3-4pm Coffee - Change of Room

Hi All

The Dean has arranged for E402 to be refurbished and has advised that the room may be out of use for up to two months from Jan 2011.  The Wednesday 3-4pm MSc coffee slot will therefore move to E324 for the whole of Jan and Feb 2012.

There is however one week where we cannot use E324 either, because of an existing booking: Wednesday 15th February. For this week, we will be in E433. We should get back use of E402 at the end of February/beginning of March (fingers crossed !).

Mark

REMINDER: Library Infoskills session

REMINDER

Hi all,

If you did NOT attend the original Library Infoskills session during the induction day back in September then you MUST attend the duplicate session running THIS WEEK. It is compulsory for all PG students to attend such a session and will greatly improve the quality of your literature searching and citation.

The session will run on WEDNESDAY 7th December from 11am – 12pm in room C1.02.

The session is being presented by Mrs Liz Peet - Library Staff
Those of you who attended the original session back in September (on the original day of induction) are also welcome to attend if you need a refresher...but for you it is optional.

Thanks
Mark

EGS Seminar: Tuesday, 6th December 2011

Tuesday 06th December, E34, John Dalton East Building, from 1.00-2.00 pm.

Sandwiches, coffee and tea are available from 12.30 pm in room E402.
If you would like to chat informally with the speaker before the seminar, please contact this week’s host, Cathy Delaney.

Glacial Sediments under the Microscope: A Small Method for Big Questions


Dr Simon Carr


Queen Mary, University of London

In the past 30 years, it has become evident that deformable materials beneath glaciers and ice sheets have exerted a fundamental control over their extent, behaviour and dynamics. Within a wider context in which we increasingly view glaciers as an unstable and highly sensitive component of the global climate system, the deformable bed model has defined a paradigm in which glaciers are seen as complex, rapidly evolving systems. Although the deforming bed model of glacier dynamics has been generally accepted, and often invoked to explain key glacier flow and dynamic behaviour, the evidence used to illustrate processes operating at the glacier bed is incredibly sparse and ambiguous. This is because many of the sediments deformed and deposited beneath glaciers look structureless at the macroscopic scale. As such, application of the deforming bed model of glacier dynamics is often built on speculative and somewhat tenuous interpretations of limited sediment data.
Whilst many glacial sediments look structureless at a macroscopic scale, when examined at relatively low magnifications using optical or electron microscopes, they preserve a wide range of structures and characteristics. These structures reflect that all subglacially-transported sediments preserve a host of evidence of different forms of deformation. In this seminar, I will demonstrate the way in which micro-scale approaches have been applied to understand the nature and significance of glacial sediments in two and three (and perhaps even four) dimensions. I will argue that micro-scale methods such as these are currently the only way in which key questions of the stability and sensitivity of glaciers to climate change may be adequately answered.

AVIATION SHORT COURSE/CONFERENCE

Hi All,

Callum has confirmed the start is 9-9.30 Monday in E0.05.

The latest timetable of events can be downloaded >HERE<
All are welcome

Mark

UPDATE:
If you are having problems getting past the swipe-entry security door on the ground floor.

If you go to the reception in entrance to the John Dalton Building, they will let you in. Or call Jane Walkington-Ellis the CATE administrator on 3654.

28th November Workshop

This is the list of people who want to participate at the Workshop ECC-EMSD- MSB:

http://egsmasters.blogspot.com/2011/10/sustainable-aviation-short-course.html

1.Eman Hussain

2.Hameed Ayodele Abdulrazak

3.Alex Allen

4.Lucy Barret

5.Jodie House

6.Marian Oprea

Sorry for the late notice.

Marian Oprea

Workshop: Introduction to Endnote web

This workshop - an introduction to Endnote Web - is run by the library and is open to academic staff, researchers and postgraduate students.

EndNote Web is a web based bibliographic management software package that will help you to organise and manage your bibliographic references and create bibliographies easily and automatically. If you're engaged in a large-scale research project then Endnote Web offers practical solutions to managing all your references.

As well as working through exercises to familiarise you with EndNote Web, we will also look at the full, on campus version of EndNote.

Session date: Monday 19th December 2011

Location: John Dalton, C1.02
Time: 10.30 - 13.00

If you would like to book a place then please email Liz Peet, e.peet@mmu.ac.uk Further details about EndNote Web and EndNote can be found at:

http://www.library.mmu.ac.uk/eresource/endnote.php

Liz Peet,

Senior Assistant Librarian

Wednesday 30th and strike action

Hi All,

As mentioned in coffee this week.....there will be some staff missing next week due to industrial action. Some staff (Ros) have already provided a solution for their units...others should have material up on Moodle for you to access.

Dr Judi Barrett has assured me that she WILL be giving the introductory lecture for

EG7517 : Air, Water and Land: Science and Policy at 1pm in E422.

Apologies..and everything should be back to normal the following week.

Mark

Important Message from Liz Price

Dear Students

A reminder.... that if exceptional factors affect any assessments, you MUST submit evidence in a timely fashion – i.e. before or just after the assessment deadline. The dates on the evidence must tally with the dates of assessments affected.

Many thanks!

Best wishes,
Liz

IMPORTANT: Message from Ros Howell

Important announcement for all students taking EG7518 The Sustainable City. It has been agreed that the first session will now take place a week earlier than previously published. This is due to the likelihood of industrial action on 30th November.


The first session will now take place on 23rd November, 1.00 – 3.00, in E221.
Please let me know if this causes anyone any problems.

The rest of the sessions are as published in the teaching scheme, there will however be no class on 30th November for this unit. I am currently trying to set up the moodle area and ensure you all have access to it.

All the Best,
Ros Howell
(Unit Co-ordinator: The Sustainable City)

Attention: Outgoing MSc Students

To those students who are awaiting news of their MSc dissertation after this week's Board of Examiners meeting.....please be patient and don't harass your supervisor for marks. It is a serious disciplinary offence for a member of staff to divulge marks and outcomes BEFORE the Board of Examiner meeting (which takes place this Friday 18th). You will receive a letter notifying you of the outcome next week.

Thanks
Mark

EG7515 - Message from Ros (also posted on Moodle)

Dear EG7515 students,

I am sorry about any confusion and problems regarding Assignment 2. First, can I confirm that the deadline is November 18th.

I will put an announcement on moodle which you will receive by e-mail when marks and feedback are available, I expect this to be first thing on Tuesday morning. Then, if you e-mail me, I will send you a mark and feedback comments.

I will give you feedback in class on Wednesday, although I apologise for the timing of this and realise it is very close to the deadline for Assignment 2.

Regards,

Ros

Attention: 'ECC' EMSD students

Hi,

Those of you readying your ECC-Themed posters for the special EG7533a unit. Please remember to put your name and student ID number clearly on the poster....for the additional marking staff and external examiner who don't know who you are.

Thanks
Mark

Library Infoskills Session

Hi all,

If you did NOT attend the original Library Infoskills session during the induction day back in September then you MUST attend the duplicate session running in December. It is compulsory for all PG students to attend such a session and will greatly improve the quality of your literature searching and citation.
The session will run on WEDNESDAY 7^th December from 11am – 12pm in room C1.02.

Those of you who attended the original session back in September (on the original day of induction) are also welcome to attend if you need a refresher...but for you it is optional.

Thanks
Mark

Attention: 'ECC' students taking EMSD

This is a message for those students who are taking the special ECC flavour of EMSD (i.e. doing EG7533a):
The date and time of your Poster Presentation (Assignment 2) is: Wednesday 23rd November at 10am. The venue is the 'Street' (Chester Street entrance corridor and foyer). There will be poster boards available and I will bring drawing pins at about 9:45am. The marking session should last no more than an hour. You do not need to submit anything via the CRO bins...the poster will be collected by me at the end. Please note that if you do not attend - and have no Exceptional Factors by way of an excuse, you will be awarded zero!

thanks
Mark

SUSTAINABLE AVIATION SHORT COURSE

SUSTAINABLE AVIATION SHORT COURSE

November 28^th – December 2^nd 2011
E0.05 John Dalton

BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT (FREE for MSc students !!)

Contact Mark Cresswell (M.Cresswell@mmu.ac.uk ) or by contacting Tash Campbell in CATE ( N.campbell@mmu.ac.uk, 247-6244

 In keeping with tradition we will be delivering the teaching element of the MSc Sustainable Aviation as a short course that will be help during the week November 28^th – December 2^nd.

The programme for the week will be handed out on wednesday.

Please note that the week is split into halves:

Environmental Management at Airports

Sustainability and the Air Transport System

Internal speakers are all internationally recognised for their expertise in the field:

 Professor David Raper is has co-authored two books and over 60 scientific papers on aviation/environment issues. His particular areas of expertise include aviation sustainability, environmental constraints at airports, the impact of local air quality at airports and aircraft emissions. David was appointed by the UK Government to Chair a Committee tasked with determining best practice for assessing the air quality impacts of Heathrow Airport. He has worked for many airports across the UK including Heathrow, Manchester, East Midlands, Bristol and Birmingham. He has been advisor to Oslo Airport, to the Airports Council International WORLD Standing Committees on Environment, to the UK Government Department for Transport. He is on the steering committee or management group of a number of EU projects and expert advisory groups such as XNoise, ECATS, AERONET. David was a lead author of the 1999 IPCC report on aviation and climate change.

Professor David Lee is the Director of CATE, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Fellow of the Royal Metrological Society. He holds a PhD in atmospheric science from Manchester Metropolitan University and spent some years working at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and then the Defence Evaluation Research Agency before returning to academia. David leads the climate change area within CATE and works on a number of UK and European Projects relating to aviation and transport effects on climate change. David also represents the UK within ICAO as a technical advisor and provides advice to Dft, DEFRA and DTi. He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, many recent ones dealing with aviation’s effects on climate. He was a lead author for the IPCC Special Report 'Aviation and the Global Atmosphere' David is also a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford's Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics Department and is Rapporteur on Aviation and the Environment for the World Meteorological Organization.

Dr Paul Hooper is Head of Enterprise Development in the School of Research, Enterprise and Innovation, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University. His work contributes to the Centre for Air Transport and the Environment where currently he is working with BAA on the refinement of suite of aircraft noise communication metrics for Heathrow, with the Airports Council International on the provision of environmental management and sustainability training for airports across the global, and with a power and engineering company on the development of a behavioural change programme. Past clients include; the International Air Transport Association (best practice guidance on environmental management and reporting), the Department of Regional Development Northern Ireland (BP guidance to airport noise management), Manchester Airports Group (development of a corporate responsibility programme and eco-footprinting tool, and support for stakeholder engagement in the master planning process), Technology Strategy Board (two projects designed to improve the eco-efficiency of landing and take-off operations at UK airports), and OMEGA a Knowledge Transfer Network sponsored by HIEF (carbon offsetting for aviation, new noise communication metrics and the feasibility of carbon neutral airports).

Professor Callum Thomas is Professor of Sustainable Aviation at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) having returned to academia in 1998 after 13 years in the aviation industry where he established and managed Manchester Airport's Bird Control Unit, Environment and Community Relations Department all UK firsts and all of which have enjoyed international acclaim. He is internationally known in the industry and has been an advisor to the UK Government (including the Department for Transport and the CAA), European Commission, the Airports Council International (were he sat on the ACI Europe and ACI World Environment Committees) and individual airports, airlines and ATC organizations. His expertise includes the sustainable development of aviation, managing environmental constraints to airport growth and the impact of airport operations on local communities. Most recently his research has focused on the implications of a changing climate for aviation, carbon management at airports and the relationship between aviation, tourism and climate change. Thomas has co-authored three books and over 60 scientific papers.

We are also bringing in a number of external speakers – all experts in their field including:

Tim Johnson – Director of the Aviation Environment Federation . AEF has been active in the field of Aviation and Environmental protection for 35 years. It works closely with regulators on developing appropriate policy responses to environmental challenges, including having a place on the UK DfT’s External Advisory Group and the recent South East Airports Taskforce. AEF represents environmental NGOs at ICAO and leads the CAEP sub-group looking at carbón calculation methodologies and carbón offsetting, as well as participating in ICAO’s “Friends of the President” process on developing a global sectoral strategy on climate change.

Deirdre Kotze is Airline Environmental Manager for Thomson Airways. Deirdra will provide a first hand account of the airlines efforts to reduce their environmental impacts around the world and the wider sustainability activities of Tui Holidays (Thomson’s Parent Company).

Alan Melrose is Environment Lead at Eurocontrol. Alan is the leading expert in the World on the role played by air traffic management organisations in reducing the environmental implications of aviation. Alan leads the environment team at Eurocontrol in Brussels and participates at UN ICAO meetings in Montreal.

Dr David Gillingwater from Loughborough University. David is one of the Godfathers in the field of aviation sustainability. He has researched and taught the subject for over 30 years, has been an advisor to Governments and industry and is recognised throughout the World for his research and publications in this field.

Dr Dimitrios Dimitriou is Chief Executive of the Hellenic Transport Authority, responsible for developing the transport systems across southern Greece, including Athens. Dimitris, a civil engineer by training, has worked for many years in the aviation environment field but one of his greatest achievements was developing and delivering the ground transport system for the Athens Olympics. Dimitris will present on ground transport access to airports and on the links between climate change, tourism, air transport and economic development.

Professor Callum Thomas PhD BSc ARCS RAeS

First Assignments Looming

Hi All,

Most of you are (I hope) busy writing your assignments for EG7515 and EG7516 (or EG7533a for the ECC applicants doing EMSD).
May I remind you all of the importance to engage fully with the literature (Books, Journal papers and NOT Google/Wikipedia). I will arrange another Library Infoskills talk for those who missed it (or feel like they need a refresher). In the the meantime, please remember that there are two videos and a PowerPoint file providing academic writing skills, searching for literature with Science Direct and the Harvard Referencing Guide - downloadable from the MSc Resources page: http://www.ukscience.org/pg/academic-resources/ and the video links are available on this page (Blog) on the upper right of this text.

Thanks
Mark

Finishing Students: Message from Steve Hoon

Well done all of you who have managed to submit your bound MSc Dissertations along with e-copies on disk in time for the this Autumn's Exam Board. It has been great to see a goodly number this year from both this year's cohort and from earlier 'writing up' students. However there are a few myths and bits of misinformation circulating about the need for 'e-posters' which are only required from 'writing up' students.

So, from the 'horses mouth':
For students registered on the new EG7591/2 MSc units you are done and dusted - No more work needed, no e-posters. Yeah! That s those of you who started your MSc full time in Sept 2010 or part time students who entered your final year (your first attempt at it) between July/Sept 2010.

However 'writing up' students, you will be registered on the older units EG4313/4. you still need to submit an A0 e-poster as you were I will print out your e-poster at A2 or A3 for assessment purposes. e-posters are now over due.

EG4313/4 students are those who first registered for an MSc course in September 2009/10 or before as EITHER a full time student OR as a part time students entering your final year 3 for the first time.

Finally, our external Prof. Frank Chambers would quite like to meet with any of you who might be available on the afternoon of the 3rd or morning 4th of November (to be confirmed) when he comes up for the exam board. If you are, please could you e-mail Mark so that he can then confirm and coordinate final details with you and Prof. Chambers.

Steve

EGS Seminar 18th October 2011

Tuesday 18th October, E34, John Dalton East Building, from 1.00-2.00 pm.

Sandwiches, coffee and tea are available from 12.30 pm in room E402.




Crusts and Carbon:
Ntwetwe Pan, Makgadikgadi Basin, northern Botswana


Dr Andrew Thomas, MMU


CO2 emissions from soils and sediments are approximately 10x greater than those from fossil fuel combustion. Organic matter in soil effectively locks up C and delays its entry to the atmosphere as CO2. The soil C store is, however, vulnerable and atmospheric warming is enhancing the global flux of CO2 from soils to the atmosphere. Disturbance and land use change can also trigger processes which can increase CO2 emissions. Understanding how the organic C store will be affected by changing climate remains an urgent research priority.


There is currently a poor understanding of the amount of C contained within soils of all southern African biomes. The extensive hyper-saline ephemeral lakes within the Makgadikgadi Basin in northern Botswana have been assumed to contain no organic carbon and contribute negligible CO2 to the atmosphere. The salt pan is devoid of vascular plant life, but a thin cover of cyanobacteria and algae thrive on the underside of the surface salt crust. This presentation explores the role of salt-biological crusts in the Makgadikgadi pan C cycle, presents data on the flux of CO2 from the variety of pan biomes and determines its sensitivity to changing temperatures and flooding. Alongside the scientific findings, I hope the talk will also convey some of the sense of wonder and occasional fear we experienced in undertaking the fieldwork in this remote and truly beautiful place.

Postgraduate Staff-student Liaison meeting

Hi All,

Next week, Wednesday 19^th October is the next Postgraduate Staff-student Liaison meeting.

EMSD & EMB students can e-mail me on the following address regarding any issue :

marian.oprea88@gmail.com


Best wishes,

Marian Oprea
EMSD & EMB Course Rep

Autumn Term Research Seminar Series 2011

Seminars take place in room E34, John Dalton East Building, Tuesdays at 1.00 pm.

Sandwiches, coffee and tea are available from 12.30 pm in room E402.

11 October 2011

Constructing the View of Valletta:  The Commodification of the Gaze and the (Re)development of Tigné Point, Malta

Dr Janet Speake,

Liverpool Hope University

STUDENT REPS

Hi All,

I need to have a Student Representative for each of the main degree pathways. A student Rep is a bit like a Union shop-steward who brings any problems and gripes (of their fellow students) to the attention of the university via Staff-Student Liaison Meetings. Reps can also report nice things and heap praise on staff - although that is rare! Any issues raised MUST then be discussed and minuted by the EGS Degree Network Committee meetings (and hence people like Head of School and the Dean) - so there is real accountability. 

If you would like to be considered for the position of course Rep, please email me to let me know. If more than one person is interested, we can have a mini-election on Wednesday to decide.

I already have a rep for Countryside Management (Jonathan Leyland - jon.Leyland@btinternet.com), so I need a Rep for EMSD, SA and EMB please.

If you are interested, please drop me an email before 11am on Wednesday this week (m.cresswell@mmu.ac.uk).

Thanks
Mark

Message from Mike Wood

Hi All

A quick update on Exercise 2 for Wednesday’s seminar.
There are some useful documents on the following webpage: http://www2.accaglobal.com/af/reporting

However, it looks like links to individual corporate sustainability reports may have been removed from the ACCA website. I suggest you just search on Google for CSRs for a few companies (e.g. the Co-Operative, Shell etc…many companies have these reports) and use these as the evidence base for your arguments.

See you on Wednesday

Best wishes
Mike

SPSS Statistics Software

Hi All,

I contacted the university IT people for clarification about access to SPSS software. This is what they said:

We’ve literally burned off the copies of SPSS 19 today so they should be able to get a copy from the library either late Friday or first thing on Monday.

Please get back in touch with us if you have any further queries.


Thank you
Mark-W
IT Services Helpline
http://www.mmu.ac.uk/itservices/
It.helpline@mmu.ac.uk

ATTENTION: EG7515 message from Mike Wood

Hi All

It was a pleasure to meet you all yesterday.

I realise that many of you are unable to access the Moodle site at present, so hopefully you’ll be reading this blog! To help you prepare for next weeks seminar and to allow you to follow up on yesterday’s lecture content, here are the files that you will (soon!) be able to access via Moodle:

• Hooper and Gibbs
• Palmer et al
• Lecture 1 slides
• Reader - Section 1
• Reader - Section 2
• Seminar Exercises (in case you lose your hard copy)

7515_section1_11-12.pdf
7515_section2_11-12.pdf
EG7515 Lecture 1.ppt
Hooper and Gibbs 1995.pdf
Palmer et al (1997).pdf
Seminar Exercises for EG7515 Sections 1 and 2.docx



I look forward to seeing you all next week.
Best wishes

Mike

ATTENTION: EMSD Students who had applied for ECC

Hi All,

If you had originally applied for the ECC degree - but had to switch to EMSD you will already be aware that we are running a special version of EMSD just for you.

Instead of attending the 4 - 6pm EG7516 lecture (Business & Sustainability) which you are NOT registered for, you must instead attend your briefing session for the Specialist Independent Study option (based around the ECC curriculum). This will take place in E402 (the coffee room) after the coffee break.

See you there!
Mark

NEW MSc Students: how to complete enrolment

Hi All,

Some of you were unable to get your student ID/Library cards this morning - many apologies..this was because of a lack of staff and a technical glitch. There are two ways to resolve this:

1) Attend an alternative session (assuming you have already enrolled online). Turn up again on FRIDAY 16th (This week) between 11am and 4:30pm....or turn up next week on WEDNESDAY 21st between 9am and 4:30pm

2) If you are part-time/distance learner, you can apply for your student ID/Library card by post. Please do this by contacting the SIP help on the following email: sipnorth@mmu.ac.uk

If you have been unable to enrol online, please contact the SIP on the above email address for more help.


Thanks
Mark

WEBCT Interruption

There is a planned shutdown of WebCT on 7^th June for maintenance. This is expected to take place between 0700h and 0900h but there is potential for it to take a little longer.

Final Goodbyes!

Hi All,

Remember that the revised deadline for Callum's EG7519 assignment is FRIDAY 27th MAY

This week (tomorrow, Wednesday 11th) will be the last taught session (EG7519) before you start your project dissertation.

Dr Steve Hoon will be holding a special session to kick-start the project dissertation on:

Wednesday 25th May (Note: Updated date)
12pm
Room E143

It is absolutely essential that you ALL attend this session before your placements/MSc dissertations begin. Attendance at last week's Wednesday classes were not impressive. I would like to see everyone take a more professional approach - especially those who have been skipping sessions. I am always asked for a reference by potential employers...and I always tell the truth!!

Please note that tomorrow's coffee session will also be the last...and there are plenty of biscuits to get through ;-)

EG7519: Assignment 1 Marks (Sust. & Glob.Sys.)

Hi All,

Do please check your MMU email...I have sent you your marks for my Assignment 1 (Climate Change & Development).

Mark

69EG7519: Sustainability and Global Systems

69EG7519: Sustainability and Global Systems
Assignment 2: The Implications of Climate Change and Peak Oil for the Future Growth and Development of Aviation and hence the Global Socio-economy


MESSAGE FROM CALLUM THOMAS


Apologies that I did not provide you all with an assignment briefing when I lectured to you last week. As a result I am happy to delay the submission date for this Assignment by one week.


Over the past 50 years the air transport industry has played a significant role in creating the modern world that we take for granted today, but, with the continuing reliance of the industry upon carbon fuels, climate change, the issue of peak oil and the very high cost of alternative fuels, I genuinely do not know how mobile we will all be in 50 years time. This has serious implications for our children.


Will we continue to go on holiday in the Mediterranean, will we be restricted to destinations we can reach by high speed trains, or will it be Blackpool? (What a thought!) If we get a radical step change in aviation technology then we may continue to be globally mobile, but what if there is no such change?


I have asked Mark Cresswell to post three more papers on WebCT that you may find useful when you prepare your written assignment.


1. Charles Schlumberger (2010), A Review of the Opportunities and Challenges of Alternative Fuels for Aviation, Annals IASL, McGill Vol XXXV


2. The Committee on Climate Change Report on Aviation (2009)


3. Sustainable Aviation – Carbon Dioxide Road Map – This an industry group that has looked at the potential for technological and operational improvements within the industry and implications for CO2 emissions from UK Aviation. It suggests that emissions will continue to grow for about 20 years and then, by 2050, come back to where they were in 2005


NGOs say that aviation in incompatible with a low carbon economy and that the increasing cost of oil will take away demand for air travel in the longer term.

BUT if you were the Minister for Transport, what future would you plan for?


Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.


HAPPY EASTER !!


Callum Thomas

Final Assignment: EG7519 - Sustainability & Global Systems

Hi All,

I didn't see all of you at coffee last week. A reminder that the final assignment (Assignment 2) was set and the cover sheet was already on WEBCT but I handed out paper copies at coffee. Callum will provide any support you need at the next session after Easter - but feel free to email him if you need to.

Cheers
Mark

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2011

The University is again participating in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) this year, which is administered by the Higher Education Academy.  This survey aims to identify areas where improvements could be made in the provision of taught postgraduate programmes, both here at MMU and nationally.  The survey is now live and will run until Tuesday 31 May.

Some of you may receive an invitation by email to participate in the survey. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Cheers
Mark

MSc Supervision

Hi all. I didn't see all of you at coffee today. You have been allocated a supervisor for your MSc Project:


HANNAH MATTHEWS:



Sally Gabriel : Stockport Homes (EMS audit)


Katarina Pomsarova: Seddon construction, Stoke (carbon audit/footprinting)


Rosemary Sweeney: Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside (carbon audit/footprinting)




ROS HOWELL:


Siobhan Gibbons: CATE (airline emissions reductions) [with Callum as a secondary supervisor)


Stuart Tweedy: CMR consultants, Salford (water footprinting/auditing)




MIKE WOOD:


John Russell: Cheshire wildlife trust (conservation grazing project)


Jonathan Roby: Keep Britain tidy, Warrington (Env review/sustainability plan)


Lauren Moulton: Seddon construction, Bolton (carbon audit/footprinting)


William Kensdale: African Wilderness project – working in Malawi






Feel free to make contact with your supervisor if you need to asj them any initial questions - otherwise they will be in contact with you nearer the start of your placement/project
 
Cheers
Mark

EGS Seminar Tuesday 29 March 2011

Tuesday 29th March, E0.05 from 1.00-2.00 pm.



Lunch, and an opportunity to chat with the speaker, will be in room E402, John Dalton East Building from 12:30. All are invited!


Dr Anthony Newton, University of Edinburgh


Eyjafjallajökull: Lessons from the Past


The relatively modest eruption of Eyjafjallajökull last year resulted in travel chaos for 10.5 million passengers and cost the airline industry some £1.7 billion. This was the first eruption of Eyjafjallajökull for 190 years and its awakening renewed expectations that its neighbouring volcano, Katla, might well also erupt in the near future. Katla erupts on average twice a century, whilst Eyjafjallajökull has only erupted four times in the past 1500 years. Katla last erupted in 1918 and it is expected that its next eruption will be much larger than Eyjafjallajökull’s. The hazards from such an eruption could include jökulhlaups up to 100 times larger than those seen in 2010 and substantial tephra production. Geomorphological and tephrochronological studies suggest that eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull have coincided with eruptions from Katla. As well as providing valuable information about past eruptions, fluctuations of glacial limits can also be identified. Tephrochronology is an invaluable tool for volcanological, geomorphological and glacial studies in Iceland.

EGS Seminar Tuesday 22 March 2011

Tuesday 22nd March, E0.05, John Dalton East Building from 1.00-2.00 pm.



Lunch, and an opportunity to chat with the speaker, will be in room E402, John Dalton East Building from 12:30. All are invited!

Dr Robin Sen, Edda Oddsdottir, Jørgen Eilenberg and Gudmundur Halldorsson


Effects of Insect Pathogenic Fungi and Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation of Birch Seedlings on the Survival of Otiorhynchus Larvae in Icelandic soils


Icelandic foresters have been charged with increasing forest cover from current levels of around 1.5% to 5% of land area in the next four decades. Forest regeneration involving both non-native conifers and native downy birch (Betula pubescens) is being mainly achieved through nursery seedling transplantation but variable establishment success rates have been attributed to root herbivory by weevil larvae of a number of opportunistic Otiorhynchus spp. (Order: Coleoptera; Family: Curculionidae). With the increasing withdrawal of common chemical insecticides from registration, more sustainable pest control measures are now being prioritised. In order to assess the potential of a novel multi-fungal biological control strategy, experiments involving factorial inoculation of birch seedlings with root symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi and the insect pathogenic fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae) in controlled pot experiments and field trials were carried out. Early reductions in root herbivory and improved seedling survival rates detected in single and dual inoculation treatments were found to be also dependent on soil and site characteristics that point to the involvement of further biotic and abiotic factors in pest control success. The data not only highlights the great potential for biological control of these invertebrate herbivores but also the urgent need for a better understanding of multitrophic host-pest-microbe-soil interactions in development of sustainable plant pest control strategies.

theWeather Club £10 offer on World Meteorological Day

To celebrate World Meteorological Day, theWeather Club are offering introductory membership for only £10.

theWeather Club launched by the Royal Meteorological Society last September normally retails at £25, but for one day only you can receive the full range of benefits for only £10.

Being a member of the club will allow you to become part of a community of people for whom the weather is more than just something that happens outdoors. Our members are gardeners, walkers, outdoor enthusiasts, meteorologists, and people who happen to have a close interest in the world around them. The club provides a fantastic source of information about this most fascinating and topical of subjects.

What does membership include?

Membership includes a welcome pack including a copy of the beautiful magazine – theWeather which retails at £4.95, a set of weather postcards; a collectable A-Z of weather and climate; and a Galileo thermometer worth £15. Your membership entitles you to free copies of the quarterly magazine, theWeather, and the collectable A-Z of weather posted out to you,  access to exclusive web content and to our members’ forum, plus exclusive offers from partner companies.

Take advantage of this offer by logging onto www.theWeatherClub.org.uk on Wednesday 23^rd March and joining online or calling 0118 956 8500.

Sustainability & Global Systems Session this week

Hi all,

I will be 15 minutes late arriving to the start of the 1pm lecture this week.....this is because I am involved in the University Open Day and will not get away from the Geoffrey Manton building until at least 1pm.

Please take a comfort break after Research Design & Methods and we will start the session at 1:20pm

Thanks
Mark

EGS Seminar Tuesday 08 March 2011

Tuesday 08^th March, **NOTE: Seminar takes place in Room SB210, Sandra Burslem Building

Lunch, and an opportunity to chat with the speaker, will be in room E402, John Dalton East Building from 12:30. All are invited!

Dr Guy Rothwell, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

‘British, Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) - Providing High-resolution Automated Non-destructive Core Logging for Community Use’

EGS Seminar Tuesday 01 March 2011

Tuesday 01^st March, E0.05 from 1.00-2.00 pm.  

Lunch, and an opportunity to chat with the speaker, will be in room E402, John Dalton East Building from 12:30. All are invited!

Chris Shearlock, The Co-operative

'Sustainable Development at The Co-operative'

Chris Shearlock works as Sustainable Development Manager at The Co-operative Group - the UK's largest consumer co-operative which works across retail and financial services. Chris’s talk will include the Co-operative’s work on addressing climate change, waste, biodiversity and international development issues. He has a degree in Environmental Management and a masters degree in Strategic Marketing, both from MMU.

Conference: Woodland Management in the UK

MMU Countryside Management & Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences joint meeting presents a free day of woodland management events and talks from invited speakers.

Venue: MMU

Date: Wednesday 13th April

Sandra Burslem Buulding (rooms 2.05 and 2.10)

Starts at 10am and finishes at 3:45pm

For more information please contact:

Francis Brearley (f.q.brearley@mmu.ac.uk) or

Liz Price (e.price@mmu.ac.uk)

The Beginning of the End....for EMSD!

Hi all,


Next week is the start of the last taught unit (Sustainability & Global Systems) for many of you before you embark on your Projects. It also happens to be my unit!


Please note that there is a room change - we will be in E143 - the same room you normally have a lecture with Mike Bennett at 12pm.


It was suggested to me this week that some of you may be thinking of skipping next week's first lecture session...because you have an assignment to submit. I would therefore like to remind you all that this is not a 'pic-n-mix' degree and nothing is optional - you MUST attend everything...especially when I have to cover so much material and provide handouts etc..as well as talk you through my assignment. Undergraduates manage the enormous feat of attending lectures and handing in assignments - so you should too.


If you can't make 3 hours (which is all you are being asked to do next week) because your time management is so poor then I wouldn't recommend you for a Phd or a job when I get letters asking for a reference!


Please remember that if you are registered as a full-time student then you must behave as such and not cram all your assignment work into the last few days before the deadline.


I look forward to seeing EVERYONE at my lecture next week.


Peace and love
Mark

Careers fair

On Wednesday 2^nd March, the Science and Engineering Faculty will also be hosting a mini Careers fair in The Street in John Dalton Building. If you are looking for a graduate job, for some work experience or just to talk to real employers and build relationships with people actually involved in your chosen industry, then this is a great chance to network and find out what opportunities are out there. Employers who are having stands at the fair include:

Adinsight • Altimate UK • Amoria Bond • Bentley • Endsleigh • Enterprise Rent-a-Car • IBM • IMechE • MMU Institute of Education • Innospace • Matchtech • MMU Volunteering • MX Data • Oldham Athletic FC • Protomed • Qiagen • Smart Document Solutions • Land Rover

So if you want to:

· get good advice on your career choices and further study opportunities

· improve your career prospects

· find out what employers are looking for

· get some work experience

· learn how to sell your skills

· network with employers

· develop your confidence and communication skills

Then come along to the Science and Engineering Employability Fair and take part in two days of workshops, talks and employer presentations designed to equip you with the skills needed to get your dream job.

Designed for students doing Engineering, Computing, Science, Environmental Management and Health Care Science.

For more details please visit the website. A full list of visiting employers and a full timetable of events will is available at http://www.mmu.ac.uk/employabilityfairs

Student Presentation - Getting into Film and TV

Next Tuesday, 22nd February 2011,12 noon, Lecture Theatre 6,
Geoffrey Manton Building.

Alex Connock co-founded TV and Education content production
company Ten Alps with Bob Geldof.  Ten Alps make documentaries
and films for BBC, Channel 4, ITV and many other international
broadcasters, plus online channels such as Newton.tv and
education content through production company DBDA. 

At this presentation, Alex (who is also a governor of MMU) will
talk about jobs in the media, career paths you can follow, how
to build up experience and get into 'show business.'

It is a great opportunity for students interested in any aspect
of Film, TV and communications production, especially in the
North West, to come along to hear from and question an expert.

EGS Seminar Tuesday 15 February 2011

Tuesday 15^th February, E0.05 from 1.00-2.00 pm.  

 

Lunch, and an opportunity to chat with the speaker, will be in room E402, John Dalton East Building from 12:30. All are invited!

 

Prof Dave Nash, Brighton University

Quaternary Environmental Change in the Atacama

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the driest and possibly oldest of the major southern hemisphere subtropical deserts. Extreme hyperaridity may have begun as early as the Miocene (25-22 million years ago).  Despite this, there is evidence for wetter conditions on a number of occasions during the Late Quaternary. Marine records indicate that the Last Interglacial and Last Glacial Maximum were relatively wet compared to a dry Holocene. Terrestrial evidence for past environmental conditions is limited, with the majority of high resolution records coming from ecological investigations in the Andean precordillera and dating back no further than 50,000 years before present. This seminar, based on work funded by National Geographic, aims to redress this imbalance and presents a palaeoclimatic data set spanning the last 180,000 years as recorded in near-coastal aeolianites (wind-blown sands that have been partially cemented by calcium carbonate under subaerial conditions) from southwest of Copiapó. The seminar reports on the sedimentology and environmental history of the aeolianite deposits and examines the implications of their development for our understanding of Atacama and wider South American palaeoenvironments during the Late Quaternary.

****Postgraduate Staff-Student Liaison Meeting****

*** EMSD Staff - Student Liaison Meeting***

16th FEB 3pm

Hello all,

A week on Wednesday (16th Feb) is the Staff-Student Liaison meeting for EMSD at 3pm.

I am asking for views over the blog/email or if you catch me in lectures that is fine too.

Do you have any issues you would like to raise with staff - Negative or Positive?

Any comments you would like to be addressed?

• Modules okay?
• Right content included?
• Deadlines and assignments feasible?
• Any library issues? resources/ books available?
• Teaching queries?
• Placement issues?

Anything else that you would like me to take forward, I can anonymously.

If you could please email me your views/issues that I can take forward and hopefully they will be resolved and/or addressed ASAP

My email is

siobhangibbons@msn.com
or 07129283@stu.mmu.ac.uk

All feedback will be anonymous and would appreciate the email before a week on Tues (15th) at the latest.

Cheers guys

Siobhan :)