I am working as Communication and Outreach Officer for the Our Zero Selby project. This is an exciting, community-led, susatinabiltiy project, focused on reducing the carbon emissions of Selby through various community projects.

Working as part of the Sustainability Service to capture examples of where sustainability has been embedded within University of Leeds courses and modules. This will involve interviewing staff and students across the university and making recommendations for student engagement opportunities.

Working as part of the Environmental Monitoring Team, I collected samples and environmental data, such as groundwater, surface water, landfill gas and water levels to support the Monitoring Team in maintaining permit compliance of the site. I also supported Site Characterisation work, which included identification and assessment of radioactive contamination around the site, as well as the use of GIS. During my time at LLWR/NWS I gained experience of being part of professional meetings and discussions, taking minutes, producing documents, and working remotely, all of which have allowed me to develop skills which will be crucial in future roles.

My summer placement at LLWR involved aiding the Environmental Team’s sustainability work, with particular emphasis on their Carbon Plan, internal engagement and sustainability lessons learnt from COVID-19. I also worked with the Environmental Monitoring Team to support their collection of environmental samples.

I helped Natural England survey Large Heath butterflies on the Duddon Mosses, one of the few peat bogs in the country. This further developed my surveying skills while also getting to experience this unusual habitat.