New staff member – Welcome Dr Danai-Maria Kontou

Published on by Gillian

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”.

Introducing Dr. Aboli Vavle (Finally)!

Published on by Gillian

The team are wonderfully proud of Dr Aboli Vavle this week, on passing her viva.. here is her story..

I can’t believe I am writing this blog post. It still hasn’t sunk in to be very honest, but it gives me great pleasure to finally say that I’ve passed my PhD viva with some great comments from my examiners.  On 8th January 2023 at 1:30pm in the afternoon (not to forget in a freezing cold room), I was called in for my viva.  My examiners greeted me with a very warm smile and excitement. I walked in with confidence but was nervous at the same time. My external told me at the start of the viva that ‘Please relax and take your time to answer and if we’re asking follow up questions, we’re only asking them to understand a bit more from you’. That did calm me down a bit.

And so it began! I was asked so many chemistry questions regarding the structures and bonds and formulas. I tried to answer them to my best ability. Anything that I was not sure of, I was being 100% honest and was calmly letting them know and both my examiners were very kind and helpful in making me understand anything that I wasn’t sure of. By 3:30pm, we were only on 90/228 pages. I remember walking out to stretch my legs and thinking, we haven’t even got to my actual results yet and that got me a bit more nervous. But I calmed myself down and reassured myself that it is my work and all I need to do is answer to my best potential. I went back in and we started the viva again and this time I was a bit more confident in answering as the questions were more related to my actual samples. Funny thing is I didn’t get asked many questions about my actual work, because when reading the thesis the examiners said that they themselves could see how novel the work was. My external examiner asked me, ‘Do I like underselling my work?’. I nervously laughed and he continued ‘it’s done with such precision especially the chromatograms. You need to highlight it a bit more’ and that made me very happy. My internal examiner also said that they found the tables of all the case studies very helpful and that made me even happier. Around 5:20pm, the viva was concluded and I was asked to wait outside.

Those 10 minutes were the hardest 10 minutes of my entire life. I was called in by the chair and I sat down. The external examiner said ‘We have decided to pass you. Congratulations Doctor’. As soon as I heard that, I had tears rolling down my cheeks, I said ‘Thank you’ in a squeaky voice and I apologised and they said ‘you don’t need to because we understand what a PhD student goes through’. They said they enjoyed reading my work and that was the reason they kept asking me questions for 4 hours! They also said that my thesis was very easy to read and follow. I thanked them for taking time to read my thesis and their valuable feedback. We showed the examiners around the NHC labs and I thanked them once again for the day. Also, just want to take a moment here to thank Dr. Gillian Taylor, my Director of Studies and Dr. Caroline Orr, my supervisor because I don’t think I would have been able to do any of this without their help and support.

Back to Newcastle around 7:30pm, all I wanted to do was to hug my husband (who now has to call me Dr. Wife), have a glass of chilled Cuba Libre, eat some Poutine and go to bed. It was a very tiring but a wonderful day that I will remember for the rest of my life.

3rd Annual Tees Valley Youth Climate Conference

Published on by Lisa

On 15 November 2023, Teesside University’s School of Health and Life Sciences, spearheaded by its Geoscience cluster, hosted the 3rd Annual Tees Valley Youth Climate Conference. In total, 70 sixth-form students from across the region and their teachers spent the day reviewing the evidence for anthropogenic forcing of climate change and exploring a wealth of options for building sustainable societies in the future.

At the start of the day, Keynote Speaker, Rachel Murtagh, Nature Partnership Manager of the Tees Valley Nature Partnership reflected on significant recent progress in restoring the Tees Valley’s natural environment from the ravages of the industrial era but underscored the need for ongoing and concerted positive action.

“Engaging in nature-based solutions offers numerous opportunities to collaborate with the planet in adapting to and mitigating climate change. Simultaneously, these approaches promote greater biodiversity and enhance human well-being by providing increased access to green spaces.”

Our own TU Earth & Environment Researchers spent the rest of the morning providing the evidence and varied solutions for climate change and, in the afternoon, led sustainability workshops on topics including food systems, renewable energy, and climate change communication.

We welcomed local industry (e.g., Northern Gas Networks, Biffa Waste Management) and charitable trust (e.g., Tees Rivers Trust, Durham Wildlife Trust, Middlesbrough Environment City) representatives who shared their climate-positive agendas with students over lunch. Several TU Environmental Management MSc students presented climate science posters.

The 3rd Annual Tees Valley Youth Climate Conference was highly successful and we look forward to hosting another one next year. If you are interested in booking a place for your students, please contact Kathryn Howard at shlsrecruitment@tees.ac.uk.

Archaeological Institute of America – Best Poster Award

Published on by Gillian

At the annual general meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), which is the largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to archaeology. The Institute advances awareness, education, fieldwork, preservation, publication, and research of archaeological sites and cultural heritage throughout the world.

We had a the pleasure of presenting some recent research work as a poster, the team comprised of Dr Elizabeth Green, University of Western Ontario, Dr Rhiannon Stevens, University College London, Barbara Birley, Vindolanda Trust and Dr Gillian Taylor, Teesside university.

The poster title was Species analysis of leather objects and manufacturing offcuts from Vindolanda, UK. the poster was awarded ‘best poster’ which the team are delighted about, they are currently working on more results, using proteomics and looking forward to sharing more data soon..

 

 

British Ecological Society – Talk by Dr Desire Dalton

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The British Ecological Society was recently held in Belfast

Dr Desiré Dalton (Lecturer, Teesside University) presented her research project entitled ‘Advancing the study of intra-African bird migration: Variable patterns of divergence in habitat specialists (Woodland Kingfisher) and generalists (African Pygmy Kingfisher and Diederik Cuckoo)’ at Europe’s largest conference dedicated to ecology, the British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting. This year’s conference was held in Belfast (Northern Ireland) from the 12th to 15th December 2023.

 

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Sustainable Agriculture and Waste Management: A Path Towards Environmental Stewardship

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On November 29, 2023, Environmental Research Society led by the MSc students hosted Dr Oluseye Oludoye. He presented on the topic titled “Sustainable Agriculture and Waste Management: A Path Towards Environmental Stewardship”. This presentation delves into the pivotal role of these interconnected practices in shaping environmental sustainability. In the pursuit of a sustainable and resilient future, the intersection of agriculture and waste management emerges as a critical nexus.

In the intricate dance of sustainable agriculture and waste management, individual behaviours become catalysts for change. He stated that our journey begins with understanding the symbiotic relationship between responsible agricultural practices and effective waste management.

Connecting the Dots: Sustainable agriculture is not merely a buzzword but a commitment to cultivating the land while preserving its essence. For instance, Dr Oluseye Oludoye’s research on pesticide safety behaviours among cocoa farmers underscores the significance of responsible agricultural practices (https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2022.2148147). By embracing sustainable farming methods, we protect ecosystems, foster biodiversity, and ensure the health of our soil.

Agricultural Sustainability: The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Through practices like agroecology, we not only grow our food but also nurture a climate-friendly environment. He noted that our choices in agriculture have a direct impact on mitigating climate change, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come.

Reducing Carbon Footprint: Beyond mitigating climate change, sustainable agriculture plays a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity. By choosing sustainable practices, we become stewards of the planet, maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems and ensuring the well-being of diverse plant and animal species.

Preserving Biodiversity: He encouraged the Environmental Research Society to serve as a beacon of change, empowering its members to drive transformative action. Armed with insights from our research at Earth and Environment Group, each member was encouraged to be an advocate for sustainable agriculture in their local communities. For example, by actively engaging in initiatives that promote responsible waste management, we sow the seeds of a greener future.

Empowering Change: He stated that the collective impact of individual choices cannot be overstated. Our call to action extends beyond personal behaviours to highlight the transformative power of united efforts. Through collaborative projects, advocacy initiatives, and global awareness campaigns, he emphasizes that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the global tapestry of sustainability.

Emphasizing Collective Impact: In concluding this exploration of sustainable agriculture and waste management, he reminded the society members that the choices we make today echo into the future. By embracing these practices, we cultivate not only a bountiful harvest but also a legacy of environmental stewardship for generations to reap. Let us, as members of the Environmental Research Society, be the custodians of change, nurturing a greener, more sustainable Earth for all. Together, we embark on a path towards environmental stewardship, one that honors the planet we call home.

Reviewing the triggers of an abrupt climate change event with Durham University’s Professor James Baldini

Published on by Gillian

On 8 December 2023, our Earth & Environment Research Group joined up with Teesside University’s student-led Environmental Research Society, to host a virtual talk by Durham University’s Professor James Baldini. Professor Baldini’s talk entitled ‘Meltwater, meteors, and volcanoes: the elusive cause of the Younger Dryas Event’ tackled the still hotly debated cause of the Younger Dryas Event (YDE).

Following the Last Glacial Maximum, the Northern Hemisphere was steadily warming until an abrupt return to near glacial conditions around 12,870 years ago. This abrupt cold event is a subject of intense debate with three hotly contested theories: glacial meltwater flooding into the North Atlantic, a meteor impact, and a high-magnitude volcanic eruption.

During the talk, Professor Baldini skilfully navigated through the pros and cons of each potential trigger, providing a balanced perspective, and debunking some common misconceptions about the Younger Dryas Event. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast in Earth and environmental sciences or simply curious about our planet’s intriguing history, this talk offers a captivating exploration into not only this, but the many similar events that occurred over the past 80,000 years of Earth’s climate.

The recording of Professor Baldini’s talk is available on our research group Teams site but anyone can catch a similar talk by Professor Baldini on the Northeast Geological Society’s YouTube Channel here https://youtu.be/Gqj0M8DpfoE?si=0IwZKqq7ZJlsdxZA. Don’t miss the chance to unravel the mysteries of the past and gain a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped our planet.

Drilling underground – Dr Jens Holtvoeth

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Last week, a team around Dr Jens Holtvoeth , including 3rd-year BSc students Connor Bishop and Matthew Oliver Jinks and environmental technician Miles Dimbleby, took part in this year’s Mine Analogue Research event (MINAR XI) at the UKRI Underground Laboratory in the ICL Polyhalite and Salt mine at Boulby. Every year, this two-week event brings together national and international teams of scientists, working on a wide range of subjects related to space exploration and extreme environments, for which the Underground Lab and its surroundings 1,000m below the surface provide ideal conditions.

The purpose of Team Teesside’s visit was to drill and recover intact large diameter salt cores from the so-called polygon layer. This deposit formed in the late Permian during the evaporation of the Zechstein Sea, about 250 million years ago, and is the main layer of halite (NaCl) at Boulby. It prominently features backfilled desiccation cracks from a sea-level lowstand that now appear as dark polygons in the ceiling of the many tunnels in the mine. Traces of organic matter preserved in the salt and the backfill material carry information on the microbial communities living in the brine at the time and the vegetation on the nearby land, which reflect the environmental conditions.

One of the aims of Dr Holtvoeth’s research is to produce a biogeochemical fingerprint of microbial biomass preserved in the ancient evaporites and to see how this relates to microbes living in modern brines in the mine. The modern microbial community will be further characterised through their DNA, which is the responsibility of Dr Caroline Orr. Such a biogeochemical characterisation will help collaborators at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to interpret data produced from the same sample material by an optical analytical tool (Raman spectrometer), which they are currently developing for the next generation Mars rover. If microbial life ever existed on Mars, the evaporating Martian oceans would have been the last places where it could have been found. Thus, evaporites are a prime study target in the search for life on Mars.

A number of technical issues have hampered progress so far. Last week, the team had to abandon their sampling campaign due to electrical problems. It turns out that drilling and recovering a large-diameter salt core is a lot harder than anyone had anticipated. However, with the continuing support of the UKRI Underground Laboratory and the mine operators the team hopes to succeed next time.

 

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Northumbrian Water’s ‘Restore and Regenerate’ Strategy: Paving the Way for Sustainable Environmental Management

Published on by Lisa

On October 11, 2023, the TU Earth & Environment Research Group had the privilege of hosting Dr. Zoë Frogbrook, Head of Environment and Sustainability at Northumbrian Water. She unveiled ‘Restore and Regenerate,’ Northumbrian Water’s ambitious environmental management strategy spanning all the way to 2050.

Through this strategy, Northumbrian Water, in partnership with the Coal Authority, the Rivers Trust, and other NE environmental management organisations, are developing ground-breaking nature-based solutions that complement and potentially outperform traditional (end-of-pipe and hard engineering) wastewater management approaches.

During her talk, Dr. Frogbrook stressed the importance of environmental monitoring data to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions under development, such as those addressing nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) pollution in rivers and flood risk. She also emphasised the need to assess biodiversity at Northumbrian Water sites to establish a baseline for future improvement.

The TU Earth & Environment Research Group explored with Dr. Frogbrook the potential for  PhD funding opportunities through Northumbrian Water. There are also a wealth of potential research projects for our Teesside University students offering real-world employable skills to our future graduates. A partnership between Northumbrian Water and TU Earth & Environment Group promises to advance environmental sustainability within the water industry in the northeast. As Dr. Frogbrook aptly pointed out, ‘sustain’ implies maintaining the status quo, but Northumbrian Water and the TU Earth & Environment Group share a vision of progress to enhance the environment for future generations. There’s no time to stand still.