Slapton Ley in Devon. The three-day field trip led by Dr Neil Crooks and Dr Anja Rott was a great success. Students engaged with a range of aquatic sampling techniques, being able to demonstrate everything they had learnt over the past year. We found ourselves in some truly beautiful locations with a range of interesting organisms being observed on every trip. The students who attended were really engaging, even becoming rather competitive as the poster presentations approached. The quality of work was high and we could not have asked for a better end to a really enjoyable module.

Dr Anja Rott collecting samples in a river
Dr Anja Rott
A Cushion Star starfish on a piece of rock
Cushion Star starfish
Students looking at samples standing on sandy river bed
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Laura RubyLeave a comment
A frog in the grass

Froglife workshop and fieldwork

In November students went along to Froglife’s ‘Discovering dew ponds: Amphibian habitat management training workshops’. These sessions were run by the wonderful Jennifer Hooper and William Johanson. Split into two sessions, the first covered amphibian ID and a habitat management theory session. This included sessions on how to identify many of the amphibian species native to the UK, such as the smooth newt, and their eggs. The students were also tasked with coming up with ideas on how to make example landscapes more amphibian-friendly.

The second session was more hands-on! Despite the heavy rain, the group worked on a pond in Stanmer Park that had been struggling to hold water. This was likely due to damage to the liner underneath, so a lot of stomping was done to compact the sediment beneath the liner to prevent any water from leaking into the sediment below. These workshops were really helpful to those studying or going on to study our final year ecological consultancy Ecological Impact Assessment module, as it gives an insight into what conditions amphibians need and what their habitats might look like.

Pond in Stanmer Park

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Field trips for first year students

Our new Geography and Environment students joined staff on a series of Exploring Brighton field trips, which introduce newcomers to the city and surrounding areas.

Field trip to the Earthship

We visited Stanmer Park at the very back of Brighton, with a guided tour around community projects & the Earthship eco- home.

Students visiting the exterior of the Earthship community project

Investigating coastal change along the South Coast

This Autumn, our Level 4 students underwent an exciting field trip to investigate coastal change along the South Coast lead by Dr. Georgios Maniatias and Dr Magda Grove. As part of the Academic Learning and Field Skills module, students created a series of beach profiles analysing grain size distribution at the National Trust’s amazing Cuckmere Haven.

Students in Cuckmere Haven
A view of the coastguard cottages in Cuckmere Haven

Exploring the politics of heritage in Hastings

Students were introduced to the politics of ‘heritage’ and struggles over the meanings and use of space in Hastings and St Leonards; coastal towns East of Brighton. Is there more to the area than 1066?

Students in Hastings Old Town
Hastings Old Town
Students in St Mary's in the Castle, Hastings
St Mary’s in the Castle, Hastings

Collecting ecological data in Ashdown Forest

Students headed to Ashdown Forest as part of the Geographies of the South Coast trip with Dr. Niall Burnside, Pete Lyons and PhD student Michael Williams. They collected ecological data on internationally threatened heathland habitats and completed an astounding 96 quadrats! The GPS data and species data will be used by the Conservators of Ashdown for further analysis.

Students surveying in Ashdown Forest
Surveying in Ashdown Forest
Students working in the heathland of Ashdown Forest
Heathland in Ashdown Forest

Marine Biology trip to Shoreham Beach

For students studying the Introduction to Marine Biology and Ecology module first year students spent a busy day at Shoreham, learning how to use the Dumpy level and build the Shoreham beach profile, while also marvelling at shark eggs and cuttlebones washed up on the shores!!

Students conducting fieldwork on Shoreham beach
Shoreham beach
Seaweed, shells and stones on Shoreham beach
Fruits of the sea

Visiting the Natural History Museum, London

At the start of December, our Level 4 Earth and Ocean System students spent a fun packed day at the Natural History Museum, London. They explored volcanoes, earthquakes and even took a brief trip through the Earth’s History!

Natural History Museum entrance hall
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Laura RubyLeave a comment
Laura Hemsley headshot

Gain skills and expertise for your career on our Town Planning postgraduate degree

Laura Hemsley graduated with distinction from our Town Planning MSc and is now working as a Town Planner at Jacobs. We caught up with Laura and found out more about what drew her to postgraduate study on our Town Planning MSc and what she loved about the course.

What were you doing before your postgraduate studies at Brighton?

I had just graduated from the University of Leeds with a BSc Degree (1st Hons) in Geological Sciences.

What made you choose Town Planning at the University of Brighton?

It is RTPI and RICS Accredited – this significantly drew me to the course as it meant once I had finished the course, I could immediately apply for a Licentiate membership – which is for graduates who have completed a fully Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)I accredited qualification. Becoming a Licentiate member of the RTPI is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Town Planner via the Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC).

The University of Brighton offered the option module of ‘Environmental Placement’ which was the best module choice on offer as it allowed students (i.e. me) to work within either a local planning authority or the private planning sector for three months (i.e. I worked within the private planning sector). This was extremely valuable as I was able to understand planning framework and legalisation policy, planning applications in a real-life examples, which gave me the expertise and skills for a future job in planning.

Continue reading “Gain skills and expertise for your career on our Town Planning postgraduate degree” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Shantel looking into microscope

My placement experience at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East

How I felt starting my placement and the advice I would give to others

My placement was in the Cellular Pathology department at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East. When I started I felt excited to have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the first two years of studying Biomedical Science BSc(Hons) in a professional clinical setting. I was keen to delve into the variety of different diagnostic tests carried out in the hospital to gain a better understanding of what a practicing biomedical scientist does. However, I felt nervous about the step up in responsibility and autonomy that comes with working in the healthcare setting. I was also worried about the amount of work that would be required to complete the registration training portfolio whilst working full time.

Continue reading “My placement experience at University Hospitals Sussex Pathology East” →

Shantel CarringtonLeave a comment
Views of Cuckmere and Seaford montage

My favourite nature spots in Brighton!

Pharmacy student Eva Martin tells us about her favourite places for walking, biking and hiking near Brighton.

One of my favourite things about living in Brighton is that we get to have it all – city, coast, and nature all in one place. Brighton is surrounded by beautiful places to go walking, biking and hiking, but I’ve selected my top two for this article so you can visit the same spots I love. Continue reading “My favourite nature spots in Brighton!” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Dr Lorna Linch head shot

Earth: Digging Deep in British Art 1781 – 2022

Earth: Digging Deep in British Art 1781-2022 is a major exhibition spanning four centuries of artwork, at the Royal West of England Academy’s (RWA) newly refurbished galleries this summer. The final instalment of the RWA’s elements series, Earth tackles the most expansive and urgent of subject matters, bringing together important modern, historical and contemporary artworks. Continue reading “Earth: Digging Deep in British Art 1781 – 2022” →

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Students wearing organ donor hoodies

Funding boost for student-led drive on minority ethnic organ donation

University of Brighton students are playing a key role in encouraging people from minority ethnic backgrounds to consider organ and blood donation.

The University of Brighton’s Donor Research Team has been awarded new funding as part of this year’s Community Investment Scheme led by NHS Blood and Transplant, which will receive £440,000 funding as part of the Government’s effort to tackle health inequalities in minority ethnic communities.

Continue reading “Funding boost for student-led drive on minority ethnic organ donation” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment