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.

Professor blogs about biodiversity

When lecturers aren't teaching, they spend time writing and researching.  Prof Jeff Ollerton writes a regular blog about biodiversity, in addition to academic books and papers.

Prof Jeff Ollerton

In July, for example, Jeff wrote a daily blog post throughout Pollinator Awareness Week, as well as reflecting on his work on the BBC television series 'Plant Odyssey'.

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

2016 SWIS-ISWA Competition on Sustainable Waste Management Essay

The Solid Waste Institute for Sustainability at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has introduced the 2016 SWIS-ISWA Competition on Sustainable Waste Management Essay. Undergraduate students from any country are invited to write an essay on a specific aspect of the Solid Waste Management in their own country. Between five and ten students will be awarded a scholarship to attend the ISWA-SWIS Winter School (to be held at UTA 18-29 January 2016). These scholarships have been introduced to promote the importance of sustainable waste management for developing healthy and sustainable cities. 

Further details can be found here:http://www.iswa.org/nc/events/calendar/eventdetail/show_detail/iswa-swis-winter-school-on-solid-waste-management-landfill-landfill-mining/
(closing date: 30th September 2015).

Geography student wins prize

Each year the Department awards a prize for the best Geography dissertation. The prize is awarded in memory of Dr Ken Sherwood, who was Head of Department for many years.

Stu Murray receiving the prize from Mrs Sue Sherwood

This year the prize was awarded to Stu Murray. His thesis, 'The value of the English village pub: stakeholder perceptions of community, social interaction and village identity', was work of a very high standard.  To collect data for his study, Stu spent many hours in his local pub, interviewing staff and regulars.

Celebrating student success

Each year we get to celebrate the success of our students at our Graduation ceremonies.  It was great to see so many Geography and Environmental Science students being awarded with their degrees.

Geography graduates

Lots of group photos taken!

The ceremony also provides an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the Department and the University over the course of the last year.  A short video can be found here.

Hayley and Eden looking proud!

Geography lads posing for yet *another* photo!