Graduates return to campus

Ten of our geography, environmental sciences and biology graduates recently returned to campus to talk to current students about graduate careers.

Our lovely graduates!

The session was held as part of a series of careers-related events.

It was great to see the progress made by our recent graduates in their chosen careers.

The graduates spoke with groups of first, second and third year students about their job, career opportunities in their sector, and recruitment processes.

The session provided lots of opportunities for current students to ask questions.

A wide range of job roles and industries were represented, including the Met Office, Environment Agency, BIFFA, Chartered Institute of Waste Management, RPS Group, Olive Communications, Project Centre, local government and GIS.

Dr Terry Tudor visits the University of Brescia

Dr Terry Tudor reports on his recent visit to the University of Brescia...

I’ve just spent an enjoyable week at the annual summer school by the CeTAmb LAB at the University of Brescia, in Italy. This year, the summer school looked at issues related to water, sanitation and waste management, primarily focused on developing countries. So very much about an integrated approach to the manner in which we address some of our key environmental and health issues, as outlined by Silvio, Daniele and Andrea.

The University of Brescia

On the final day, there were a number of really interesting projects outlined by the participants, that they are currently working on. These included sustainable waste management in Bolivia by Navarro Ferronato, as well as Domenico Vitiello’s agricultural project, for which by the way, he is seeking funding and partners. Certainly, two very worthwhile initiatives.

Also, this week at the University of Brescia, there was a workshop on Industria 4.0, facilitating the digitilisation of manufacturing industry. This very well attended event was hosted by the Laboratorio RISE which is a leading research centre in the field of utilising innovation and circular business models for resource management.

The summer school is open to students from all countries and there is some financial support available for those that wish to attend. If you require more information please feel free to contact me.

Dr Terry Tudor
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
University of Northampton
terry.tudor@northampton.ac.uk

Waste Management student undertakes work shadowing placement at SRCL

Final year Waste Management student, Stephen Anuge, recently undertook a work shadowing placement with SRCL.  SRCL is a leading healthcare waste services provider. The placement was organised by Dr Terry Tudor, a Senior Lecturer in Waste Management.

Read all about Stephen's work placement here.

Read more about Dr Terry Tudor's work supporting student employability here.

Professor Margaret Bates inaugurated as new President of Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

Last week Prof Margaret Bates was inaugurated as the new President of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.

Full details of the event can be found here.

What is in a waste expert's rubbish bin?

Prof Margaret Bates recently allowed the BBC to review what went in her waste bin.  Read about what they found here...

Third year Geographers learn about food waste

Third year Urban Geography students have been reflecting on their personal food waste. This relates to academic work carried out under the theme of Food and the City. Before visiting Elsie’s Café – Northampton’s RealJunk Food Project, Mr. Andy Fox, a volunteer at Elsie’s, visited the group and gave a talk on how the project works, and why it came into being. Then, the students visited the café on Charles St where they had the opportunity to sample the food and find out more about where the food comes from.

Students at Elsie's Café

 

Elsie’s Café is one of a network of over 150 such projects worldwide. Surplus, out of date food, items passed their sell by date, items in broken packaging etc. are donated from a variety of sources including supermarkets, restaurants, shops and allotments. Diners pay what they feel (#PAYF) is appropriate for their meal, money which finances the running of the kitchen and the café itself. There are now over 100 volunteers involved and the café is so busy now that they are looking for more volunteers to fill specific posts such as café manager/organiser. The project instigator Shena Cooper is looking forward to developing further links with the University. A big thank you to Elsie’s café for a very warm welcome and for sharing food and drinks with us – we’ll be back!

For further details see:

http://www.elsiescaftrjfp.org.uk/

http://therealjunkfoodproject.org

twitter: @elsie_caf

If you would like to get involved see:

contact@elsiescaftrjfp.org.uk

Research finds that England is unlikely to meet recycling targets

Academics from the School of Science and Technology at the University of Northampton, have had a paper published in Resources, Conservation and Recycling – a high impact, internationally peer-reviewed journal.

The paper entitled ‘Strategies for local authorities to achieve the EU 2020 50% recycling, reuse and composting target: a case study of England’, is based on the dissertation of a former MSc Wastes Management student, Steve Waite. Dr Terry Tudor, Paul Cox and Steve used a representative sample of 48 local authorities in England, and concluded that it was unlikely that the country would meet the 2020 target, as set out by the European Union’s Waste Framework Directive. 

Dr Terry Tudor, a senior lecturer in Waste Management at the University of Northampton, commented:

“Our paper outlines the reasons why England is unlikely to meet the target and makes recommendations for improvement. The findings have significant implications – not only for England, but for the other Member States in the EU. This is just one example of the work being done by academics and students within our department to develop strategies to address key environmental management issue, in the UK and also globally.” 

A free copy of the article which was published in the journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling can be downloaded from the link below until December 18:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092134491530094X

Academic invited to sit on European Commission's Waste Management Technical Working Group

Dr Terry Tudor, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Science and Technology has been invited to be one of the experts on the European Commission’s (EC) Waste Management Technical Working Group.
 

Dr Terry Tudor

The Group, which will sit within the EC’s Joint Research Centre, will develop an Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) document for the waste management sector in the EU. The initial meeting will take place in Leuven, Belgium at the end of September 2015. It is anticipated that the document should be ready by the end of 2016.

Professor visits Zambia to develop schemes to deal with electronic waste

Professor Margaret Bates recently visited Zambia, representing the International Solid Waste Association as an expert in the field of electronic waste ('e waste').

Margaret toured a range of waste sites in Choma looking at dumping and burning.  Working with other European experts and colleagues in Choma, Margaret used the information collected to help develop a master plan to deal with e waste in the district.

At the end of the successful visit Margaret took the chance to visit the Victoria Falls and a national park.

Victoria Falls

Wildlife at the national park

Margaret has a busy few months ahead.  She will be visiting Brazil, Uganda and the Ivory Coast to provide expert advice on other waste management issues.

Opportunities at the University of Brescia, Italy

Dr Terry Tudor, a senior lecturer in wastes management within the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, recently spent a month as a visiting professor at the University of Brescia. Brescia is located in northern Italy, in the Lombardy region.

Brescia, northern Italy

During his time there, Dr Tudor delivered seminars on environmental management, led a one day session during the summer school, as well as undertaking research and supervision of various undergraduate and postgraduate students. In late Autumn, Prof Mentore Vaccari will be visiting the University of Northampton to deliver lectures and seminars on waste management and contaminated land.

Over the past two years, there has been a strong link built between the two institutions in the area of environmental management, in terms of teaching and learning activities, as well as research. As a result of this collaboration, there are good opportunities for students to visit the University of Brescia (e.g. through Erasmus), to either to undertake study, or research.

For more information about the collaboration or opportunities, please contact Dr Terry Tudor terry.tudor@northampton.ac.uk