Author: Gillian

New Study Examines University Students’ Attitudes Toward Single-Use Plastics

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The widespread use of single-use plastics (SUP) is a growing environmental issue, particularly in Thailand, where plastic waste poses significant challenges. A recent study by Dr Oluseye Oludoye, focusing on Thai university students, explores the factors influencing their efforts to reduce plastic consumption, offering valuable insights for promoting sustainability. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the research examined how attitudes, perceived control, and social influences affect students’ intentions at different stages of behaviour change.

The findings show that while positive attitudes towards reducing SUP are important, they only encourage action among students already contemplating change. In contrast, students’ belief in their ability to make a difference—perceived behavioural control—proved crucial across all decision-making stages. Social influences also played a key role in shaping initial attitudes, highlighting how peer dynamics can motivate change.

These insights are essential for educators and policymakers aiming to foster sustainable behaviours. Campaigns tailored to different stages of behaviour change can be more effective, and leveraging social influence through student-led initiatives could further encourage action. The study also suggests that reducing SUP might inspire students to adopt other sustainable practices. Overall, this research enhances our understanding of engaging young adults in environmental efforts and paves the way for a more sustainable future.

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New research tackles single-use plastics in Thailand

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In our ever-evolving world, environmental sustainability has become a crucial topic of discussion. One of the most pressing challenges we face is the issue of single-use plastics (SUP). These materials, while convenient, have become pervasive in daily life, and their environmental impact is significant. In this context, a recent collaborative study shines a light on the pro-environmental behaviour (PB) of Thai communities regarding the reduction of SUP, particularly in food packaging.

Published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature journal portfolio, the study was led by Oluseye Oludoye from Teesside University in collaboration with partners from Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), University of Lagos (Nigeria), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), and University of California Davis (USA). It examined how residents from rural (Sichang Island) and urban (Nonthaburi city) areas of Thailand approach SUP reduction and what motivates their behaviour.

The study found that morality significantly influenced SUP reduction in both, rural and urban areas, but with an interesting twist. Rural residents were more driven by rational decision-making, while urban residents were motivated by moral values when choosing to reduce their plastic use. These insights are invaluable for policymakers looking to develop targeted sustainability initiatives that resonate with the specific motivations of different communities.

As we continue to face environmental challenges, knowing what motivates people to reduce plastic use can help create better solutions and encourage more sustainable habits in our everyday lives.

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Internal Talk – Dr Ernesto Saiz val

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The group heard from Dr Ernesto Saiz Val, with a talk entitled ‘N-biogeochemistry and new low-cost analytical methods for in-situ environmental monitoring’.

Ernesto’s work focuses on low cost, reliable and portable devices for soil field work, devices to measure pH, ammonia, potassium and nitrate were shown and a great explanation of the future potential of this work.

If you want to know more – see Dr Saiz Val’s research page – https://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/ernesto-saiz-val/publications/

New Publication: Diversity of selected toll-like receptor genes in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus)

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Leopards (Panthera pardus) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) face several threats including habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, and infectious disease. Dr Desiré Lee Dalton (Lecturer, Teesside University) and collaborators investigated the diversity of genes involved in the initial detection and defence against infectious diseases in modern Southern African cheetahs and leopards as well as historic cheetah samples and samples of different cheetah subspecies. We found that diversity was lower in cheetah than in leopards. In addition, historic cheetahs from all subspecies exhibited greater genetic diversity than modern Southern African cheetahs. Thus, indicating that cheetah have further lost diversity recently as a result of a population declines within the last 150 years. These results have identified that Southern African cheetahs may not be able survive future infectious diseases.

If you’d like to read more about this research, you can access the paper from the publisher’s website with this link.

 

Seminer update – Dr Oluseye Oludoye

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On 8th February 2024 we had a fascinating internal seminar talk by Dr Oluseye Oludoye on Pro-Environmental Behaviour Towards Sustainable Food Systems.

Oluseye introduced us to his research including pesticide, cocoa flavours, and plastic chemistry. The talk introduced the team to how people consider use of pesticide, but more importantly the impact of usage on the environment, including soil health. The talk encouraged the group to think about economics, biodiversity and climate change, a really thought provoking and insightful lunchtime session.

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New paper: Rapid deterioration in buried leather: archaeological implications

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This recent paper was the accumulation of work by Helga Halldorsdottir with TU Earth and Environment researchers, Gillian Taylor and Rhys Williams (now at Loyola Maryland University), involving some huge data sets and really novel results. The experiment set-up was amazing…

The research used non-destructive Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)-Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) analysis to reveal fascinating insights into how leather decays over time. The research focused on vegetable-tanned and archaeological leather from the Roman site of Vindolanda, UK. By analysing leather at different stages—raw, tanned, buried, and archaeological—the study observed how burial in wet soil leads to rapid changes, particularly the breakdown of lipids, while collagen remains intact. The findings suggest that de-tanning occurs quickly in waterlogged conditions, making archaeological leather resemble untanned leather.

One of the most interesting takeaways is that modern unburied leather doesn’t provide an accurate comparison to ancient samples, but experimentally buried leather does. Although de-tanning happens soon after burial, vegetable-tanning still plays a role in long-term preservation. The research also hints that mineral components in the leather may influence its preservation. Overall, the study highlights the complexity of leather decay and opens up new possibilities for understanding how ancient materials survive over time.

If you want to learn more about the research, you can read the paper in the journal RSC Advances here.

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Revitalizing Cocoa Production: Insights from the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum in Abuja

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by Oluseye Oludoye

Oluseye recently attended the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 9, 2024. and had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion on “The Importance of the Classification and Denomination of Cocoa with Investment in Increased Production Output.”

Introduction: The intersection of sustainable agriculture and economic development took center stage at the recent International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum held in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 9, 2024. The conference, themed “Putting Value in Cocoa in Producing Regions,” gathered experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to delve into the critical issues surrounding cocoa production. This blog post captures the highlights of the conference, focusing on the policy session where Dr Oluseye Oludoye contributed to a panel discussion on “The Importance of the Classification and Denomination of Cocoa with Investment in Increased Production Output.”

Setting the Tone: The Policy session opened with a declaration by Chief Olawale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Honourary Chairman of the Forum. He emphasized the commitment of the Nigerian government, as outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda spearheaded by Mr. President. This set a positive tone for the discussions that followed, underlining the significance of cocoa in the nation’s economic transformation.

Key Figures in Attendance: The conference boasted esteemed personalities, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who declared the Forum open. Their presence underscored the government’s recognition of cocoa as a key player in economic growth. Additionally, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, served as the Special Guest of Honour. In his remarks, he highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing strategic plans, with a special focus on agriculture value addition strategies.

Panel Discussion: “The Importance of the Classification and Denomination of Cocoa with Investment in Increased Production Output”: Dr Oluseye Oludoye had the privilege of contributing to a panel discussion during the conference, specifically addressing the crucial topic of cocoa classification and denomination. Their discourse centered on the pivotal role accurate classification plays in attracting investment and fostering increased production output. They explored the potential impact of streamlined classification processes on the entire cocoa value chain, from farmers to consumers.

Commitment to Agriculture Value Addition Strategies: The Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning emphasized the government’s dedication to creating a conducive environment for agricultural activities. This commitment extends beyond the mere production of cocoa to encompass comprehensive strategies for value addition within the agriculture sector. This approach aligns with the broader goal of empowering farmers and promoting sustainable practices.

Conclusion: The International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum in Abuja provided a platform for stakeholders to align their efforts towards advancing cocoa production in Nigeria. The commitment expressed by key government officials and the emphasis on value addition strategies signal a promising future for the cocoa industry. As researchers, it is crucial for us to delve deeper into the implications of these commitments and explore avenues for collaborative research that supports the sustainable growth of cocoa production in producing regions. By doing so, we contribute to the broader discourse on agricultural sustainability and economic development.

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Dr Lauren Rawlins

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On 24 January 2024, the Earth & Environment Research Group welcomed external speaker, Dr Lauren Rawlins, who recently completed her PhD at the Department of Environment & Geography at the University of York. Lauren presented her PhD research investigating the impacts of climate change on the glaciers of Greenland. Through remote sensing of the Humboldt Glacier in northwest Greenland, Lauren observed significant seasonal surface melting extending 80 kilometres inland from the coast. The formation of pooled water and drainage networks on the glacier’s surface lowers the surface ‘albedo’ (meaning its ability to reflect incoming solar radiation) and contributes to more melting. The surface meltwater can also infiltrate down to the base of the glacier where it can speed up the ice sheet’s advance toward the comparatively warmer coast, leading to further melting. Lauren’s talk also took us down to SW Greenland where she performed uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys and some remarkable 3-D mapping of the smaller, Russell glacier, to study the distribution and interactions of surface meltwater with ‘cryoconite’ (dark patches containing algae, black carbon, and other dark coloured particulates that reduce surface albedo).

Lauren’s talk was riveting and, her research, scientifically rigorous. Understanding the sensitivity of the Greenland ice sheet to external factors is critical for predicting future change.

At the end of Lauren’s talk, our own Dr Adrian Dye asked her if she could offer any advice to our PhD and prospective PhD students. Amongst several words of wisdom, Lauren emphasised the importance of having a good rapport with your supervisor, ensuring that the University is a good fit, and, once the PhD project is underway, avoid biting off more than you can chew to avoid burnout.

Lauren’s recent publication can be found here https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4729/2023/tc-17-4729-2023-discussion.html. For members of the research group who missed Lauren’s talk, you can find the recording on the Teams site.

Welcome New lecturer – Dr Sina Longman

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I am a palaeoclimatologist with a special interest in micropalaeontology, using microfossils, such as dinoflagellates and pollen, to reconstruct past oceanographic, terrestrial and climatic changes. More recently, I have expanded my research into vegetation reconstructions using pollen in speleothems (e.g. stalagmites). I am particularly interested in time periods in Earth history that were warmer than present in order to gain insights into environmental changes under continued future warming.

New staff member – Welcome Dr Danai-Maria Kontou

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Danai is a lecturer and a researcher in human geography, with special interests in Polar Geography, Cartography and Creative Methods. Danai graduated with a Geography B.Sc. from the University of the Aegean and later has been a full scholarship grantee for the Cartography MSc (T.U. Munich, T.U Vienna, T.U. Dresden, and University of Twente). For her master’s thesis, she developed innovative three-dimensional visuals in cylindrical form for the time and space illustration of the anomalies of ice and vegetation in the Arctic. Her thesis has been published in the Journal “Regional Studies Regional Science”. She continued her academic journey with a PhD in Durham University, fully funded under the DurhamArctic Research Centre for Training and Interdisciplinary Collaboration. For her PhD “Arctic Cartographic Uncertainties”, Danai experimented with creative methods and art-science practices. Her current research interests include spatiotemporal analysis of environmental phenomena, story-map-telling, art-based research, along with her great enthusiasm on polar geography, remote sensing, and data visualisation.

In Teesside she is teaching: “Human Geography and Globalisation” and “Interpreting Environments”.