About

I am an environmental technician for the School of Science. My role incorporates areas of Earth sciences, environmental sustainability and conservation as well as geographical information systems.

Teaching responsibilities

I assist, demonstrate or teach on a wide range of modules for our BSc Earth Sciences, BSc Biology/Zoology, MSc Conservation Biology, MSc Environmental Assessment & Control and MSc GeoEnergy degree programmes, including:

• Academic & Practical Skills in Environmental Sciences (level 3)
• Foundations of Geoscience (level 3)
• Earth Materials (level 4)
• Field Biology (level 5)
• Understanding Life Through Data (level 5)
• Introduction to GIS & Remote Sensing (level 5)
• Elective Advanced Methods (level 6)
• Contaminated Land & Remediation (level 7)
• Global Energy Challenges (level 7)
• Subsurface Interpretation Methods (level 7)

As a qualified field first aider, I frequently assist in field visits and am skilled in many field techniques. 

I teach in the use of Digimap and demonstrate various GIS packages including Idrissi, QGIS and ArcGIS.

I assist both undergraduate and postgraduate students during their Independent Research Projects especially in relation to risk assessments, field techniques and digital communication.

Qualifications

• MSc Conservation and Land Management (distinction) - Bangor University (including independent study: 'The impact of Mob-grazing compared to set-stocking on soil quality at Glynllifon, Gwynedd')
• MSc Micropalaeontology - University College London (including independent study: 'The dating of turbiditic sequences using micropalaeontological techniques in the Sorbas Basin SE Spain')
• BSc (Hons) Geological Sciences (1st class) - Oxford Brookes University

Experience in industry

• Worked for TimeTrax (now part of PetroStrat) as a biostratigrapher and micropalaeontologist
• Carbonate petrographer for Badley Ashton and Associates Ltd
• Consultant micropalaeontologist
• Experience of working in NHS and food laboratories

International experience

I was seconded to Abu Dhabi, UAE for two years while working for Badley Ashton and Associates Ltd and stayed as a WFTGA certified tourist guide for another 14 years.

Additional interests and activities

I volunteer as a guide and custodian at the Sir Henry Jones Museum, Llangernyw, where I am also responsible for the upkeep of two large vegetable plots and help tend the cottage garden.