LEC Taught Masters Projects 2012/13

Contents Page

Introduction page ...... 2

Staff Projects pages ...... 3 – 110

Butterfly Conservation Projects ...... 111 – 118

Overseas Projects pages ...... 119 - 130

CGE Projects pages ...... 131 – 135

Enterprise and Business Partnerships Projects pages ...... 136 – 153

Introduction

This booklet contains a list of LEC Masters research projects for 2012-13. LEC is one of the largest and broadest environmental research organisations in Europe and so this list represents one of the most comprehensive Masters Dissertation opportunities anywhere in the world. Not only does it draw on the expertise of over 300 researchers spanning the full range of disciplines from natural to social sciences, it also includes a number of industry placement projects developed through our CGE projects and Enterprise and Business Partnerships team. We also offer a significant number of joint projects with partners in Asia, South America and Africa.

We hope you find the right research project for your dissertation. However, if you have your own ideas for a project please remember that all supervisors are open to project ideas from you. In this case you should use the listed research interests of each academic staff member as a guide to who you approach to discuss your ideas. If you want to combine ideas from more than one area, please talk to two supervisors, or more. If you want to make use of some of your existing contacts, skills or facilities, then please feel free to do so.

Additionally, if you feel that a project is relevant to your interests, but is not indicated as suitable for your degree scheme, please talk to your Director of Study, as there will often be some flexibility. More information about the scope of the research being done in LEC, and individual members of staff, can be found on the LEC website: http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/research/.

A competitive bursary of up to £350 (from the Lune & Wyre Fisheries Association) is available to support any ecology, hydrology or water quality MSc project that involves work on the River Lune or River Wyre, together with the link: http://www.es.lancs.ac.uk/wyre_project/, please contact Nick Chappell for further details.

LEC Staff Projects 2012-13

Name of Supervisor: Jos Barlow

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC 3, Room B34. [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Biodiversity & Conservation, Tropical Forests, Fire in the Earth System, Amazonia

Project#1

Project Title: Impacts of wildfires on the functional diversity of Amazonian vegetation

Project Description: The student will develop a database of the functional traits of Amazonian trees, which will be used in conjunction with existing data on the impacts of forest disturbance on tree diversity.

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#2

Project Title: Biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical forests

Project Description: Examine the impact of human activities on tropical forest biodiversity, either through meta-analysis of exiting studies, or through fieldwork in a tropical forest setting (the latter may require funding).

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Name of Supervisor: Keith Beven

Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Hydrological modelling, residence time and water quality

modelling and load estimation, uncertainty estimation

Project#1

Project Title: Application of a random particle tracking model of hillslope response to data from a lysimeter experiment or Hafren catchment at Plynlimon (2 projects) – co-supervised with Dr Jess Davies

Project Description: This project will contribute to a NERC funded development of novel hillslope hydrology modelling based on random particle tracking techniques (the particle animations are cool!!; some details are given in Davies et al., Hydrological Processes, 2011). Data from some lysimeter experiments are available from EPFL, Lausanne and can be used to test the predicted

changes in residence time distributions of the model. The model can also be applied to data from a brownfield site using data supplied by the Environment Agency. The model would be applied to one of these data sets with a view to testing different hypotheses about velocity distributions.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: Application of dynamic Topmodel to the Llyn Briane catchments (link to NERC funded DURESS project)

Project Description: As part of the NERC DURESS project, the Llyn Briane experimental catchments (that date back to the acid rain research program) are being revitalised. This project will look at the representation of the rainfall-runoff processes in the catchment using a new version of dynamic Topmodel (Beven and Freer, Hydr. Process. 2011)

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#3

Project Title: Flood Forecasting on the River Nith – co-supervised with Dr Paul Smith

Project Description: Back in 1991, Lancaster University implemented a flood forecasting system for the town of Dumfries on the River Nith in Scotland (see Beven, Rainfall-Runoff Modelling, 1st edition, 2001). Even at that time it included real-time data assimilation and uncertainty estimation. This work successfully for some years but fell into disuse when the original PC was upgraded. SEPA are now reviewing their flood forecasting methods and we have obtained up-to-date records for the Nith. This project will develop a new forecasting system using improved methods for the Nith. Some knowledge of using Matlab would be an advantage in getting started.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#4

Project Title: Hysteresis in hillslope and catchment hydrological responses.

Project Description: Models of hillslope and catchment hydrology are generally based on conceptual storage elements in which the outwards flux is a unique function of storage (see Kirchner, WRR 2009). This should not be the case where the length scale of the system is significant relative to storage. Then the outwards flux should depend on the wetting and drying of the system in some broadly hysteretic way (see Beven, HESS 2006). In fact, classic unit hydrograph or transfer function principles embody a form of hysteresis in their asymmetry. This project will look to see whether such hysteresis can be detected in hydrological records and if so how it might best be represented.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Paul Smith & Keith Beven

Contact details (room LEC1 B505, x92736, [email protected] no, tel no, email LEC1 B538, X93892, [email protected] address): My research is focussed on the appropriate representation of Research Interests: the uncertainties associated with environmental modelling and data. I have a background in statistics and hydrological forecasting, particularly of floods.

Project#1

Project Title: Does knowledge of spatial rainfall patterns lead to improved hydrological forecasts? Project Description: In many situations, such as flash floods, the discharge at a catchment outlet may be the response to an intense localised rainfall event within the catchment. Such rainfall events are often poorly characterised by a network of rain gauges which observed precipitation a specific spatial locations. This in turn may lead to biased, inaccurate and imprecise hydrological forecasts.

Radar allows the spatial pattern of rainfall to be observed but providing quantitative precipitation estimates from a radar image may introduce unknown biases. The effects of this on any resulting hydrological forecasts are poorly understood.

Working with data from Europe this project aims to test the hypothesis that the availability of radar derived rainfall estimates allows the construction of more accurate flood forecasting models of the type considered in Romanowicz et al.(Advances in Water Resources, 31:1048-1056)

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Prof. Andrew Binley

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B539, LEC1, tel. Ext. 93927, Email: [email protected] address): Research Interests:

My research covers two general areas: hydrogeophysics and groundwater-surface water interaction. In hydrogeophysics we are trying to establish the link between geophysical and hydrological properties of subsurface materials so that we can use geophysics to map hydrological characteristics (e.g. permeability) at the field scale. My research group also uses geophysical methods (electrical resistivity, induced polarisation, ground penetrating radar) at the field scale and in laboratory samples to monitor changes in hydrological states for specific applications (e.g. changes in water content in soil due to root uptake). Our research into groundwater-surface

water interaction focuses on the hydrological and chemical processes that occur as groundwater emerges into rivers and the characteristics of this critical zone on the attenuation of nutrients being transported to the surface water.

Project#1

Project Title: River-aquifer connectivity

Project Description: One of the current challenges facing water resource managers is how to assess the impact of groundwater abstraction or contamination on river water quality. Traditionally groundwater and surface water environments have been treated as separate bodies, however, new European directives enforce the need for a clear understanding of how the change in state of one system affects the other. We have been studying groundwater-surface water interaction in a number of groundwater fed rivers for a number of years. We have just received funding from NERC for a new project in the Hampshire Avon which is going to look at contrasts in the mobility of macronutrients (C,N & P) from land to river. A key part of this is the understanding of hydrological pathways within our newly instrumented sites. Possible projects are principally field based, although the potential exists for development of model based investigations. The student will probably be based in Dorset/Wiltshire for a field campaign period. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: Mapping plant-soil-water dynamics

Project Description: We have recently started a BBSRC funded project with Rothamstead Research in which we are trying to map non- invasively the changes in soil water over time during crop growth. The particular focus is on wheat, in particular drought tolerant wheat. Field studies have been carried out at a study site in Woburn and we plan further experiments for 2013. Ultimately we would like to be able to develop a method that will allow rapid spatial mapping of soil water, and hence minimise plant stress. Projects are available to investigate a range of aspects of plant-soil-water dynamics, capitalising on the field programme that will be carried out.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Alan Blackburn

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC3 A25, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My research focuses on developing remote sensing and GIS techniques for environmental applications, particularly in ecology and biodiversity, vegetation physiology and dynamics and environmental security. This work takes place at a variety of scales, from individual plant leaves to biomes.

Project#1

Project Title: Scoping Survey of Environmental Information for River Basin Management Plans. Joint with Roger Timmis (Environment Agency, based in LEC)

Project Description: Background. River Basin Management Plans in the North West require investigations of the water environment, so that the Environment Agency understands the latest state of the environment and can identify the right interventions to deliver the outcomes in the plans. Although the Environment Agency has an extensive programme of environmental monitoring, there are many other partner organisations who gather additional relevant information e.g. Rivers Trusts, Universities, Fishing Clubs. The Environment Agency wants to promote a more collaborative approach to the required investigations by starting an “environmental evidence network” that would share data from the different organisations, and would encourage more co-ordinated partnership working. The network would promote a more cost-effective approach to investigations and would engage a wider range of people to understand and improve our water environment. Such partnership working is in line with the Government’s policies on Localism and the Big Society. Project Objectives. The aim of the project is to make a first step towards an “environmental evidence network” in the North West, by systematically surveying and collating the scope of relevant monitoring data held by different organisations. The survey and collation would cover a defined area and timescale, and would focus on exploring information about the data holdings of different organisations i.e. on exploring metadata. The project will use systematic searches and enquiries to establish the extent of metadata, which would be systematically recorded and made accessible via a Geographic Information System. The data to be explored and mapped will typically include: 1. Types/extents of water bodies that require

investigation and parameters of interest. 2. The scope of Environment Agency holdings of information and those of other organisations. 3. Information on the methods used to gather data including quality/sampling aspects. 4. Identification of water bodies where there are significant information gaps. 5. Advice on how the new survey information could be shared. General Approach. It is proposed that the project will run alongside an Environment Agency pilot study of a NW catchment e.g. the Eden, Ribble or Irwell. This will ensure it engages closely with existing catchment studies and will keep it focussed and practicable in the time available. The Environment Agency will supply background information on the River Basin Management Plan, and will contribute data and advice from its Regional and Head Office Evidence teams. The student will need/acquire skills in researching and organising environmental data/metadata, and in using GIS systems to present information it so that users can understand its potential for River Basin Management.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: The distribution and impact of small dams in the Amazon

Project Description: Small damns (<1ha) are a common feature of human- dominated tropical forest landscapes. They are either created accidentally as a result of incorrect drainage during road building, or deliberately to provide drinking water for cattle and water for irrigation. They have a major impact on the functioning of watersheds, heating the water and preventing fish movements. This study will be the first aimed at developing techniques for mapping the frequency and distribution of these damns in two regions of the Brazilian Amazon, combining high-precision satellite images (Ikonos & Rapideye) with a Digital Elevation Model that predicts stream flow.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Dr Nick A Chappell

Contact details (room no, tel no, email A508-LEC1; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Hydrology of forests and uplands; catchment management for water supply; rainfall-runoff processes; linking water flow with water quality characteristics

Project#1

Project Title: Valuing the watershed services of forests

Project Description: Work with the NERC DURESS project team (notably Lancaster University and Aberystwyth University) and collaborators in Coed Cymru (Welsh Woodland), Forestry Commission, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the Secretariat for the Convention on Wetlands (‘Ramsar’) to quantify the financial value of forests (deciduous & planted conifers) in providing watershed services to the UK economy (http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/). This project involves a mix of natural and social science (economics), and could involve fieldwork in a deciduous woodland basin (G1) and conifer basin (LI8) near to Llyn Brianne regulating reservoir on the Towy river, Wales

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: Mixing characteristics of channel reaches used for ecological manipulation studies Project Description: Work with the NERC DURESS project team (notably Lancaster, Cardiff and Queen Mary London Universities and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) to quantify the way that water is stored and mixed within five channel reaches being used for ecological manipulation studies. Fluorometric dilution methods (British Standard 3689-2D) and simple time-series approaches will be used to characterise the channels.

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#3

Project Title: Improving catchment management to reduce water treatment costs in water supply catchments

Project Description: Work with the Catchment Management Team of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to relate findings from DURESS to improved management in reservoir catchments in South Wales (http://www.dwrcymru.com). There are potentially three projects all involving fieldwork to measure flows and water quality (colour, DOC or nitrate) in: (i) forests surrounding a Welsh Water reservoir (Upper Lliw reservoir), (ii) drained peatland (Grwyne Fawr reservoir), or (iii) a groundwater catchment (Pendine reservoir)

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project #4

Project Title: Restoring aquatic environments

Project Description: Work with the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Bangor) to relate river flow and/or water quality behaviour of streams at the source of the River Severn and River Wye to assist upland restoration work within the ‘Pumlumon Project’: http://www.montwt.co.uk/pumlumon.html. This project would involve hydrological and/or water quality fieldwork in upland wetlands and streams. Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#5

Project Title: Calibration of river flumes using UK water industry standards

Project Description: Work with the NERC DURESS project team and collaborators in the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Environment Agency to learn and apply the methods of river gauging used by the Environment Agency, water companies and research organisations such as the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (see Herschy, 2008 ‘Streamflow Measurement’ & Shaw et al., 2010 ‘Hydrology in Practice’). The work will involve fieldwork and will contribute to ongoing NERC-funded research at Llyn Brianne, upland Wales.

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#6

Project Title: Carbon and nutrient dynamics within upland streams

Project Description: Work with the NERC DURESS project team and collaborators in the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to undertake field measurements of carbon and nutrient dynamics in upland streams under differing land-covers (moorland, conifer woodland and deciduous woodland). The work will contribute to the ongoing NERC-funded research at Llyn Brianne, upland Wales.

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Bill Davies

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B57, 10203, [email protected] address): Research Interests:

The research group focuses on the plant science that underpins drought resistance, the sustainable use of resources in crop production and yield development. WeI operate in a research area which is of global significance and much of our professional engagement is with researchers and practitioners who work in parts of the world where our research can make and has made a real difference. In the last five years in particular, it has become increasingly clear that plant science and plant scientists have a crucial role to play in ensuring sustained and adequate supply of food to increasing numbers of needy people. For more than twenty years our research group has made a real effort to ensure the effective translation of research findings into practical application.

Project#1

Project Title: Global Food Security

Project Description: Global Food Security is an issue causing great concern in many regions of the world and is now an almost ever-present issue in the press. It is generally accepted that an internationally- based trans-disciplinary effort is required to meet the challenges of both producing and distributing enough good quality food to adequately feed a growing world population. The challenge of increasing production against a background of limited resource availability for agriculture and a concern about the negative environmental impact of agriculture on the environment are additional issues requiring innovative thinking and breakthrough.

Food security may be usefully conceptually divided into three major components and projects can be made available in all of these area: Food availability (production, distribution, and exchange), food access (affordability, allocation, and preference), and food utilization (nutritional value, social value, and food safety).

Food security is not so much a “problem” to be solved but a state, or condition, to be attained. That is to say, the “problem” of food insecurity is not amenable to being easily and simply solved as it is not possible to identify all of its relevant food security parameters. Indeed, many of the key parameters are outside what is traditionally included in food security debates and involve energy policy, mitigation of climate change, subsidies, tariffs, and quotas, environmental concerns, wealth distribution, and population growth. Put 15

differently, food security is not solely about science and technology. It is not solely about social institutions. It is not solely about natural phenomena. Nor is it the sum of these. Instead, it is about the rather messy entanglement of all of these. This is an opportunity for interdisciplinary thinking and working.

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MRes Environment and Development MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology

Project#2

Project Title: Food for thought

Project Description: In this short film – the latest in a record of LU activity in this arena – we plan to examine how UK farming and food production systems are changing and how to engage the general public and in particular school students with these issues. We consider:

. how UK food producers; those in the supply chain; and in agri & scientific research, can best address the issues underpinning food security? . How more talented young people can be induced to show more interest in food-related issues.

The thrust of the argument in the film is that ‘UK food’ is a substantial success story but there is a recognition problem here and more talented young people are needed to generate the key expertise of the future. The issues - covered in the film using interview, discussion and demonstration - might include:

. Opportunities for school students, undergrads and postgrads . Global problems . Work to understand the implications of the sustainable intensification of agriculture (trade offs between land use, ecosystem services and food production) within an ‘ecological economy’ . Increases in local food production . Genetic improvement and novel management of crops and livestock with impact nationally and globally on:  potential yield  resistance to climatic extremes  resource use efficiency and sustainability . Work to enhance product quality and to reduce waste . Work to exploit the opportunities for UK offered by climate change

. The UK’s contribution to particular global food challenges

Lancaster has produced a DVD to showcase its work for Food Security and to enhance the profile of the subject (http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/international/food_security/). This is a very general introduction to the issue. The target audience for the new video will be students in secondary schools, before they make course choices, which lead to particular career paths. This project will focus on post- production editing of the film (with a specialist production team), further defining the preparing complementary material for the video.

Degree schemes: MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MRes Environment and Development MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology

Name of Supervisor: Ian Dodd

Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address): Research Interests:

M y research aims to understand the mechanisms by which plants sense changes in the soil physical environment, how they communicate this information to the shoot to regulate water use, growth and crop yield, and how this knowledge can be exploited to maximize agricultural profit while sustainably using resources. Most of my recent work has focused on improving crop water use efficiency by exploiting crop genetic resources (including the use of different rootstocks in vegetable transplant production) and management techniques such as deficit irrigation and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

Project#1

Project Title: Optimising vegetable production by rootstock-mediated crop improvement Project Description: Many vegetable crops (eg. tomato, cucumber) are grown under protected cropping (glasshouses, polytunnels) and supplied with a surplus of resources (water, nutrients). However, in many regions where such crops are grown, there is increasing pressure on the industry to become more resource use efficient, by decreasing water and nutrient supplies and/or using alternative water sources (eg. treated waste water, or obtained from subterranean aquifers, which have a higher than optimal salt load). As part of a multinational European Union-funded project (ROOTOPOWER – Empowering root-targeted strategies to minimize abiotic stress impacts on horticultural crops), Lancaster scientists will determine the effects of different rootstocks (derived from a mapping population of a wild and domestic tomato species) on the response of a commercial tomato variety to different abiotic stresses (low water availability, salinity and nutrient deficiency). Rootstock effects on plant growth and water use efficiency, and root-to-shoot signalling (phytohormones and nutrient ions) will be determined, allowing targeted experiments with selected rootstocks (perturbed in individual components of root-to-shoot signalling) to identify the physiological basis of rootstock effects. Opportunities for field work under semi-commercial conditions in southern Spain. Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Novel irrigation management to improve crop water use efficiency

Project Description: In the future, climate-change-induced alterations in rainfall patterns in many of the world’s agricultural regions and increasing pressure on available fresh water supplies from non-agricultural users, will force a change in irrigation management such that deficit irrigation (supplying less water than crop evapotranspiration) becomes commonplace. Deficit irrigation necessarily results in soil drying, which alters the hydraulic and chemical signalling between roots and shoots, and influences crop yield. As part of a multinational European Union-funded project (SIRRIMED – Sustainable use of IRRIgation water in the MEDiterranean region), Lancaster scientists will optimise different types of deficit irrigation (where and how much water should be applied to the rootzone) using automatic irrigation scheduling (reliant on soil- and plant-based sensors). The operation of these techniques will be assessed not only in terms of their ability to save water, but their physiological (crop water relations, gas exchange and signalling) and agronomic (crop yield and quality) impacts. Field experiments (in conjunction with Myerscough College) will investigate the impacts of root distribution and different irrigation treatments on leaf physiology, crop yield and postharvest qualities (including taste) of strawberry.

Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or Jaime Puertolas ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: Identifying improved water use efficiency within a diverse set of maize germplasm

Project Description: Climate change models predict decreased precipitation in many of the world’s cropping regions, which will decrease agricultural productivity unless plant breeders can develop more drought tolerant genotypes. As part of a multinational European Union-funded project (DROPS – DROught-tolerant yielding PlantS), Lancaster scientists will identify whether genetic variation in water-use efficiency (the ratio of plant biomass = carbon gain to transpiration = water use) can be combined with high productivity. Different physiological indices (from phenotyping platforms, isotopic discrimination measurements, single leaf gas exchange) will be utilised to select for novel traits linked to stomatal control under water deficit. Recent evidence indicates that stomatal behaviour is regulated by a combination of hydraulic and chemical (plant hormones – particularly ABA and ethylene) signals that can be measured as possible determinants of water use efficiency.

Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or Annette Ryan ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#4

Project Title: Using the biogenic volatile organic compound VOC isoprene to improve crop water use efficiency Project Description: Declining fresh water supplies and drought stresses are two of the biggest factors that limit crop productivity and quality. There has been extensive research into how plants react to these stresses and the response of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) to drought is well established. Less well studied is the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by exposure to water deficit and the corresponding role of the volatile organic compound isoprene, which may act as an antioxidant. Under drought, ROS content and membrane damage can double when compared to well-watered plants. Thus, there may be considerable potential for increasing drought tolerance, and improving water use efficiency in plants by enhancing plant antioxidant defences and the speed of response to oxidative stress under drought. Lancaster scientists will use transgenic isoprene emitting and non- emitting tobacco to examine: 1) the response of isoprene emission to water deficit, and 2) investigate the possible relationship between ABA and isoprene.

Contact: Annette Ryan ([email protected]) or Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#5

Project Title: Vertical farming to increase crop resource use efficiency within urban agriculture

Project Description: Increasing crop resource use efficiency but is constrained by crop genetics, environment and in the case of conventional farming practices, space. Production systems that allow crops to be extended into the vertical dimension (vertical farming) offer significantly more growing capacity per unit of crop available land, and when self contained have the potential for use in urban growing situations. An innovative vertical growing technology developed by Saturn Bioponics Ltd. UK (SB) offers the ability to independently manipulate (and optimise) environmental factors regulating crop root and shoot growth, reduce nutrient and water inputs (via irrigation recycling) and reduce energy input requirements through direct, contained and recyclable delivery of air/CO2 to the plant root zone. This project aims to identify the limiting factors for crop growth within the SB technology within a UK glasshouse, to determine the impacts of specific environmental factors and to develop appropriate crop management procedures

Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or Martin McAinsh ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#6

Project Title: Accelerating the cropping cycle of Brassica crops (with Produce World, Boston, Lincolnshire)

Project Description: Decreasing the life cycle duration of Brassica crops may allow “out-of-season” cropping, which may allow the producer to command higher market prices. Applying naturally occurring soil-borne rhizobacteria (that can break down the ethylene precursor) to the substrate of pot-grown plants promotes early vegetative growth and flowering of the model Brassica plant Arabidopsis and potatoes Whether this would decrease time- to-cropping of field crops has not been tested. Rhizobacteria will be multiplied as liquid suspensions by standard techniques, and their storeage characteristics (necessary to determine efficacy of transported inoculants) assessed by regular bioassays of plant growth promoting bacteria. Rhizobacteria will be applied to peat blocks after seeding in the nursery, where seedlings are produced for subsequent transplanting to the field. Experiments will assay crop physiological responses and yield (after transplanting), and determine colonisation of the root system by the bacteria (in both nursery and field). Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#7

Project Title: Exploiting stress signals to increase anti-oxidant content and shelf-life of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) (with East Malling Research, Kent and VHB Ltd)

Project Description: Applying less water to crops than considered optimal (termed deficit irrigation) can improve organoleptic and post-harvest quality but often shoot biomass is reduced. For some leafy crops, it is important to maintain shoot biomass and so an alternative way of increasing plant robustness and product quality without reducing marketable yields is needed. Novel deficit irrigation regimes may maintain shoot biomass, and trigger the biosynthesis of jasmonates and abscisic acid (ABA) which will, in turn; elevate foliar ascorbic acid (AsA) concentrations and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). It is anticipated that these changes will help to improve organoleptic and post-harvest quality in living potted basil. Three different irrigation techniques will be compared :

- well-watered (WW) where water will be applied to replace that lost by evapotranspiration

- deficit Irrigation (DI) imposed throughout the growing period;

- transient deficit irrigation (TDI) imposed to induce a mild and transient shoot wilting. Effects of the irrigation regimes on foliar antioxidants and stress signals (e.g. ethylene, ABA, jasmonates), and shelf-life potential will be determined.

Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or Mark Else ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#8

Project Title: Nutrient management within water-saving irrigation strategies for strawberry (with East Malling Research, Kent)

Project Description: An increasing proportion of soft fruit growers are switching production away from the field into artificial substrates. Current recommendations are to over-irrigate to prevent the development of ‘dry spots’ and the build-up of solutes (high EC) in the substrate, which eventually limits yields and quality. Nevertheless, this practice results in large losses of water and fertiliser and there are concerns about the effect of this practice on groundwater quality, especially in south east UK. New irrigation strategies have been developed at EMR that limit water and nutrient losses but calcium nutrition now needs to be optimised to ensure high yields of good quality, Class 1 berries. The critical substrate EC values above which fruit yields and quality are reduced also need to be identified to help inform commercial irrigation strtaegies. Strawberry plants will be grown in coir bags in a polytunnel at EMR. Irrigation will be applied to match demand with supply and run-off of water and fertilisers will be eliminated. A range of Ca2+ concentrations will be used in different stock feed solutions and the effects on foliar concentrations, Class 1 yields, berry firmness and shelf-life potential will be determined. Critical substrate EC values that limit Class 1 yields and/or fruit quality will be also be identified.

Contact: Ian Dodd ([email protected]) or Mark Else ([email protected])

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#9

Project Title: Investigation into ways of improving nutrient availability in industrial co-products

Project Description: A large industrial chemical company is producing co-products that are currently unused and are disposed of in landfill sites, Levity is undertaking development work to find ways of converting them co-products into useful materials and reduce waste going to landfill. These co-products have useable levels of agriculturally useful plant nutrients (Iron, Manganese, Zinc) but they are in forms that have low plant availability. The study will look at combining these co-products with other nutrients that enhance the plant uptake of those useful elements contained in the co-products, and will involve testing the relative efficacy of these formulations on a variety of crops.

Jointly supervised with Dr Sally Wilkinson

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#10

Project Title: Investigation into the effect of auxin inhibitors on incidence of tip-burn in lettuce

Project Description: Polar calcium transport is strongly linked to tissue levels of the auxin hormone. This study will use the auxin inhibitor TIBA to restrict auxin production in lettuce, and measure it's impact on the incidence of the calcium related physiological disorder tip- burn. The study will also look at the relative ability of a foliar calcium fertiliser to reduce tip-burn (with and without inclusion of compounds that improve calcium uptake in low auxin producing tissue) under TIBA and control.

Jointly supervised with Dr Sally Wilkinson

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#11

Project Title: Investigation into the effects of nitrogen stabilisation on osmotic stress tolerance

Project Description: The mix of form of nitrogen taken up by crops affects their hormone balance and informs their growth habit, which may also impact upon ability to withstand osmotic stresses. This study will investigate the supplying stabilised N over conventional N sources, and the effect of this on growth of crops under control and stressed conditions.

Jointly supervised with Dr Sally Wilkinson

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Andrew Folkard

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC III Room B26, x10259, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Environmental fluid dynamics, hydrodynamics, hydraulics, flow-biota interactions, physical processes in lakes, vegetated watercourses, estuarine and inter-tidal systems

Project#1

Project Title: Updating Manning’s equation to make it fit for 21st century purpose Project Description: Manning’s equation is the primary tool for estimating flow discharge in rivers and other watercourses, and has been since it was introduced at the end of the 19th century. Increasingly in recent years, river researchers have become concerned that it doesn’t deal well with situations where the drag on the flow varies, either on short timescales (e.g. vegetation or debris flapping in the flow, or flattening out as the flow increases) or on longer timescales (e.g. vegetation growing into complex canopies over the summer, debris coming and going with the passing of high flows). This is becoming increasingly important in light of the current growth of river restoration projects, which aim to re-introduce habitat diversity and thus morphological complexity into river systems. This project would investigate a new approach to dealing with this problem, which would distinguish sources of drag on the basis of the timescale over which they varied, and its application to a variety of watercourses. The work would involve a combination of working in rivers and streams in the field, and numerical data analysis and modelling back in the dry. The project would be of interest to engineering & environmental consultancies (notably HR Wallingford) and has the potential to use databases collected by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Sustainable Water Management

(possibly MSc Ecology and Conservation if students wanted to give this more of an ecological spin)

Project#2

Project Title: Between overland flow and channel flow: unravelling the role of runoff in ephemeral field streams Project Description: In many pastoral agricultural settings, the primary runoff from fields is via ephemeral channels that are barely visible dips in topography in dry conditions, but which play a key role in field drainage of rainfall. Understanding the role of these features is difficult, because they fall in between “real” stream channels and general through sub-surface and (occasional) overland flow, and thus are only marginally amenable to the established methods of measuring and quantifying these two more ubiquitous flow types. This project would aim to find ways of measuring both the water flow and the transport of sediments and nutrients via these features, using a prime example at the university’s Hazelrigg field site. By doing this, it would aim to elucidate how these features respond to rainfall, why and how they are maintained, and the role they play in field runoff. The work would involve a combination of in-stream fieldwork and numerical data analysis and modelling. This project would be highly relevant to the work of environmental and hydraulic engineering consultancies, and Defra. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Sustainable Water Management

(possibly MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) if the student wished to give it a more agricultural spin)

Project#3

Project Title: A regional scale water audit for NW England

Project Description: How much of the rain that falls on NW England passes through urban areas on its way to the sea, and how much pollution does it pick up while it is there? What proportion of its travel time does runoff spend in lakes or peatland or marshes, and what does its nutrient and pollutant load look like when it emerges? What does the unit hydrograph look like at a regional scale, and how are nutrient and pollutant concentrations distributed along that hydrograph? All of these questions are vital to our understanding of, and ability to manage, what gets washed off the land into the Irish Sea, and when, and crucially how this might change under predicted climate change scenarios. While most studies of runoff and nutrient/pollutant transport focus in detail on individual catchments, this project would attempt to quantify a regional scale hydrograph-based budget intended to show the overall impact of NW England on the runoff from it. The work would involve accessing, analysing and extrapolating from existing databases, and synthesising them in a novel way using a GIS- based approach. The work would use data provided by the UK Environment Agency and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and the results would have the potential to

contribute to the work of these two bodies.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Sustainable Water Management

(possibly MSc Environmental Informatics if the student wanted to give the project an Informatics spin)

Project#4

Project Title: Urban blue networks: understanding the distribution and inter-connectedness of surface waters in cities Project Description: Surface waterbodies, from garden ponds to estuaries, are ubiquitous in urban areas. Although most are severely degraded, urban surface waterbodies play valuable ecological and social roles, and there is a growing appetite for maximising their ecological health and connectivity and their services to society, thus enabling them to function as more than the sum of their parts,. Despite their evident value, knowledge of their services and functioning and how to integrate them into urban planning is scarce. There have been few attempts to take a city-wide view of aquatic environments. Using a combination of archived aerial and satellite data and ground-based surveys, this project would aim to provide as full as possible an inventory of a chosen town or city’s surface waterbodies. From this baseline study, the project could then take different paths, based on students’ predelictions. Taking a natural science approach, ground-based measurements would be carried out to quantify the water quality and ecological health of a representative set of different waterbodies across the city, and analyse their partitioning and connectivity using landscape ecology metrics and concepts. Taking a social science approach, questionnaire and interview techniques would be used to elucidate the ways in which these surface waterbodies shape the public and private practices of citizens and thus interweave themselves into the social and economic activities of the city. These projects would use inputs from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and would have the potential to involve working with city or town councils and/or conservation organisations.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#5

Project Title: Morphology-flow-vegetation interactions in young, established saltmarshes: still acting like a kid, or old before their time? Project Description: Saltmarshes are unique, fragile systems that punch far above their surface area in terms of providing ecosystem services and supporting biodiversity. Their inception, growth and maintenance is a result of a complex combination of sediment transport, geomorphology, tidal flows and wave action and plant growth and survival strategies. Understanding of these interactions is relatively well advanced where either (a) the salt marsh is nascent, consisting of isolated patches of pioneer vegetation within bare mud flats; and (b) the salt marsh is mature, consisting of robust vegetation succession patterns drained primarily via large creek systems. There is, however, limited understanding of the detailed mechanics of saltmarsh evolution on the way from (a) to (b). This is important because it is essential for understanding how these marshes may respond to the many stresses they face, such as increased pollution or eutrophication from the land, or squeeze from coastal construction and rising sea levels. This project would set out to provide better understanding of the interactions of sediment, topography, water and plant activity on such a transitional saltmarsh at Lytham, Lancashire, with which we have several year’s previous experience. Depending of students’ interests, this may involve use of LiDAR topographic mapping instrumentation, analysing imagery taken from UAVs (unmanned airborne vehicles), or field or lab-based studies of sediment movements, water flow or plant growth strategies. The project would have the potential to use data from, and liaison with, the UK Environment Agency, and would also be of interest to local councils responsible for coastal areas with saltmarshes within them. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#6

Project Title: Modelling of food transport and supply in heterogeneous mussel beds Project Description: Mussels and other bivalves are keystone species in many intertidal ecosystems, and provide important sources of income in many coastal economies. They usually form heterogeneous patterns, and this has been shown to lead to greater biomass production per unit area, because of the way it allows food supplies to be shared. Mussels and filter feeders, and their access to food is determined by the flow and mixing of water, which provide food horizontally and from above respectively. Through a series of laboratory flume studies, we have gathered detailed data on how heterogeneous mussel patches interact with the flows that pass over them to control this food supply. The aim of this project would be to use this data by building a numerical model of mussel-flow interactions, that would enable a much wider range of heterogeneous patterns to be studied, and to investigate how the patterns evolve and respond to external stresses and changes in their environment. The intention is that such a model would eventually be able to inform managers and shellfish farmers about how to maximise the services of coastal mussel beds. The project would have the potential to involve use of information from, and liaison with, UK and Dutch mussel farmers and bodies responsible for monitoring and researching shellfish stocks. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#7

Project Title: Transport of airborne particles in woodland canopies

Project Description: There is a wide range of biologically important, or damaging, airborne particles present in every woodland. These range from anthropogenic particulates from combustion, to seeds, pollen, fungal spores and other biogenic particulates to flying insects. The transport of these by airflows through the woodland canopy may be important for the woodland itself, but may also be important for surrounding areas such as crop fields, and woodlands may act as a barrier, isolating crops from problems or benefits. Each of these particulates will have their own dynamic behaviour, which when combined with the highly complex nature of airflow through woodland canopies makes prediction of their transport and fate a very challenging problem. The intention of this project would be to carry out a pilot study of the transport and fate of a range of different particulates in a woodland canopy, using a fieldsite with which we have extensive previous experience. The work would involve design and execution of field experiments, which would require creativity and imagination, and analysis of data collected using numerical and spatial techniques. The work 31

has the potential to involve liaison with forest managers and local crop farmers.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#8

Project Title: Utilising the shear layer at the top of forest canopies: assessment of a novel wind energy capture design Project Description: Air flow near the top of forest canopies, as at the top of any semi-permeable obstacle, forms a strong shear layer, where the flow changes from rapid overflow a short distance above the canopy to much slower throughflow a short distance below the top of the canopy. Theoretically, the strong vorticity in the region would be able to drive rotating wheels (akin to old waterwheels), aligned with their axes across the path of the wind, from which energy could then be extracted. The intention of this project would be to assess whether such a design could produce a viable source of renewable energy, what the obstacles to its widespread use might be, and its environmental impact. The project will require creativity and imagination, and involve the design, build and assessment of scaled down models and their deployment in artificial and real plant canopies, as well as desk studies related to environmental impact and viability. As this would be a “first look” at this novel design, the project is not linked a priori to energy companies or consultancies, but if initial tests were successful, there is potential within the project for discussing the technology with such companies and consultancies, as well as with forestry managers. Degree schemes: MSc Energy and the Environment

Project#9

Project Title: Assessment of the design and deployment of History Windows, a novel educational and public information tool Project Description: History Windows are a novel way of connecting students and the general public with past historical and pre-historical landscapes, or future landscapes or views (e.g. of construction sites), in a very visceral and immediate way. They are based on graphic techniques used in a number of recent historical and archaeological TV documentaries in which views of past landscapes are draped over or superimposed on the present- day view of the same landscape from exactly the same standpoint. They would comprise screens which, on one setting, would be transparent and enable the viewer to see the present day view through them, and on other settings, would be able to project images of historical or prehistoric versions of the same view onto the screen, hiding the present day view. There are many technical and practical issues to be solved before History Windows can become a widely used information tool, including identifying the appropriate material from which to fabricate them (some sort of “smart glass”), the best way of projecting images onto them, the pros and cons of different ways to mount, support and deploy them, the nature of any supplementary user interfaces that would need to accompany them, and how to manufacture and market them to potential buyers. This project would be a pilot study aimed at producing a prototype such device and investigating its development into a viable commercial product, and would require strong creative skills and imagination. It would require liaison with companies providing smart glass products and potentially with possible customers for such products (e.g. local councils, National Heritage, National Trust) Degree schemes: MSc Environmental Informatics

(possibly MA Environmental Management and Consultancy)

Project#10

Project Title: An assessment of the benefits and problems associated with students placements with environmental companies Project Description: Many universities offer placements to students on environment-related degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate level with appropriate companies, either as vehicles for dissertation projects, or as self-standing elements or supplements to their studies. Lancaster is a leader in this field, through its Enterprise and Business Partnerships team, which is an integral part of LEC. In order to assess and optimise the benefits and costs of this practice, this project would carry out a survey of representatives of companies who are or have been involved in taking students, academic staff who have been involved in supervising students’ work with companies, EBP staff whose role is to facilitate such placements, and with past, present and intended-future students, to try to identify what makes the process work when

it does, and not when it doesn’t. The project would be appropriate for a student interested in going into environmental education, private-higher education sector liaison, or human resources in the environmental sector. Support, and access to data, for this project would be provided by EBP.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy

Project#11

Project Title: Assessing eutrophication and sedimentation problems in a new reservoir - Botonega Reservoir, Croatia – Potential Erasmus Exchange Project Project Description: Botonega Reservoir is a multi-purpose facility in Istria, NW Croatia, which is currently used primarily for flood management, but which also has the capacity to serve domestic, industrial and agricultural water supply needs. Construction of the reservoir was completed in 1987. The surface geology of the catchment is dominated by flysch – a soft sedimentary material made up of layers of sandstone and shale, which is very susceptible to erosion. Work is currently being carried out in the catchment by Hrvatske Vode (the Croatian Water Authority) and various other Croatian institutions to provide monitor these erosion processes and the eutrophication and sedimentation problems that they are causing in the reservoir. This project would work with Croatian institutions to analyse these monitoring datasets, provide understanding of the nature and sources of the problems and propose options for solutions to them. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Brian Forde

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC1 B504. [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Plant adaptations to nutrient capture; molecular genetics of root development; control of root architecture; chemical genetics

Project#1

Project Title: Evaluating the capacity of plants to adapt to changes in soil nutrient cycling Project Description: Climate change has the capacity to significantly affect the availability of different chemical forms of soil N, with major consequences for the diversity and productivity of natural and agricultural systems. Our previous studies have revealed marked differences between species in their preference for different forms of N. However, a plant’s effectiveness at competing for soil N is also determined by the developmental plasticity of its root system i.e. its ability to exploit nutrient- rich patches of soil. This project will compare root plasticity traits within a group of plant species to test the hypothesis that these traits are adaptive and can potentially influence the species’ resilience to environmental change. (in collaboration with Richard Bardgett) Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Investigating the adaptive significance of a plant’s ability to forage for organic sources of nitrogen in the soil

Project Description: There is increasing interest in the ecological significance of organic sources of N in the soil. We have discovered that roots of some species are exquisitely sensitive to the presence of organic N (as represented by the amino acid glutamate). In the presence of glutamate, the pattern of root development is modified to produce a shorter, more branched root system. The adaptive significance of this response has not been tested. Using mutants that have lost the ability to sense soil glutamate, this project will investigate how this trait affects plant fitness when grown in different soil types under competitive and non-competitive conditions.

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Jennie Gilbert

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B523c LEC1, tel 01524 593022, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

I am a volcanologist with interests in: the fate of volcanic ash in the atmosphere; volcanic facies as indicators of climate change; glaciovolcanism (processes, products and hazards); geologic mapping; geochemistry; laboratory experiments; volcanism in Iceland and Chile.

Project#1

Project Title: The Environment of Deposition of the Volcanic Rocks of the Little Round How and Great Round How Area of the English Lake District Project Description: This project involves an intensive period of volcanologic field work studying andesitic Ordovician rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group of the Little Round How and Great Round How area of the beautifully scenic English Lake District. A sequence of stratified tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, breccias and andesite lavas are exposed. The aim of the project is to make a geologic map of the exposures, construct graphic logs, sketch, photograph and collect samples of the succession in order to interpret the environment of deposition. This project will be supervised by Jennie Gilbert and Hugh Tuffen. To succeed in this project you will: be keen on field work and willing to spend at least 15 working days in the field; have a geologic background; be an independent and hard worker, and be able to enlist the help of a field assistant (who will be another Lancaster University student willing to accompany you at all times when you are in the field). Access to your own transport would be useful but is not essential.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Project#2

Project Title: The Formation of Cooling Joints in Lava

Project Description: A great variety of types of cooling joints occur in lavas, e.g. columnar, arcuate and hackle, but the precise regimes in which these form are not known. If the regimes in which some of these joints formed were well constrained, identification in ancient rocks would allow aspects of the cooling history and the likely palaeoenvironment of eruption to be determined. This project will require the student to: (1) interrogate the large body of literature on joints in lavas and (2) carry out analogue laboratory experiments of rapid cooling of lava; gum rosin at 100 degrees celsius will be brought into contact with ice, in order to constrain the physical environments in which cooling joints are formed. Supervision will be by Jennie Gilbert and Steve Lane. To succeed in this project you will be a careful laboratory worker and have a keen interest in volcanic processes. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Project#3

Project Title: The Management of Ski Resorts on Active Volcanoes

Project Description: Active volcanoes around the world attract tourists – particularly if they are snow and ice-capped and look attractive. Many snow-capped volcanoes commonly have ski resorts on their flanks. The management of ski resorts on active volcanoes should be different to the management of ski resorts on non-volcanic mountains. This project will determine the number of ski resorts on active volcanoes in the world, the economic value of these to specific countries and the way in which the risks associated with eruptions are managed. To succeed in this project you will be good at using databases and communicating with outdoor activity companies, and have a keen interest in volcanic processes.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Science of the Environment MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Name of Supervisor: Dr Crispin Halsall

Contact details (room no, tel no, email room B507 (LEC1); Ex 94330; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My research interests are in the fate and behaviour of trace organic chemicals in the environment, particularly pesticides and industrial chemicals. Research areas include investigating the long-range transport to remote environments and contaminant behaviour in the Arctic. I also run a laboratory investigating chemical degradation under simulated environmental conditions in order to predict chemical fate.

Project#1

Project Title: Photolytic degradation of current–use pesticides in protected-crop systems Project Description: Glass houses and plastic-protected structures (‘polytunnels’) are increasingly used in agriculture to provide suitable micro- environments to improve crop yield. Pesticides are applied in these environments although their fate is often poorly understood and this may influence the presence of residues on crop-surfaces during harvest. Working under the supervision of a current PhD student this project will investigate the phototransformation of several current-use pesticides to assess the effect of different light conditions (commonly encountered under different types of agricultural plastic) on the phototransformation of specific photolabile pesticides approved for use in plastic-protected structures. This is a laboratory based project using analytical instrumentation, a solar-light simulator and specialised light-measuring equipment.

Project#2

Project Title: Bioaccumulation of brominated flame retardants and perfluoroalky acids in an Arctic marine foodweb Project Description: As part of an ongoing European research programme into chemical pollutants in the Arctic, contaminant data have been collated for two coastal marine species – shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) – sampled from fiords in northern Norway. Both these biota serve as relevant human food stuffs and hence provide a contaminant exposure pathway to humans. Using residue data for these biota, this project will entail devising a foodweb model around these species to examine contaminant transfer and bioaccumulation factors for the lower marine foodweb. Based on human consumption patterns, attempts will also be made to assess the contribution that shrimp and halibut provide to human exposure to these contaminants. This project forms part of an ongoing project with the Arctic Monitoring Assessment Programme (AMAP) based in Oslo, Norway.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: The fate of ‘emerging’ chemical contaminants in the Arctic

Project Description: Over the last few years research at Lancaster has generated a number of significant chemical datasets for air and snowpack studies conducted in different parts of the Arctic. Understanding the behaviour of chemical pollutants is important for determining their fate in the Arctic environment. Using a number of different datasets the purpose of this project is to examine the atmospheric gas/particle partitioning of chemicals like the perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs): important contaminants that are present in a wide range of Arctic fauna. Relevant physical-chemical descriptors will be compiled and used to interpret the atmospheric behaviour of these compounds at sub-zero temperatures, with attempts to predict their deposition to Arctic surfaces. There are opportunities to liaise with international colleagues as part of this project. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#4

Project Title: Improving environmental sustainability in fine chemicals (EBP project) production Project Description: Working with a local chemical company (Alfa Aesar) the purpose of this project is to examine management practices concerning the purchasing and use of a variety of chemicals and the creation of wastes to improve the overall environmental sustainability of site operations. There is also the possibility to examine the company’s adherence and relevance to REACH legislation. Alfa Aesar is part of Johnson Matthey (FTSE-100 company) and the student will work alongside Dr Dick Bryan (R& D Manager) at the Heysham site.

Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Ian Hartley Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address): Research Interests:

Animal ecology, especially behavioural ecology in birds. I can supervise projects in the general area of animal ecology and behaviour in the field, and in the past I have supervised projects on birds and mammals. My own research uses wild blue tits which breed in nest boxes on and near the campus, and I have used these to explore a series of questions relating to interactions between individuals within families. I have also used captive zebra finches in studies with masters students.

Project#1

Project Title: Song consistency and bird quality in blue tits.

Project Description: In birds, song is used as a signal to attract mates and/or repel males. Variation in song has shown to play an important role in this process in some species, and may be related to age or other factors which might indicate the quality of an individual. This project will work in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, to quantify the consistency of song in a population of blue tits breeding on or near the Lancaster University campus. The project will involve taking high quality sound recordings of individual birds in the field in April to early June, and analysing these with dedicated software during later visits to Manchester. Supervisors: Ian Hartley (LEC) and Selvino de Kort (Manchester Metropolitan University) Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#2

Project Title: Nest productivity and parent quality in blue tits.

Project Description: In the wild, the quality of parents could have a major impact upon lifetime reproductive success because individuals face lots of trade-offs when investing limited resources such as food. This project will use an established nest box breeding population of blue tits on the campus to look at the relationship between a series of breeding success measures (e.g. clutch size, laying date, fledging success) and parental quality measures (e.g. age, parasite load, size). The project will involve fieldwork locally to monitor the nests, and there will be access to data from past years. Degree Schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Name of Supervisor: Prof Phil Haygarth

Contact details (room no, tel no, email A532a, 01524 510224, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Soil and water quality, catchment science, phosphorus and nutrient cycling, biogeochemistry and scale.

Project#1

Project Title: Nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural soils as a source of river pollution in the River Eden Demonstration Test Catchment Project Description: Nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key fertilizers that are used for enhancing farm food production, but when they leak to rivers they can turn from fertilizers to potential pollutants, undermining water quality. In this project you will join members of the established River Eden Demonstration Test Catchment team (EdenDTC) http://www.edendtc.org.uk/ and conduct a sampling and chemical analysis for N and P of the soils in the catchment to assess potential impacts on water quality. The student will be trained in project planning, experimental design, soil sampling and analysis, statistics and scientific writing.

Degree schemes: This is potentially relevant to all masters programmes, please contact to discuss relevance and specific ‘fit’

Project #2

Project Title: A phosphorus budget for Lancaster and potential for improved recycling Project Description: Phosphorus (P) is a fascinating element. It is a key nutrient for the earth’s food production yet when it leaks into waterways poses a great threat to water quality – from both agricultural sources and sewage. Contemporary thinking is now turning towards a much more efficient and sustainable means of using P in food and agriculture. In order to achieve this we need to undertake an assessment of ‘what P is where’, to conduct a budget analysis of the potential stocks and flows of P in the earth system. A very useful exercise for this would be to conduct a mass balance for the city (or University) of Lancaster, in order to determine the potential exemplar areas for improved sustainability and innovative solutions. This will be a desk exercise that will involve internet and library research, with some local visits and interviews. The student will need to be reasonably numerate for basic environmental chemistry and conduct a balance sheet exercise, plus critical analysis. Degree schemes: This is potentially relevant to all masters programmes, please contact to discuss relevance and specific ‘fit’

Project #3

Project title Soil properties at the interface between an evergreen Congo rainforest and patches of fire-climax grassland contained within it. Project Description It is known that slash-and-burn agriculture, when repeated on a rain forest soil, can exert a strong degradation of the soil's ability to deliver essential nutrients to crop plants. Similar effects occur, over time, when rainforest vegetation is replaced by fire-climax grasses that are repeatedly burned. Inga Foundation (IF) and the Royal Botanic Garden (RBG) at Kew are collaborating in a project on the Chaillu Massif in Congo which is aimed at trialling and introducing an agroforestry system, developed over many years by Inga Foundation in Central America. Legume trees are being jointly identified and will be deployed in the system known as Inga alley-cropping to provide a sustainable subsistence farming system in place of slash-and-burn. The Massif supports a vast area of little-known evergreen tropical rain forest, except in the vicinity of a proposed iron-ore mine. Anomalous areas of "savanna" grassland are present within the dense forest. It is thought that they could be the result of native iron- smelting some centuries ago; and maintained since then by seasonal burning. If this is so, we would expect to see substantial differences in key soil properties between adjacent savanna and forest sites. Under this proposal, we would bring appropriate soil samples from both formations to Lancaster for analysis. Properties examined would include standard soil pH; Cation Exchange Capacity; exchangeable cations; available P, soil Total P, etc. Apart from providing an interesting M.Sc. topic, the results would be of great interest to the project partners. Degree schemes: This is potentially relevant to all masters programmes, please contact to discuss relevance and specific ‘fit’

Name of Supervisor: Various (assisted by Emily Heath, LEC Erasmus Co-ordinator)

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B521d, x94209, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Not applicable

Project#1

Project Title: Projects in mainland Europe through the Erasmus exchange scheme Project Description: Take advantage of the opportunity to spend 3 months abroad, doing dissertation research with an English-speaking research group, at one of the following universities:

 ETH Zurich, Switzerland (Env Science, Earth Science, Ecology)  Masaryk University, Czech Republic (Env Chemistry, Geoscience, Informatics)  Wageningen University, Netherlands (Env Science, Biology, Ecology)  Univesity of Zagreb, Croatia (Chemistry, Earth Science, Ecology, Biology, Geography)

There are no additional tuition fees, and you will be eligible for an Erasmus grant of around 225 Euros per month to assist with expenses such as travel and accommodation.

Erasmus projects are organised on an individual basis, with a supervisor in Lancaster and one at your host university abroad. Please contact Emily Heath for further information or to express an interest. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Name of Supervisor: Nick Hewitt

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B506, LEC1. [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Atmospheric science

Project#1

Project Title: Detection of formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide in indoor air

(more than one project is available on this topic) Project Description: Formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide are both important indoor air pollutants. In this project you will determine the concentrations of these pollutants in indoor air and study how they vary with proximity to sources, ventilation rate, wind speed and other environmental variables. Details of the questions to be addressed are open for discussion. An interest in, and some experience of, practical analytical chemistry is essential.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Greg Holland

Office: B502 LEC1 Contact details (room Tel: 01524 594369 no, tel no, email Email: [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My current research interests are broadly environmental. They include carbon capture and storage techniques in natural gas / oil reservoirs using a combination of noble gases and stable isotopes (C,N,O); ancient crustal fluid systems; noble gases as a tool for tracing biogeochemical and physical processes in groundwater systems; evolution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere over geological time; planetary science.

Project#1

Project Title: Commissioning a quadrupole mass spectrometer for analysis of dissolved gases in wetlands Project Description: Methane and carbon dioxide from wetlands and ponds are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions from the Earth’s surface. As such, man-made wetlands created to improve rural water quality by capturing sediment and nutrients may act as hot spots for these gases. Traditionally, low time resolution sampling of these environments is performed by collecting gas evolved from the wetland into gas flux chambers designed to capture gaseous emissions. Samples are then returned to the laboratory for analysis. With acquisition of new instrumentation at Lancaster, this projects hope to analyse a range of dissolved gases (e.g. methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) in these wetland environments to understand the physical and biological processes that are occurring. Successful calibration and testing of instrumentation in the laboratory in Lancaster will be followed by analyses from wetland samples in the laboratory but also (if time and instrument setup allows), uniquely, continuously in the field. This in-situ analysis capability will provide additional vital information on gas fluxes to the atmosphere in real time.

Degree schemes: Any

Project#2

Project Title: Commissioning a quadrupole mass spectrometer for analysis of noble gases in groundwaters Project Description: Dissolved gases, particularly oxygen, play a critically important role in biogeochemical cycles of aquatic systems. Supersaturation of these gases by entrapment and dissolution of air is a commonly observed phenomenon in groundwater, termed the ‘excess air’ component. Oxygen is used as a diagnostic tool for water quality monitoring therefore the ‘excess air’ component has important implications for understanding oxygen consumption in groundwater and hence water quality. We need to understand the underlying physical processes of gas exchange if we are to understand the dynamic oxygen cycle. The noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon) are ideal in this regard because they are not affected by biogeochemical cycles. With acquisition of new instrumentation at Lancaster, this projects hopes to analyse the range of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) in water and compare dissolved oxygen with dissolved noble gases concentrations under a range of experimental conditions. This project will develop the use of noble gases as a tool for understanding biogeochemical cycles and as tracers of physical processes in groundwater systems. Degree schemes: Any

Name of Supervisor: Dr Mark W Hounslow

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LECII, room A26. 01524 [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

1)Magnetic-based methods of geochronology at a variety of times scales from the last few thousand years to 200-300 million years. 2) sediment tracing and long-term sediment transportation systems in the marine and terrestrial aquatic environments, 3) magnetic proxies for understanding environmental change and related processes.

Project#1

Project Title: Impacts of iron-working waste on the coastal environment of Workington, West Cumbria Project Description: This project will investigate the spatial distribution and types of iron-working wastes from the past metal-working industrial centres in west Cumbria. It will utilise conventional and magnetic methods to characterise waste concentrations, and their dispersal. Model scenarios will be developed to characterise the rate and principle processes of shore-line dispersal of these materials, using both primary and secondary data. Access to your own means of transport will be essential. This project could be broken into two projects, if two students wanted to co-work on separate aspects. The project will involve a substantial fieldwork element, supported by laboratory back-up work on selected sample materials. No experience of magnetic methods is necessary, all training will be given.

Degree schemes: MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Palaeomagnetic dating and flow directions of Tertiary dykes of Lancashire and Warkwickshire. Project Description: The project will examine the magnetic polarity of several Tertiary dykes in N and Central England, and in combination with existing geochemical data, other dating information and the polarity data of the British Tertiary province determine the like age of these units. Anisotropy of magnetic remanence will be used to determine the emplacement and flow mechanism of these dykes. This project could be broken into two projects, if two students wanted to work on separate themes and aspects. The project will involve a fieldwork element, but will primarily be laboratory based on the sample materials. No experience of magnetic methods is necessary, all training will be given.

Degree schemes: MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Name of Supervisor: Suzi Ilic

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC III B32; 10264; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Coastal and Marine Processes: interaction of waves and currents with sediment processes and ecosystems and resulting morphology; effect of marine renewable energy devices on environment. For my research, I use field and laboratory studies coupled with numerical models. I am also interested in the application of new remote monitoring technologies for field measurements of flow and sediment processes.

Project#1 – Projects 1 and 2 are with companies.

Project Title: Coastal State Indicators for coastal management; with Alan Williams, Coastal Engineering UK Ltd., placement Project Description: Coastal State Indicators (CSI), a set of simple parameters that characterize coast, have been introduced recently in coastal management to assist monitoring and the definition of coastal management strategies and shoreline management plans. Examples of CSI are: shoreline position; beach width; beach volumes or intertidal beach volumes and momentary intertidal shorelines. Here we will explore the possibility of applying some of the currently available technologies and techniques to the monitoring of coastal state indicators.

Project 1.1: ‘Field scale’ remote sensing for coastal management with Mike James Green and Ilic (2009) have shown that Argus video images can provide useful information for derivation of key coastal state indicators, which can then be used for operational purposes. This and similar techniques require specialist expertise and might not be available at all sites. The aim of this project is to investigate alternative methods that are easier to implement and more affordable, such as the use of digital cameras and ‘GigaPan’ technology. or Project 1.2: Novel recording and processing of information Coastal monitoring includes also visual inspection and recording of changes, which can typically require the utilisation of a number of pieces of kit e.g. a camera, hand held GPS, tough-book laptop or even pen and paper. With the advent of tablets with improved camera facilities there is the option of developing a single piece of robust kit with appropriate software that allows all the data to be recorded and stored during the inspection, thus enabling quicker post- processing. This project would examine the capabilities and limitations of this technology for in-situ inspection and

monitoring of coastal state indicators such as beach slope, width and grain size distribution.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Prediction of shoreline change by combining video imaging and numerical models; with Dr Yohama Gunawardena HR Wallingford Project Description: Shoreline position is one of the key coastal state indicators used by coastal managers to define coastal management strategies and shoreline management plans. The Argus video technique has proved to be a valuable tool to provide information on shoreline dynamics at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales (Green and Ilic, 2009). The aim of this project is to assess the use the video images currently collected at Cleveleys in combination with numerical models (such as BEACHPLAN and COSMOS) to predict the shoreline dynamics in a groyne (shore perpendicular structures) field. We will try to answer the following questions. Can information derived from images improve predictions of coastal changes? Can the use of both images and model predictions help to understand short-term variations and long- term trends? A placement with the company may be available and would be filled on competitive basis. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: Effect of offshore wind farms on marine environment

Project Description: Two possible projects:

Project 1: Scour A significant issue associated with the construction of offshore wind farms is the problem of scouring of the sediment on the sea bed at its interface with the base of the wind turbine supporting structures. Despite numerous studies of scour, the effect of tidal flow on scour development has not been well researched. Variation in velocity and water depth during a tidal cycle causes the flow intensity to change between ‘live- bed’ and ‘clear-water’ regimes resulting in distinctly different scour hole time-developments, as shown in experiments here at Lancaster by McGovern (2011). The aim of this study is to validate the laboratory findings in the field with measurements provided by one of the wind farm developers (e.g. EON).

An alternative project could focus on the modelling of scour development.

Project 2: Wave transformation around the wind farms This project will aim to test the hypothesis that offshore wind farms alter the wind flows sufficiently to create a significant difference in wave transformation around those farms. Given that the wave transformation processes affect the nearshore hydrodynamics, sediment transport and resulting coastal changes, coastal mixing and resulting changes in costal habitats, it is important to assess the effect that an increasing number of wind farms will have on wave transformation. The project will involve the modelling of wave transformation using the freely available numerical model SWAN that has been used world-wide for design and research purposes.

Degree schemes: MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#4

Project Title: Effect of groundwater and marine processes on a gravel beach, Kvarner Bay, Croatia – Potential Erasmus Exchange Project Description: Most beaches on the Croatian coast are small pocket gravel beaches, which are important for tourism and hence the economy of the country. They are formed by the deposition of sediment from torrential flows. Torrential and related groundwater flows have a very strong influence on coastal processes, but there are still some deficiencies in our understanding of their interaction and the resulting beach changes. From past measurements and observations on Uboka beach, a conceptual model has been derived. The torrential flow and groundwater transport the sediment offshore, which is then deposited in the lobe in the nearshore zone. This sediment is subsequently transported by longshore currents formed by waves. The gentler profile seen along the beach in spring and summer is built by the cross-shore sediment transport driven by gentler waves. This hypothesis will be evaluated by field measurements of the flow and of changes in beach elevation and shape.

Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MRes Science of the Environment

Project#5

Project Title: Application of Argus Coastal Video Imaging to Assess Short Term Beach Evolution on the Fylde Coast

Project Description: Video imaging for the purpose of coastal monitoring has been developed over the past 20 years as a low cost method of providing information on the evolution of beach morphology. Two Argus stations have been located on the Fylde coast since 2005 recording video imagery at 30 minute intervals, providing an extensive database of imagery covering several kilometres of coastline. The Fylde coastline provides an interesting study area due to the very large tidal range, the system of multiple intertidal bars that characterise the coastline and the mixed sediments present on different areas of the beach. This project will focus on analysing the imagery in the database to determine changes occurring on the coastline over this period, for example the evolution of the bar system or the influence of coastal structures.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#6

Project Title: The Coastal Storm Impulse (COSI) parameter for the Fylde coastline Project Description: Fragility curves are often uses to quantify risk and resilience in coastal systems design (e.g. flooding protection structures). Fragility is defined by Casciati and Faravelli (1991) as the probability of failure conditional on a specific value of the loading (e.g. waves and wind during storms). Fragility curves can also be used to assess the effect that changes in loading might have on systems. In order to develop fragility curves, the intensity of the ‘loading’ or ‘disturbance’ needs to be estimated. Basco (2012) developed the coastal storm impulse (COSI) parameter that incorporates wave and surge momentum based on measurements at Duck, North Carolina. This project will examine the use of this parameter in a macro-tidal environment in the North West, where tides play a significant role in the modulation of wave energy. Data from Irish Sea will be utilised. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Mike James

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC 1, B522a, x93571, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My specific research interests are in physical Earth surface processes – e.g. lava flows and conduit dynamics (particularly in basaltic systems), coastal erosion, landslides etc. I use a variety of techniques such as remote time lapse photography, thermal imaging, photogrammetry, laser scanning and computational fluid dynamics. I look to address questions such as: How do volcanic eruptions cease? What conditions promote lava tube formation? What rheological parameters can be ascertained from remote sensing?

Project#1

Project Title: Lava flows of the 2011-12 explosive episodes of Mt. Etna

Project Description: In 2011, Mt. Etna began a new phase of activity characterised by discrete explosive events located on the flank of the SE crater. The events were associated with fire fountains up to 500 m tall and fast, short lived lava flows. 5 time lapse cameras located around the volcano have captured this activity. This project would use these images, in conjunction with digital elevation data to assess flow-field evolution and to estimate parameters such as effusion rates. Where possible, correlations will be assessed with other eruptive parameters such as event duration. The data also present other opportunities such as assessment of pyroclastic cone growth and collapse processes. With data volumes of ~150 Gb, you would need to be organised and competent with computer- based work and, ideally, have experience in Matlab. This project would give you insight into the dynamics of lava emplacement as well as experience with a variety of geospatial tools.

Degree schemes: MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Project#2

Project Title: Dynamics of strombolian eruptions

Project Description: The ejecta produced during strombolian eruptions holds key information on how gas separates from, and ultimately disrupts, magma during eruptions. This project would use stereo image sequences of Strombolian eruptions at Stromboli volcano, Italy, to unravel eruption parameters from ballistic trajectories. Either mono or stereo (3D) image analysis would be used to examine clast sizes, velocities and trajectories. The ranges and correlation of clast size and velocity data can be used to infer gas jet speeds during the eruptions. Understanding these degassing processes is becoming a key aspect in the interpretation of seismic data which, in turn, provides insights into conduit processes. This project would represent the first 3D analysis of volcanic ballistic trajectories and would give you experience in computer image processing and analysis, ballistics modelling and provide insights into eruption dynamics. Degree schemes: MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Project#3

Project Title: Assessing the accuracy of 3D models of erosion surfaces

Project Description: Recent advances in computer vision software now allow 3D surface models to be produced from digital photographs taken with ‘normal’ cameras. The technique allows rapid data collection in the field for studies of processes such as coastal erosion. This project will assess the accuracy of this approach with different cameras, e.g. a mobile phone, compact camera, digital SLR. A range of sites will be used (e.g. quarries, cliffs, peat or soil surfaces). The project will involve fieldwork to acquire data and then computer-based analysis, focussed on comparing 3D models for quality and surface change. A working knowledge of digital photography would be an advantage, and you would gain experience in cutting edge digital reconstruction and geospatial technologies. There would also be significant scope for assessment of Earth surface processes.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Andy Jarvis

Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Global energy demand and climate change Geoengineering and climate change

Project#1

Project Title: What do we mean by exergy?

Project Description: Exergy is loosely defined as the energy available at the point of need. However, what do we mean by ‘need’ when it comes to energy. Where on the spectrum of primary energy supply through to final total consumption should need be located? This project will exploit the IEA database to assess how need should be defined and to derive a global dataset of this need or exergy from 1971 – present. Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: What are the costs of making things lighter?

Project Description: A very significant R&D effort is expended on making materials and their associated goods lighter. The reasons for this are clear in that one then saves energy (and other resources) when transporting these goods. However, there is often a significant energy penalty on the production of these materials (e.g. carbon fibre, titanium and even aluminium, all of which are synonymous with weight saving have very high energy production costs). This project will investigate the nature of the energy penalty of achieving weight savings and relate this to the rebound effect that weight saving efficiencies may engender. Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Steve Lane

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC1 B522b; 53237; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Physical Volcanology

Projects#1

Project Title: Analogue Laboratory Modelling of Volcanic Processes

Project Description: This description covers a range of projects based around using small-scale laboratory experiments to give insight into larger and more difficult to observe volcanic processes. Possible topic areas include:

 Lava flows  Stromboilian eruptions  Subglacial eruptions  Gas escape from magma  Acoustic and seismic source mechanisms

If any of these areas are of interest then please contact Steve for further details.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Volcanology and Geohazards

Name of Supervisor: Professor Barbara Maher

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC3; room B28, tel. 10268, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My interests are in Environmental Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism, for purposes of retrieving palaeoclimatic, palaeoenvironmental and dating information from the magnetic records of Quaternary terrestrial sediments (soils, loess, tills, lake sediments), deep-sea sediments, and pre-Quaternary rocks. I also apply magnetic methods to current environmental processes and problems, including magnetic monitoring and sourcing of particulate pollutants, tracing of modern fluvial sediment sources, and magnetic ‘clean-up’ of contaminated waters.

Project#1

Project Title: Magnetic biomonitoring of roadside particulate pollution, Dublin, Ireland Project Description: Biomagnetic monitoring, using tree leaves as passive surfaces for particle collection, has been shown to be a promising technique for assessing the dispersion and deposition of particles in the context of anthropogenic pollution. This project will examine its utility as a sensitive, fast and inexpensive method for assessment of traffic-derived particulate pollution. Leaf and co-located air filter samples will be subjected to magnetic analyses and electron microscopy, in order to identify the spatial distribution of particulates and their magnetic properties, morphology and grain size. Pre-requisites: none

Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Investigating remote measurement of changes in soil magnetic suceptibility Project Description: The magnetic susceptibility of modern soils can change as a result of in situ formation of strongly magnetic, distinctively ultrafine-grained (< 50 nm), magnetite particles, from redox changes within the soil micro-environment. The rate and magnitude of changes in soil magnetic susceptibility on a seasonal basis are poorly known. This project will seek to implement remote measurement and monitoring of soil magnetic susceptibility in a soil located in SW England, using a soil magnetic susceptometer, with regular data retrieval by mobile phone technology. The project requires good technical skills.

Pre-requisites: Mobile phone usage, databases.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Ian Marshall

Contact details (room no, tel no, email A528, 510273, [email protected] address): Research Interests:

I am interested in practical (mainly technical) solutions to some of the big global issues - climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. This includes; novel approaches to reducing/managing energy demand, waste reduction, renewable heat systems, systems engineering, sustainable lifestyles, sustainable communities, automated monitoring and biodiversity assessment. In all cases the technical options must work in a range of human contexts, and must address multiple scales (local – global). The core skill I use in solution design is systems thinking, which enables all factors and scales to be considered together.

Project#1

Project Title: Globalising the 2050 pathways tool

Project Description: DECC have produced a tool that allows users to investigate the impact of a range of policy choices on future UK carbon emissions (2050 pathways tool). The tool is Excel based. This project is intended to develop data models (based on published data) for energy supply and demand in a selection of other countries. The models will then be used to modify the DECC spread sheet model. The objective is to enable users to gain an appreciation for which options work in most countries and which options only apply in the UK. Users are intended to be students and government officials. To undertake this project you should have an interest in carbon reduction policies and good spread sheet skills.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Environment and Development MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: User attitudes to smart grids

Project Description: Smart grids are proposed as a means of smoothing demand for electricity and, enabling use of domestic energy storage (electric vehicle batteries) to smooth renewable supply intermittency. This project aims to explore user attitudes to this type of proposal, and in particular determine the level of manual intervention (e.g. daily, weekly, occasionally, only once) that will appeal to a range of different user groups. Research is expected to be conducted with focus groups, and should be based on identifying the existing proposals with the most user appeal.

Students should have an interest in smart grids and an ability to work with people.

Similar projects exploring attitudes to other demand management proposals can easily be arranged on request Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Environment and Development MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#3

Project Title: Carbon emissions management

Project Description: In order to manage carbon emissions of a property it is first necessary to understand what emissions are generated, and what options exist for reducing them. Current commercial methods rely heavily on analysis of energy bills, and tend to miss important items such as rubbish generation, food consumption, building, equipment purchases, transport and water use. In order to meet targets for 80% emission reduction, methods that can efficiently account for all areas of emission are needed. Knowledge of likely user acceptance of any management measures is also needed. This project is intended to develop proposals for novel approaches to emission management that can easily capture and use some of the missing data. The ideas will be tested with Lancaster city council at one or more of their properties, using a case study approach that assesses emissions, proposes reduction measures (e.g. renewable heat or electric buses) and assesses cost and likely user acceptance of the proposed measures. Students should have some knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative methods and an interest in carbon emissions

Project#4

Project Title: Unattended monitoring of Macrofauna

Project Description: In conjunction with CEH we have accumulated a large volume of data (photos and sound recordings), relating to macrofauna at Moor House NNR, using unattended recorders. Faunal groups recorded include birds, terrestrial mammals (small and large), bats and frogs. A wide range of projects is possible to extend this work, including; Detailed analysis of the existing data (for one or more groups), Proposal and testing of novel techniques for poorly observed groups. Proposal and testing of ideas to make the existing techniques more efficient or effective. Use of similar techniques at other sites In all cases the aims are to understand the Moor House ecosystem better and to develop techniques that can be readily applied at richer sites elsewhere and that can assist with biodiversity management. Students will need some knowledge of ecology and data analysis. Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Prof Francis L Martin

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B62 LEC; Tel.: 01524 519296; Email: [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Genetic toxicology; Biospectroscopy; Cancer aetiology; Low- dose effects

Project#1

Project Title: Determining the influence of cell cycle on chromosomal damage: towards a model of organ-specific risk assessment Project Description: Chromosomal damage is a major biomarker of risk towards diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. A measurable indicator of this rare form of damage is the presence of micronuclei in the cytoplasm of affected cells; these can be visualized and scored microscopically. Additionally, scoring of micronuclei under experimental conditions forms a core component of risk assessment in regulatory toxicology. This project will set out to determine whether different rates of cell turnover modify the susceptibility of target cell populations to the micronucleus-forming activities of a test agent. MCF-7 breast epithelial cells will be grown in culture and conditions modified to allow for different rates of accelerated cell turnover. Under these conditions, these cells will be exposed to various concentrations of carcinogens such as benzo[a]pyrene. Chromosomal damage will be ascertained using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and degree of cell alterations by a variety of biospectroscopic measures. Different tissues exhibit different rates of cell turnover and this study will shed novel insights into whether this pre- determines susceptibility in such exposed cell populations. Degree schemes: MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology

Project#2

Project Title: Low-dose effects: generation of a u-shaped curve of dose vs. effect in exposed cells using biospectroscopy techniques Project Description: There has been an increasing paradigm shift in risk assessment in recent times away from the traditional notion of a linear correlation between exposure concentration and endpoint effect. It is now thought that there may be at lower real-world environmental levels a hitherto under-investigated dose- response effect of much more significant relevance in toxicology. At higher levels these low-dose effects seemingly disappear, and with increasing concentration a more laboratory-based dose response sets in; as a consequence, extrapolating such findings to real-world settings has proven limited. Chemicals of environmental concern such as lindane or benzo[a]pyrene will be tested in breast epithelial MCF-7 cells at a wide concentration range from environmental levels to higher. Biospectroscopy techniques with multivariate analysis will be applied to determine the shape of the resultant dose- response curve and to ascertain whether a u-shaped curve applies. Such investigations could have significant consequences for our current understanding of environmental risk assessment. Degree schemes: MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology

Name of Supervisor: Martin McAinsh

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B65 LEC2; x10553; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

I am interested in plant-environment interactions focusing on climate change-related abiotic and biotic stresses (drought, carbon dioxide levels, ozone pollution, pests and pathogens) at the community, whole plant, cellular/molecular levels. I am particularly interested in the pathways by which plants perceive and respond to these stresses.

Project#1

Project Title: Vertical farming to increase crop resource use efficiency within urban agriculture Project Description: Our ability to increase crop resource use efficiency is constrained by crop genetics, environment and in the case of conventional farming practices, space. Production systems that allow crops to be extended into the vertical dimension (vertical farming) offer significantly more growing capacity per unit of crop available land, and when self-contained have the potential for use in urban growing situations. We are working Saturn Bioponics Ltd. UK (SB) to develop an innovative vertical growing technology that offers the ability optimise crop resource use efficiency through the independent manipulation and optimisation of environmental factors regulating crop root and shoot growth, reductions in nutrient and water inputs (via irrigation recycling) and reduced energy input requirements through direct, contained and recyclable delivery of air/CO2 to the plant root zone. This project aims to identify the limiting factors for crop growth within the SB technology within a UK glasshouse, to determine the impacts of specific environmental factors and to develop appropriate crop management procedures. This project will be supervised jointly by Dr Ian Dodd ([email protected]). Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Mitigating the detrimental effects of ozone on crop productivity Project Description: Tropospheric ozone is the most phytotoxic and widespread air pollutant affecting agricultural and natural ecosystems and is responsible for causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage annually. Ozone enters the plant through the stomata leading to reduced shoot and root growth, visible lesions and leaf abscission, and reduced pollen vigour and grain development. Ozone-induced stomatal closure represents the plant’s first defence against the effects of ozone pollution preventing ozone entry although this also effects carbon fixation and plant productivity. Under drought conditions however ozone can inhibit stomatal closure causing deleterious water loss, which combined with the effects of ozone itself, can significantly reduce plant stress tolerance. This project aims to understand the mechanisms by which stomata respond to ozone and how this is affected by drought. The results will inform our understanding of how future stress scenarios will effect vegetation, both crops and natural communities, and will provide the fundamental scientific knowledge required to combat the problems associated with the effects of ozone pollution on food crops in the field. This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Sally Wilkinson ([email protected]). Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Siobhán McGrath

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC 3 Room B24; ext. 10353; [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Work, labour and employment Forced, unfree, trafficked and ‘slave’ labour Biofuels, especially the socio-economic impacts of production Global Production Networks Brazil’s role as a Rising Power

Project#1

Project Title: Internationalisation of Brazilian ethanol industry

Project Description: Ethanol made from sugar cane has been used as a biofuel in Brazil since the 1970s. This provides Brazilian firms with a strategic advantage in producing what is widely considered the most efficient first-generation biofuel. The Brazilian government is supporting efforts to internationalise this industry by providing support to Brazilian producers who wish to set up production abroad. The project will analyse current attempts at internationalisation by Brazilian ethanol producers as well as the threats and opportunities for continued internationalisation.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Environment and Development MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Rising Powers and Biofuels in Sub-Saharan Africa

Project Description: This project will analyse attempts by Rising Powers such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa to produce bio-fuels in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While there has been widespread criticism of ‘land grabs’ in SSA, there is need for further analysis of the differences among agro-industry initiatives. This project will analyse the strategies and impacts of recent attempts to produce bio-fuels in SSA. It will consider whether there are any patterns emerging – including patterns based on the ‘home’ regions of firms and investors and/or the regions in which production is being carried out.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Environment and Development MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Dr Rosa Menendez

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC I, room B33a, 01524593721, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

I am a community ecologist interested in understanding the effects of environmental change (habitat fragmentation and climate change) on insect communities. My research has also a conservation focus, and in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation and the RSPB, I aim to give advice on best conservation practices that promote the conservation of butterflies and other insects.

Project#1

Project Title: Effects of climate warming on reproduction and population size of the northern dung beetle (Agoliinus lapponum) Project Description: Climate change is predicted to become a major factor in species extinction (Lovejoy & Hannah, 2005; Thomas et al. 2004) with northern and mountain species most likely to go extinct because they are adapted to cold conditions. Although there is already empirical evidence that northern and mountain species are declining as a result of warming (Thomas et al. 2006, Wilson et al. 2005), little is known about the mechanism through which warming is affecting the survival of populations. This project will investigate effects of warming on the northern dung beetle, Agoliinus lapponum, in the North Pennines. Agoliinus lapponum has declined in the North Pennines in recent years becoming restricted to high elevations

the annual mean temperature observed in the region (Birkett et al. 2009). The student will carry out experiments both in the lab and in the field to assess the effect of temperature and humidity on the reproduction potential of the species and its consequences for population size at different elevations. As this project has a fieldwork component, candidates should be prepared to spend long periods of time outdoors. Driving licence and own vehicle are required. References: Birkett, A., Househam, M. & Menendez, R. (2009). Has climate change impacted the distribution of northern British insects? LEC-Poster (unpublished). Lovejoy, T. & Hannah, L. (2005). Climate Change and Biodiversity. Yale University Press, New Haven. Thomas, C.D., Cameron, A, Green, R.E., et al. (2004). Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427: 145- 148. Thomas, C.D., Franco, A. M.A. & Hill, J.K. (2006). Ranges retractions and extinction in the face of climate warming. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 21: 415-416. Wilson, R.J., Gutierrez, D., Gutierrez, J., Martinez, D., Angulo, R. & Monserrat, V. J. (2005). Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with 71

climate change. Ecology Letters 8: 1138-1146.

Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#2

Project Title: Assessing the effect of habitat management on habitat quality for the Duke of Burgundy butterfly Project Description: This project is in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation (Mr Martin Wain and Dr Dave Wainwright).

The Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina is one of the most threatened butterflies in the UK. It has declined by around 50% in recent years (Bourn & Warren, 1998; Ellis & Wainwright, 2007). The populations in the north of England and particularly those in the Morecombe Bay limestone area have suffered the highest decline (Ellis, 2006). Targeted conservation effort is now being implemented in the area around Morecombe Bay to improve habitat quality for the species. As a result of this conservation effort, intensive research has been done to investigate the habitat requirements of the species (macrohabitat characteristics, host plant characteristics and oviposition preferences) (Birkett, 2008). We now have a good understanding of the habitat conditions more suitable for the species but we know very little about how to manage habitats to promote such conditions. This is limiting our ability to reverse population decline both at the regional and national scale. This project aims to provide this knowledge by assessing habitat quality in areas that have been subjected to different management practices in recent years and by control experiments to test which environmental conditions promote the host-plant growth form that is preferred by the females for oviposition. This project involves both field and lab work; interested candidates should be prepared to spend long periods of time outdoors from the beginning of May. Driving licence and own vehicle are required. References: Birkett, A. (2008) The Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) on the Morecambe Bay Limestones: Habitat Requirements for Success. MSc Thesis. University of Reading. Bourn, N. A. D. and Warren, M. S. (1998) Species Action Plan: Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina. Butterfly Conservation. Ellis, S. (2006) Conservation of the Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina butterfly on the Morcecambe Bay limestones. Unpublished report for Butterfly Conservation. Ellis, S. and Wainwright, D. (2007) Factsheet: Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#3 72

Project Title: Impacts of grazing and mechanical management on limestone grassland floral and invertebrate biodiversity Project Description: This project is in collaboration with RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Reserve (Mr Richard Miller). Dr Andy Wilby (LEC) will be also a supervisor for this project.

Limestone grasslands are habitats of high conservation value because they support a diverse flora and fauna, including many rare or threatened species (Alexander 2003). As they are predominantly semi-natural communities, they require some form of management by grazing or mowing, which is normally aimed to maintain a particular plant community. However, successful conservation management needs to integrate both floral and faunal components (WallisDeVries et al. 2002). This project will take place at RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay reserve on the nearby Warton Crag. It will monitor the effect of grazing and mechanical management on the sensitive limestone grassland and associated scrub mosaic present at the site. This will be achieved both by surveying plant diversity and pollinator diversity (butterflies, bees, bumblebees and hoverflies) on different habitat patches subjected to different levels of grazing and/or cutting. The project will also make use of existing enclosures to measure differences in vegetation throughout the growing season between unmanaged and managed plots. It is expected that extensive grazing by cattle may create a diverse sward and encourage a greater number of specialist limestone grassland plants and their associated pollinator communities. It is also hypothesised that a lack of grazing will lead to a vegetation structure dominated by taller vegetation, with less opportunity for limestone grassland species to compete. This project is mainly field based so interested candidates should be prepared to spend long periods of time outdoors. Driving licence and own vehicle are required. References: Alexander, K.N.A. (2003) A review of the invertebrates associated with lowland calcareous grasslands. English Nature Research reports 512. WallisDeVries, M. F., Poschlod, P. & Willems, J.H (2002) Challenges for the conservation of calcareous grasslands in northwestern Europe: integrating the requirements of flora and fauna. Biological Conservation 105: 265- 273. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#4

Project Title: Effects of habitat management on the survival and persistence of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly at its southern range margin Project Description: This project is in collaboration with RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Reserve (Mr Richard Miller). The Northern Brown Argus, Aricia artaxerxes, is a priority Biodiversity Action Plan species, as this species has experienced considerable population declines at its southern limit in northern England, due to habitat loss, reduction of habitat quality and climate warming (Franco et al. 2006). All remaining populations of the species in the North West are in protected areas were typical habitat management includes both grazing and cuttings to create a diversity of sward height, promoting plant diversity and increasing habitat quality for warmth loving butterflies. However, whether this management is appropriate for the Northern Brown Argus, a cold adapted species, is still unclear (Ellis 2003). The species has a preference for medium to tall swards that can be affected by grazing but a total lack of habitat management could lead to vegetation encroachment and hence loss of habitat. This project will take place at RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay reserve on the nearby Warton Crag. It will monitor habitat availability for the species and how this is affected by both cutting and grazing. As well as directly monitoring the butterfly’s preferences, vegetation surveys and microclimate monitoring should be carried out to assess changes to the suitability of the habitat in terms of egg laying and larval survival. This project is mainly field based so interested candidates should be prepared to spend long periods of time outdoors. Driving licence and own vehicle are required.

References: Ellis, S. (2003) Habitat quality and management for the northern brown argus butterfly Aricia artaxerxes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in North East England. Biological Conservation 113: 285-294. Franco, A.M.A., Hill, J. K., Kitschke, C., Collingham, Y., Roy, D. B., Fox, R. Huntley, B. & Thomas, C. D. 2006. Impacts of climate warming and habitat loss on extinctions at species' low-latitude range boundaries. Global Change Biology 12: 1545-1553. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation

Name of Supervisor: Dr Luke Parry

Contact details (room Email: [email protected]; Office: A28 (LEC III no, tel no, email Building); Tel: 01524 510289 address): Research Interests:

I am interested in the socio-economic processes driving environmental change in tropical forest regions and the impacts of this change on poverty and food security. My work has a Latin American focus though the same problems and processes are occurring throughout the tropics. Projects will be relevant to Environment and Development, Conservation Science and Food Security programs. I have listed four specific project ideas below though I would be willing to consider supervising other projects on related issues in Brazil or elsewhere. The projects I advertise don’t include fieldwork. Working on an existing dataset is a very efficient way of doing

your MSc project and increases the chances of you coming out of it with a good publication! However, if you would like to discuss fieldwork in Brazil or another country then please contact me.

Project#1

Project Title: Assessing the environmental impacts of food consumption by urban Amazonians Project Description: The urban population of the Brazilian Amazon is over 15 million people and rising. This project will use census data on human population growth and secondary data on food supply and landuse change to consider how further urbanization and population growth might affect Amazonian forests and river ecosystems. Experience is GIS is required and statistical skills in R would be an advantage. Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Is mining driving human migration and deforestation in the Amazon? Project Description: This project questions whether a huge boom in mining is having major impacts on Amazonian society and the environment by stimulating movement of people and contributing to deforestation. The project would be based on excellent census, economic and deforestation data from Brazil. GIS and statistical skills required. Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: How should we measure poverty?

Project Description: This project examines how different methodological approaches affect conclusions drawn about poverty and well- being. There are on-going debates on which poverty measures are most reliable or best-suited for testing efficacy of payment for ecosystem services. Work would be based on a unique, large dataset from the Brazilian Amazon and consider various measures of poverty such as income, assets, education and security. Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#4

Project Title: Where, when and why do people eat bushmeat?

Project Description: This project explores consumption of farmed (e.g. beef and chicken) and wild sources (e.g. bushmeat and fish) of animal protein along urban-rural gradients in remote areas of the Amazon. Wild food consumption has been shown to depend on income though a large and important spatial element of consumption as not yet been demonstrated. The work would be based on a unique dataset already collected in Brazil. Statistical skills in R an advantage. Degree schemes: MRes Environment and Development MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Dr Jackie Pates

Contact details (room no, tel no, email A512 (LEC 1), x93896, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Radioactivity in the environment, including both the use of

naturally-occuring radionuclides as tracers of environmental processes and the distribution and fate of artificial radionuclides.

Project#1

Project Title: RADON IN HOUSES: COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF REMEDIATION Project Description: Naturally-occurring radon gas originates from the decay of uranium-series radionuclides that are present ubiquitously in rocks and soils. Air pressure tends to be lower in buildings than outdoors (due to heating), resulting in a pressure gradients that encourage the flow of gases from soils into houses. Consequently, radon concentrations are normally substantially higher indoors than outdoors. Radon in homes is the largest source of radiation exposure to the general population, and yet often people are unaware of its effects and are unwilling to undertake remediation. Therefore, UK legislation requires the installation of measures to prevent radon ingress in new homes. This project could take one of several directions, depending on the students’ interests, from a desk-based study of the cost-effectiveness of different remediation practices to social surveys of barriers to the installation of remediation. Degree schemes: (see MA Environmental Management and Consultancy key below) MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: BIOGEOCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF ARTIFICIAL RADIONUCLIDES IN THE IRISH SEA Project Description: The Sellafield nuclear site has been discharging low-level radioactive effluent to the Irish Sea for the past 4 decades. The fate of these nuclides is of interest in determining the exposure to human populations. In order to predict their fate, we need to understand the biogeochemical behaviour of these artificial nuclides. Projects may look at radionuclide concentrations (e.g. Pu isotopes, 241Am, 99Tc, 137Cs, etc) in one or more compartments of the Irish Sea ecosystem (e.g. seaweed, fish, sediments, etc). Individual projects will be developed with the student concerned. Many radionuclide analyses require detailed chemical separations, therefore most projects in this area will be best suited to students with prior laboratory experience.

Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental and Biochemical Toxicology MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Prof. John Quinton

Contact details (room no, tel no, email A506 LEC1, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Soil Science, Soil Erosion and degradation, water quality

Project#1

Project Title: Quantifying the cabon sink associated small ponds and wetlands Project Description: There is no doubt that carbon (C) is on the move. Recent estimates have suggested that the global sediment flux in agricultural landscapes due to water and tillage erosion is 35±10 Pg C y-1. Some of this C is oxidised and lost to the atmosphere, other material may be deposited and buried in colluvium and some may be delivered through both surface and subsurface flow paths to surface waters. In many agricultural landscapes these surface waters may take the form of small ponds and wetlands (field wetlands). In this project we will explore the potential of field wetlands to trap particulate C and influence the fate of dissolved organic carbon within the context of small agricultural catchments in England. In our current work we have consider carbon storageacross ten monitored field wetlands across four catchments in the UK at Crake Trees, Cumbria (silt soils, rainfall 1500 mm y-1), Whinton Hill Cumbria (sandy soils, rainfall c 1200 mm y-1), Newton Rigg, Cumbria (Silt soils, rainfall c1200 mm y-1) and Loddington, Leicestershire (Clay soils, rainfall 650 mm y-1). Although originally designed to capture sediment and pollutants, their potential for influencing catchment scale C dynamics is becoming apparent. The C contents of sediments from the three catchments are typically in the range of 1.8 – 3.0% at Crake Trees Catchment, 2.5 to 9% at Whinton Hill and 2.0 to 3.1 % at Crake Trees. At the high rainfall sites the wetlands trap upwards of 20 t y-1 of sediment, equating to several hundred kilograms of C In this project will consider how effective a larger number of ponds and wetland features across the UK are at trapping C.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: Student generated projects in the areas of Soil Science and Water Quality Project Description: Prof. Quinton is happy to discuss projects in the area of soil science, soil erosion and degradation and soils and water water quality

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Dr Mike Roberts

Contact details (room Room B17, LEC1. no, tel no, email Tel.: 510210. E-mail: [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Research in my group focuses on plant responses to environmental stress, especially attack by pathogens and herbivorous insect pests. We are particularly interested in “priming” of defence responses, which enables more effective resistance to future attack following initial exposure to stress or chemical inducers. One exciting aspect of this phenomenon is the emerging phenomenon of trans-generational effects on immune priming.

Project#1

Project Title: Trans-generational plasticity of plant defence

Project Description: There is accumulating evidence which shows that disease or herbivore pressure on parent plants can affect the phenotype of subsequent generations, such that they are more resistant to attack. These effects most likely have an epigenetic basis, such that genes responsible for defence are modified in some way which increases their activity following stress. It is also possible that other traits, such as seed dormancy and germination may also be modified to maximise fitness of offspring. This project will explore the impacts of herbivory on subsequent generations of Arabidopsis plants infested with aphids or spider mites. We will measure various phenotypic outputs, including aspects of seed biology, growth and herbivore and disease resistance.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Priming of cell wall defences in tomato

Project Description: Over recent years we have developed a commercial technology for crop protection through treatments of seeds or seedlings with natural activators of herbivore and disease resistance. In this project, we will investigate one possible mechanistic basis for increased resistance by examining the effects of priming treatments on important cell wall-mediated defences against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. Experiments would include microscopic examination of cellular events during infection, assays of the generation of reactive oxygen species associated with cell wall strengthening, and assays of enzymes involved in metabolism and cell wall modification. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: Seed treatments to protect plants against abiotic stress

Project Description: We have recently developed novel seed treatments based on natural plant compounds which improve plant resistance against pests and diseases. This technology has now been successfully commercialised. In this project, we will build on recent new data in which we have extended the scope of seed treatments to include treatments that protect wheat crops against abiotic stress (salinity). The aim of this project is to expand our research in this area, by examining the ability of seed treatments to protect wheat and barley against salinity and drought stress. Experiments will involve measurements of growth and yield parameters, along with a range of physiological measurements and biochemical assays to examine the mechanisms underlying increased abiotic stress tolerance mediated through seed treatments. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Ecology and Conservation MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Prof Kirk T Semple

Contact details (room Room: B66, LECII, no, tel no, email E-mail: [email protected] address):

Research Interests: The main fields of research interest include  understanding fundamental processes affecting organic contaminant-biota interactions in soils;  availability of pesticide residues in soils;  impact of chemicals on soil biota;  risk assessment and bioremediation of contaminated land. A particular area of expertise lies in organic contaminant bioaccessibility in soil.

Project#1

Project Title: Impact of organic pollutants on soil biota

Project Description: Organic and inorganic contaminants are widely distributed through soils. These chemicals, either singly or admixture, may impact on biological activity in soils and ultimately impact on important soil processes such as organic matter turnover or N- cycling. The aim of this project is to investigate the impact of selected chemicals, introduced singly or as mixtures on biological activity in soil. This type of investigation has implications for contaminated land, its risk assessment and bioremediation.

Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Biodegradation of organic pollutants in soil

Project Description: Microbial activity is the key driver for the processing and removal of organic pollutants in soils and sediments. There are a number of factors which can stimulate or inhibit the biodegradation of pollutants in soils.

There is the possibility of developing a number of projects that consider the factors that may stimulate or retard microbial degradation of pollutants in soil, such as the presence of other chemicals, plants or plant derived chemicals, other pollutants, organic carbon.

This type of investigation has implications for contaminated land, its risk assessment and bioremediation. Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Stuart Sharp

Contact details (room no, tel no, email Room A515b (LEC1), Tel ext. 93937, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

I’m an animal ecologist and my research combines fieldwork, genetic analyses and the use of long-term data sets to address questions in three main areas: (1) the evolutionary ecology of social behaviour; (2) the causes and consequences of natal dispersal; and (3) vocal communication in birds. In addition to the projects below, I am happy to consider supervising any projects within the fields of animal behaviour or population ecology.

Project#1

Project Title: Coloniality and reproductive success in sand martins

Project Description: Many organisms breed in colonies but the relative advantages and disadvantages of coloniality are often unclear. The sand martin (Riparia riparia) is a small migratory bird that breeds colonially in steep-sided river banks and artificial sites such as quarries; colony size varies from a handful to many thousands of pairs, with the average colony size in the UK being around 40 pairs. This species is ‘amber listed’ in the UK’s Birds of Conservation Concern listings and is categorised as a Species of European Conservation Concern. In this project, several colonies of different sizes will be monitored in the Lune Valley in order to investigate the factors that affect variation in reproductive success within and between colonies. Access will be made to a large database from ongoing ringing studies in the region in order to complement data collected during fieldwork. Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#2

Project Title: Song characteristics and reproductive behaviour in male dippers Project Description: Male birds sing for two main reasons – to attract mates and to maintain their territories. Individual variation in song has been shown to signal various aspects of male quality and, in species with highly variable levels of paternal care, male song characteristics may allow females to predict the level of investment in offspring care that potential mates would provide. In the dipper (Cinclus cinclus), males can be either monogamous or polygamous, and the rate at which they provide food for young varies enormously both between individuals and between different nests of the same individual. This project will investigate the relationship between song characteristics and reproductive behaviour in male dippers by recording song and monitoring nests in a marked population in the Lune Valley.

Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation

Name of Supervisor: Dr Carly Stevens

Contact details (room no, tel no, email Room , tel no. 93937, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

My research interests are focussed on global change and how it impacts on ecosystem services, particularly soils and plant biodiversity. In particular I have worked on the impacts of land use change, fertilisation and air pollution on the species composition of grasslands. My research is a mix of field, laboratory and computer based research.

Project#1

Project Title: The use of digital imaging to measure plant biodiversity

Project Description: Changes in vegetation community composition and productivity occur as a consequence of human land use and changes in climate. These changes in vegetation have the potential to reduce biodiversity. Understanding how these changes impact on vegetation is essential if we are to monitor changes in the environment and understand implications for a range of ecosystem services. However, vegetation surveying is very time consuming and requires a high degree of expert knowledge. This project will explore the potential for novel digital imaging techniques to be used to estimate plant diversity and soil nutrient status. This project will be largely computer based but there is the opportunity to undertake fieldwork. This project will be a joint project between Lancaster University (Dr Carly Stevens, Dr Sue Ward) and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) at Lancaster (Dr Clare Rowland). Degree schemes: (see key below) MSc Ecology and Conservation

Project#2

Project Title: Biodiversity benefits of ponds in agricultural areas

Project Description: Edge-of-field constructed wetlands are currently being trialled as a means of reducing diffuse pollution from agricultural areas. Artificial wetlands have been established on five different farms collecting agricultural runoff from a range of different situations. This project will explore the co-benefits of these ponds for increasing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and will focus on the impact on plant diversity in and around the ponds, macro-invertebrates in the pond water and invertebrates around the pond. This project will involve fieldwork to collect project data. Degree schemes: (see key below) MSc Ecology and Conservation

Name of Supervisor: Ben Surridge

Contact details (room Room: A504 LEC1 no, tel no, email Email: [email protected] address): Telephone: +44 (0)1524 594516

Research Interests:

My research is primarily concerned with biogeochemical and hydrological controls on nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in soils, groundwater and surface water. Current research interests include: the use of stable isotope techniques for understanding phosphorus sources and metabolism in the environment; statistical analysis of the relationships between geochemical, physical and biological processes within rivers; and testing novel techniques for mitigating diffuse and micro- point sources of pollution.

Project#1

Project Title: Tracing the sources and metabolism of phosphorus in the environment using the stable isotope composition of phosphate-oxygen.

Project Description: Stable isotope techniques have been successfully used to trace the sources and transformations of nitrogen and carbon in both groundwater and surface water. An analogous isotopic system is not directly available for phosphorus because it has only one stable isotope. However, most phosphorus is found in nature as phosphate, strongly bound to oxygen with three stable isotopes 18O, 17O and 16O. The phosphorus-oxygen bond is resistant to inorganic hydrolysis, and phosphate-oxygen is only exchanged with water-oxygen during biologically-mediated processes. As a consequence, the natural abundance of phosphate-oxygen has potential as a tracer for the sources and the metabolism of phosphorus in the environment. This project will involve a combination of method development and application related to analysis of the isotopic composition of phosphate-oxygen. Samples from lake, river and groundwater systems would be available for analysis, depending on the interests of the student and progress with method development stages within the project.

Degree schemes: ANY

Project#2

Project Title: Diel cycles of dissolved gas concentrations within eutrophic farm wetlands

Project Description: Constructed ponds and wetlands are increasingly used to mitigate diffuse water pollution in agricultural catchments. However, these systems may also be important hotspots for the production of greenhouse gases, including methane and nitrous oxide. Diel cycles driven by biological processes may be significant controls on the emission of greenhouses gases from these productive ponds and wetlands. For example, photosynthesis-respiration cycles within the phytoplankton community could lead to shifts between oxygen supersaturation and anoxia in the upper water column, with significant implications for the emission of methane from the pond surface. This project will investigate diel cycles of dissolved gases within the water column of constructed ponds. It will take advantage of a newly-acquired quadrupole mass spectrometer at Lancaster to measure the concentration of a range of gases in samples of pond water. The project may also test field-deployment of the mass spectrometer, providing novel real-time measurements of dissolved gas concentrations with the pond.

Degree schemes: Any

Name of Supervisor: Dr Andy Sweetman

Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address): Research Interests:

My primary research interests involve the investigation the fate and behaviour of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on UK, European and global scales. Much of his research, funded by Defra, involves the use and development of mathematical models to determine the fate and behaviour of chemicals in the environment and to improve the risk assessment process. This work has culminated in the development of a range of predictive models which operate on a range of spatial and temporal scales, which is important as the type of model required often relies on the questions being asked by policy

makers or researchers. I am also interested in environmental and human exposure pathways to POPs and related chemicals.

Project#1

Project Title: Brominated flame retardants in the UK environment.

Project Description: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant chemicals added to furniture foam, plastics and textiles used in construction, automobiles, electronic equipment. PBDEs are currently being discussed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. This project will investigate factors that control atmospheric concentrations of PBDEs using sampling equipment at our Hazelrigg Field station and our trace analysis laboratories.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#2

Project Title: Directional passive air sampling.

Project Description: Lancaster University and the Environment Agency have developed a directional passive air sampler (DPAS) that can be used to elucidate source strength and direction around a fugitive or diffuse source for a range of atmospheric pollutants. This project will use DPAS sampling techniques to provide information on particulate emissions around a known source. After laboratory analysis and interpretation, triangulation of the results will be used to provide an indication of particulate matter source strength and direction. Factors such as sampler deployment location and configuration and the source of meteorological data will be investigated.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: Volatile Organic Chemical (VOCs) in indoor air.

Project Description: Due to the adverse health effects associated with exposure to VOCs and related chemicals, these substances have been increasingly regulated in the work place, with occupational exposure limits set at the EU and national level. This project will involve sampling at a number of locations around the Lancaster Environment Centre (including laboratories), and the use of personal samplers in order to estimate both occupational and non-occupational exposure. It will also involve a critical assessment of the peer-reviewed literature to identify key studies on indoor exposure to VOCs and related chemicals and importantly to identify data gaps.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Name of Supervisor: Hugh Tuffen

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B533 LEC I, ext. 94713, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

The processes that control hazardous volcanic eruptions, including how magma deforms, degasses and crystallises. I use a wide variety of approaches including geological fieldwork, high-temperature experimentation, analysis of volatile phases in magma, study of microtextures and mathematical modelling.

Project#1

Project Title: Magma in the lab: experimental crystal and vesicle growth in dome lava (co-supervised by Mike James) Project Description: You will carry out high-temperature experiments on real magma using hotstage microscopy to shed new light on how crystals and vesicles grow within silicic lava domes. You will select a recent lava dome eruption to study and prepare samples, conduct high-temperature experiments and collect images of textures as they evolve over seconds, minutes or days. You will then analyse the images to quantify rates and patterns of crystal and vesicle growth and use results to improve existing growth models. Full training in analytical methods will be provided. Degree schemes: MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Project#2

Project Title: Cooling of magma that is frozen into glass (co-supervised by Jennie Gilbert) Project Description: You will use high-temperature experiments to unravel the record of cooling rates that is frozen into volcanic glasses. Working with obsidian from Iceland, Chile or elsewhere, you will prepare sample wafers, carry out thermal experiments using differential scanning calorimetry, and discover how cooling rates are recorded by the thermal signature of glasses. You will then investigate a key research of your choice, such as how quickly volcanic bombs cool, or the timescale of magma cooling in dykes. Full training in analytical methods will be provided. Degree schemes: MSc Volcanology and Geological Hazards

Name of Supervisor: Dr Wlodek Tych

Contact details (room LEC 1; room A514a, tel. 93973, [email protected] no, tel no, email address): Research Interests:

My interests are in investigating dynamics and structure of causal relationships within environmental systems of various nature. Below are examples of projects I would like to offer, mainly within hydrology and atmospheric science. I will be happy to supervise other (also collaborative) projects involving analysis and detection of change, trends and cycles in long term hydrological, climatic data, but also in other disciplines. This includes looking for evidence of climate change and land use (and other human induced) effects. If there is sufficient interest, the fairly general topics below could generate more than one dissertation project each.

Project#1

Project Title: Indian Monsoon analysis and prediction using monthly and daily data: long term trends and cycles in Indian Monsoon and their relation to other climatic indices and phenomena (SST, El Nino, temperature anomalies etc.).

Project Description: Project character: research and computer modelling, archived climatic data collection, a whole range of projects possible Outline: Indian Monsoon rainfall drives the agriculture and hydrology of the whole Indian sub-continent. Prediction of monsoon rainfall is critical for Indian economy. Monthly Indian Monsoon data will be analysed. The project includes analysis of long term trends and cycles in a multivariable context. Several variations of the project are available, from basic analysis of trends and cycles in regions and sub-regions linked with a geographic analysis, to more numerical studies geared towards developing prediction/forecasting approaches with monthly and annual horizons. In one of these projects you may be able to investigate this Summer’s Monsoon rainfall patterns which led to the dramatic floods. Several variations of the project possible, involving various temporal and geographic scales, analysis of trends or extreme values, interaction with other climatic indices and characteristics. Skills to be gained include use data analysis software, time series modelling and use of Matlab numerical and scientific visualisation environment. Required background: GCSE to A-level mathematics, physics or equivalent (e.g. Year 1 ES Maths modules will be sufficient)

Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management 94

Project#2

Project Title: Extreme rainfall, flooding, ice melt and sea surface temperatures – unscrambling the puzzle

Project Description: Outline: We hear increasingly about unusual extreme rainfall events occurring in Europe and elsewhere. This project will seek to analyse daily rainfall data from the UK and/or other locations focusing on extreme rainfall events and their frequency. This will be done in conjunction with other data, such as sea surface temperatures, Arctic ice melt, possibly atmospheric pressure etc. There is potential to look at spatial/scale relationships. Time series and multivariable analysis approaches will be used to evaluate the hypotheses both from the literature and arising from this analysis. Due to the possible scale of the project, this may suit an M.Res student, but smaller sub-topics can be discussed. A well executed project will have a good publication potential. Skills to be gained include use of data analysis software, time series modelling and use of Matlab numerical and scientific visualisation environment

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#3

Project Title: Looking for evidence of climate change in long term daily and monthly instrumental meteorological data sets

Project Description: Outline: Long term daily instrumental atmospheric pressure, temperature and/or rainfall data sets will be analysed. The main focus is on changes in the seasonal characteristics and in the underlying trends within the data, but there is potential in the project to use spectral analysis to analyse changes in periodicity of the data series, and inclusion of characteristics of extreme values. This is a good opportunity to learn how to estimate and analyse long term trends and perform seasonal adjustment of data sets with seasonal or periodic characteristics. Analysis of extreme values in terms of their frequency and distributions is another option in this range of topics. Skills to be gained include use data analysis software, time series modelling and use of Matlab numerical and scientific visualisation environment. Required background: GCSE - level mathematics, physics or equivalent (e.g. Year 1 ES Maths modules)

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant) MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Gordon Walker

Contact details (room no, tel no, email [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Environmental justice and inequalities Energy demand Social dimensions of renewable energy

Project#1

Project Title: Geography of photovoltaic installation uptake

Project Description: Analysis of recent data on location, scale and date of installation of PV panels to examine spatial and social patterns and trends over time. Will need skills and confidence in GIS analysis of secondary data.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

Project#2

Project Title: Experiencing air conditioning

Project Description: A study of people’s experience of air conditioning, how and where they encounter air conditioning technology/spaces, how they adapt and respond to cooled indoor environments. Empirical work could be undertake in UK or overseas, or comparative between locations

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MRes Environment and Development MSc Energy and the Environment

Name of Supervisor: Nigel Watson

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B25 LEC III, [email protected], tel: 01524 510258 address):

Research Interests:

Water governance, policy and management

Project#1

Project Title: Learning to collaborate in catchment management

Project Description: In England, the national coalition government has adopted a catchment-based approach as one of its key policies for managing water and related natural resources.

This project will investigate the implementation of this approach and assess the benefits of collaboration, using one or more catchments as case studies.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Water Management

Project#2

Project Title: Negotiating troubled waters: understanding the conflicts between canoeists and anglers on the River Ribble Project Description: The river Ribble in Lancashire is important for recreational angling and is also popular with canoe clubs and independent canoeists. In recent years, the relationship between the two groups appears to have deteriorated to the extent that there is now an acknowledged ‘conflict’.

This project will try to explain why this situation has arisen and investigate potential strategies that may be used to resolve the conflict, possibly using examples from other river systems where the needs and interests of canoeists and anglers are being met without conflict.

Degree schemes: MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Water Management

Name of Supervisor: Dr Duncan Whyatt

Contact details (room LEC III, Room A27 no, tel no, email 01524 510239 address): [email protected] Research Interests:

Analysis of air pollution at local and regional scales. Application of local-scale dispersion models and regional scale chemical-transport models.

Spatial analysis of observed rainfall patterns across the UK using directional techniques. Analysis of modelled rainfall patterns generated by mesoscale numerical weather prediction systems.

Applications of GIS

Project#1

Project Title: Power to the people: can back-garden rainfall enthusiasts help scientists understand climatic patterns and processes? Project Description: Rainfall measurement is the original ‘citizen science’, and people have enthusiastically collected and recorded rainfall amounts since c1700. Today more people than ever record meteorological data in their back gardens: is this information useful to climate scientists who traditionally use only official Met Office sites to investigate climatic change or validate climate models? This project will look at unofficial sources of rainfall data in Cumbria and determine how useful they are to climate scientists. The student will need to locate as many ‘unofficial’ data sources as possible (e.g., weather on the web, local media, word-of-mouth) then analyse their ‘usefulness’ using GIS techniques. This project is suitable for a student with good communication skills and an interest in meteorology/climate and GIS. GIS is not a pre-requisite and can be learned on the project. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

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Project#2

Project Title: How well do mesoscale models predict upland rainfall in Cumbria? Project Description: Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models are used to produce daily weather forecasts and as a tool to understand meteorological processes. However, they often perform poorly in upland areas with complex topography; such areas require accurate simulation of rainfall amounts for water resource and ecosystem management. This project will compare output from the WRF model with meteorological observations made across Cumbria. It will focus upon winter rainfall and will investigate under what meteorological conditions, and in what geographical areas, the model performs well and poorly. This project is suitable for a student with interests in meteorology/climate and analysis of large datasets. The project also includes some GIS, but this is not a pre-requisite.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

Project#3

Project Title: When the rain comes: a comparison of rainfall measurements made at Hazelrigg weather station Project Description: Rainfall is measured at Hazelrigg weather station using a variety of different devices including a standard rain gauge, a tipping bucket rain gauge plus more sophisticated sonic and laser-based sensors. In this project the student will compare the different measurement techniques and determine which give the best results under different rainfall conditions (light, medium, and heavy) over select 24-hour periods. This project is suitable for a student with interests in meteorology and statistical analysis of large datasets.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

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Project#4

Project Title: Exploring interactions between power station plumes and the atmospheric boundary layer: 3D analysis based on outputs from the CMAQ modelling system. Project Description: Despite significant reductions in emissions over the last 20 years power stations remain some of the largest sources of air pollution in the UK. Pollutants such as SO2 and NOx are typically released into the atmospheric boundary layer from stacks 150-200m tall although the ‘effective height’ of release is often greater due to temperature-induced plume rise. The height of the atmospheric boundary layer varies on a daily and seasonal basis, being lower in the winter (~400m) and higher in the summer (~1400m). There are occasions when power station plumes penetrate the atmospheric boundary layer and enter the free atmosphere – most typically during the early hours of winter months when the boundary layer may be as low as 200m. In this project the student will use a combination of hourly modelled meteorological data and pollution data to identify ‘plume penetration’ episodes from an archive of pre-existing data. They will then analyse 3D concentration profiles for selected primary and secondary pollutants in order to gain a better understanding of how and where plumes are reintegrated into the atmospheric boundary layer. This project would be suitable for a student with interests in air pollution and skills using MATLAB and R. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

Project#5

Project Title: Mind the gap: using data mining techniques to characterise missing source terms for PM2.5 Project Description: Researchers from LEC are working with scientists from the USEPA on a collaborative project to improve the predictive performance of regional scale air pollution models. At their most recent meeting in June 2012 a number of researchers presented results indicating that their models were unable to close the PM2.5 budget at rural sites across the UK and US. This suggests that the models need to consider additional source terms and/or production mechanisms. Staff within LEC have been developing data mining techniques in order to extract more information from ambient air quality records and hence better characterise source contributions. For example, they have analysed PM10 concentrations by wind speed, wind direction and time of day in order to gain a better insight into culpable sources at a steelworks in Scunthorpe. In this project the student will use data mining techniques to extract signals from ‘residual plots’ (modelled estimates of PM2.5 subtracted from observed levels of PM2.5) at selected rural locations. The resulting signals will be interpreted in relation to likely sources and/or processes and fed back to the modelling community. This project would be suitable for a student with interests in air pollution and skills using R. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics

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Name of Supervisor: Andy Wilby

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC; room B36a, tel. 92196, [email protected] address): Research Interests:

I am an ecologist working primarily on the functioning of arthropod communities. Recently I have focused on pollination and pest control services, looking at how biodiversity change can affect pollination and herbivore population regulation and how systems can be managed to promote efficient provision of these ecosystem services.

I am happy to consider supervising any community ecology / insect ecology projects

Project#1

Project Title: Pollination services in an experimentally restored hay meadow Project Description: This project is part of a wider study looking at ecosystem service provision in restored upland hay meadows. Practical work will be based at Ingleborough National Nature Reserve in the Yorkshire Dales, the site of a long-term meadow restoration project. The experiment, which dates back to 1990, has tested the impact of grazing, seed addition, fertilisation and the presence of the hemi-parasitic plant Rhinanthus minor on plant community composition and soil ecosystem functioning. The treatments have generated major differences in plant diversity and composition and this project will investigate how these differing plant communities are utilised by pollinating insects (including bees, hoverflies, and butterflies), a group which has suffered severe decline in recent years. The study will test the hypothesis that the diversity of pollinators and frequency of visitation is positively related to the diversity and composition of flowering plant species, and whether there are any negative interactions among pollinator groups which affect the overall level of flower visitation. The project will also give the student the chance to work alongside Natural England Staff who are based at the site. Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MRes Science of the Environment

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Project#2

Project Title: The influence of habitat structure on the functioning of predator communities Project Description: It is often assumed that increasing the diversity of natural enemies will result in more efficient control of pest species. However, this is not always the case and, intriguingly, whether increasing predator richness delivers better pest control seems to depend on the ecological context, such as the structure of the environment, rather than the traits of the predators themselves. The mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood, which hinders our ability manage efficient natural control of pests. This project will use model food webs including aphids and their predators housed in the controlled environment facilities in LEC to test the influence of habitat structure (e.g. architectural complexity and size) on the performance of multi- and single-predator assemblages. The experiments will test the hypothesis that increased structural complexity promotes positive species richness effects on pest suppression Degree schemes: MSc Ecology and Conservation MRes Science of the Environment

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Name of Supervisor: Oliver Wild

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B508 LEC 1, x94871, [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Atmospheric composition, chemistry and transport, particularly in how pollutant emissions affect regional air quality and thus influence global climate through their effects on ozone and methane. I develop numerical models that allow us to use our understanding of atmospheric processes to provide scientific insight into atmospheric composition change and to inform air quality and climate policy.

Project#1

Project Title: Intercontinental Transport of Air Pollutants

Project Description: How much do emissions from industrial sources over one side of the world affect air pollution over the other? How will increased emissions from economic and industrial development in South or East Asia affect air quality in the UK or mainland Europe? Transport of ozone and other pollutants over intercontinental scales can have significant impacts on air quality in downwind regions, affecting human health and crop production. This has important implications for air quality policy, but is difficult to assess reliably as our understanding of the governing processes remains poor. Recent global numerical modelling studies now allow us to quantify these intercontinental effects better, and this project will contribute by focussing on rapidly-developing source regions (e.g., in Asia) and exploring the regional and temporal variation in their impacts on air quality downwind. Topics might include assessing the likely impacts of future emissions on global air quality, investigating the role of meteorological processes, or exploring why state-of-the-art computer models give such different answers. Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Project#2

Project Title: Urban Air Quality in China

Project Description: Daily air quality measurements from major cities in China provide a valuable resource for investigation of air pollution in developing countries and how it evolves with time. This data contains the signatures of recent rapid industrialization, large increases in vehicle usage, increasing regional differences in economic development, and natural phenomena such as major dust storms which sweep across the region in springtime. It also reveals the effects of stringent emission controls such as those implemented during the summer Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. I would welcome project proposals focussing on quantifying the effects and extent of these emission changes on air quality, or on exploring how we can use this data to advance our understanding of the links between air quality, meteorology and economic development.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

Project#3

Project Title: Effects of a wind turbine on meteorological variables

Project Description: Lancaster university is in the process of installing a wind turbine at Hazelrigg to provide power for the campus and reduce CO2 emissions. We have extensive meteorological measurements over 40 years from the university weather station at the site along with data from a newly established replacement meteorological enclosure situated nearby. This provides a unique opportunity to explore the impact of a wind turbine on local meteorology. This project will involve comparing a range of meteorological variables at the two enclosures and exploring whether there are significant changes in wind speed or other variables before and after the wind turbine is built.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Name of Supervisor: Paul Young

Contact details (room no, tel no, email LEC 3, Office B33; T: 10522; E: [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

I am a climate scientist researching global change, using global models and observations. I am particularly interested in how different parts of the Earth system relate to one another, and how this is captured in global climate models. I am also interested in characterising and understanding the variability and spread between different climate models and datasets.

Project#1

Project Title: Global temperature change over the last century: What do different datasets tell us? Project Description: Outline. Several time series of (near) global mean temperature for the last ~100 years exist from the work of several research groups. Each dataset is different in its processing of the observations, resulting in subtly different end products. This project will use a variety of statistical techniques and visualisations to characterise and quantify the differences between the different datasets, including examining trends and the role of natural variability (e.g. ENSO, solar cycle, volcanoes). The project will be co-supervised (33%) by Dr Wlodek Tych. Skills to be gained include critical appraisal of data and models, time series modelling and the use of (e.g.) Matlab numerical and scientific visualisation environment.

This is a joint supervision with Wlodek Tych Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Energy and the Environment MSc Environmental Informatics MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Name of Supervisor: Dr Kathryn Yusoff

Contact details (room no, tel no, email B27 [email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Geographies of Nature Theory and politics of Environmental Thought Climate & Society

Masters students interested in any of the above research areas are encouraged to devise their own proposed project titles and contact Kathryn for guidance.

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Name of Supervisor: Hao Zhang

Contact details (room LEC 1, room A510, tel: 01524 593899, no, tel no, email email:[email protected] address):

Research Interests:

Biogeochemical processes of metals and nutrients in aquatic system. Chemical speciation and bioavailability in waters and soils. Development of new dynamic techniques for in situ measurements.

Project#1

Project Title: Aging effect on physical and chemical properties of manufactured nanomaterial TiO2

Project Description: Recent studies have suggested that manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) are most likely to accumulate in biosolids (BS) from wastewater treatment processes (WWTP) and ultimately in soils. They are potentially harmful to human and ecological systems. It is important to understand the behaviour and reactivity of the NNMs. In this project, we will focus on TiO2 nanoparticles and investigate the aging effect on their adsorption and desorption properties and availability in soils. TiO2 will be added to 3 different types of soils. Samples will be taken weekly or every two weeks to monitor the change or transfer between soil solution and solid phase. The concentrations of TiO2 will be measured by ICPMS.

Degree schemes: MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Project#2

Project Title: The effect of organic acid on available phosphate in soils

Project Description: Excessive usage of phosphorus fertilizer for ensuring food production has depleted the resources to an alarming level. However, big proportion of P has been taken up by soil particles and became unavailable to plants. It is important to investigate if organic acids can remobilize the absorbed P and increase its availability. Several soils collected from allotments will be spiked with the same amount of phosphate simulating a typical P fertiliser application and leave them to equilibrate for two months. Then all soils will be spiked with two or three types of organic acids at 3 different concentrations. After 1~2 days equilibrium, soil solutions will be extracted using different reagents (water and NaHCO3). The concentration of reactive phosphate will be analysed by a colorimetric method. Bioavailable P will also be measured directly on wet soils using a new technique DGT (Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films). Degree schemes: MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Butterfly Conservation student projects 2013 Academic contact: Rosa Menendez (LEC; [email protected])

Welcome to the list of MSc student projects for 2013 offered by Butterfly Conservation – the world’s largest insect conservation charity. All of the projects listed have a direct conservation application including auto-ecological studies, assessment of management practices and monitoring. We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic students, who are keen to pursue a career in ecological research and biodiversity conservation. Insect conservation really needs a new generation of bright and dynamic scientists and these projects could help provide a stepping stone along this career path. We aim to provide a good level of support, including training where needed, and access to the expertise with the relevant member of staff and library facilities at Butterfly Conservation Head Office. Butterfly Conservation staff will provide guidance on setting up the project, technical advice and general support alongside your university supervisor who, as primary supervisor, will provide guidance particularly during the analysis and write up phase. Statistical support at your university will be required. In return, we are looking for a similar level of commitment and we expect a report to Butterfly Conservation. www.butterfly-conservation.org

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Projects based in Lancashire-Cumbria

BC Project#1

Project Title: Assessing the effect of habitat management on habitat quality for the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Project Description: The Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina is one of the most threatened butterflies in the UK. It has declined by around 50% in recent years (Bourn & Warren, 1998; Ellis & Wainwright, 2007). The populations in the north of England and particularly those in the Morecombe Bay limestone area have suffered the highest decline (Ellis, 2006). Targeted conservation effort is now being implemented in the area around Morecombe Bay to improve habitat quality for the species. As a result of this conservation effort, intensive research has been done to investigate the habitat requirements of the species (macrohabitat characteristics, host plant characteristics and oviposition preferences) (Birkett, 2008). We now have a good understanding of the habitat conditions more suitable for the species but we know very little about how to manage habitats to promote such conditions. This is limiting our ability to reverse population decline both at the regional and national scale. This project aims to provide this knowledge by assessing habitat quality in areas that have been subjected to different management practices in recent years and by control experiments to test which environmental conditions promote the host-plant growth form that is preferred by the females for oviposition. This project involves both field and lab work; interested candidates should be prepared to spend long periods of time outdoors from the beginning of May. Driving licence and own vehicle are required. References: Birkett, A. (2008) The Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) on the Morecambe Bay Limestones: Habitat Requirements for Success. MSc Thesis. University of Reading. Bourn, N. A. D. and Warren, M. S. (1998) Species Action Plan: Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina. Butterfly Conservation. Ellis, S. (2006) Conservation of the Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina butterfly on the Morcecambe Bay limestones. Unpublished report for Butterfly Conservation. Ellis, S. and Wainwright, D. (2007) Factsheet: Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.

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Projects based in other parts of England and Wales (be aware that these projects are likely to be only suitable for students that can provide their own transport and accommodation in the area where the project will be based. Before enquiring about the project think about the practicalities).

BC Project #2

Project Title: Ecology of the Forester moth

Project Description: The Forester Adscita statices is a stunning metallic-green moth of flowery grasslands. It is widespread across the UK and seems to persist at low numbers often on very small sites. The adult moth flies from Mid-May to July and is easy to observe feeding on flowers even in cloudy weather. The larvae feed on Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa and Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex acetosella. Since 2009 Butterfly Conservation has built up a body of information about the location and some of the characteristics of individual sites, particularly in South Central England, The Brecks and North West Wales. However, the information is incomplete and inconsistent and a detailed study is required to improve our knowledge of the habitat characteristics of Forester colonies, to enable conservation advice to be provided to site owners. The main focus of the project will be gathering habitat quality data from known sites in at least two regions of England and/or Wales. In each region two more extensive sites will need to be sampled along with up to eight smaller occupied sites. Key characteristics that need to be determined include vegetation type and structure, abundance of nectar sources and larval foodplants, habitat management and shelter. Timed counts of adults and nectar plant preferences may also be possible on larger sites. Butterfly Conservation staff will arrange access to larger sites but the student will be responsible for arranging access to smaller sites. Transport will be necessary and the project will require lone working. It is expected fieldwork will take a minimum of one week per region.

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BC Project#3

Project Title: A question of taste: What do Grizzled Skipper caterpillars like for lunch? Project Description: The Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae is a scarce and declining butterfly in the UK. Strongholds for the species lie on the chalk and limestone of southern England, but it also occurs in Wales on a range of sites including sand dunes,limestone quarries, coal spoil tips and industrial estates. Recent surveys in Wales indicate that there are around 18colonies, but many of these are very small or transitory and only 5 strong populations are known. The largest population is probably that at Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve in Glamorgan, where the butterfly occurs ata low density across 300 hectares of sand dunes. Unlike many other scarce butterflies which are restricted to a single foodplant, Grizzled Skipper larvae feed on a range of species in the rose family. The species most often used are Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca, Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans and Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, but several others may also be used including Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis, Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and even Bramble Rubus spp.. Larvae often change plants and even plant species during their development, starting on smalplants and moving to larger ones as they grow. However, these observations are based on a limited number of studies in England, and Grizzled Skipper larvae have never been studied in Wales. We need more information on the foodplants used and the areas favoured for breeding if we are to effectively conserve the species. The project will investigate the foodplants and breeding sites used by Grizzled Skipper at Merthyr Mawr dunes. Eggand larva searching on potential foodplants will be carried out in late May and June, and habitat characteristics (e.g. amount of bare ground, size of plant etc.) will be determined for occupied plants. Egg and larva locations will be marked and the progress of larvae followed through June and early July to investigate whether they use multiple plant species during their development. The project will be undertaken at Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve, located near Bridgend in South Wales. The fieldwork period will run from late May to early July. Transport is likely to be required and the project will require lone field working.

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BC Project#4

Project Title: Why are Silurian moths so rare?

Project Description: The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla is a very rare moth in the UK. Until 2011 the species was known from a 4km stretch of moorland near Abertillery in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. However, fieldwork in 2011 and 2012 has uncovered a second breeding locality in the Black Mountains, where the moth occurs on a hilltop ridge on the England-Wales border, 20km to the north of the original site. The full extent of this population has yet to be determined, but is known to cover at least 6km2. Targeted searches for larvae of the Silurian over a number of years have found the primary foodplant to be Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, although one larva has also been found feeding on Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile. All larvae have been found between 450m and 600m above sea level. Although the moth has been found in light traps at lower elevations, it is thought that these are wanderers from higher up, as searches of Bilberry at lower levels have failed to find any larvae. Likewise, searches for larvae between 600m and 700m altitude have also proved unsuccessful. Bilberry moorland is a widespread habitat in Wales and elsewhere in the UK uplands. So why is the Silurian apparently restricted to such a small area? It is possible that the moth has very exacting habitat requirements, and needs Bilberry growing in a particular vegetation structure. Alternatively, the species may be climatically limited – it occurs at the south-eastern extremity of the uplands of the UK, where the climate is likely to be drier than further north and west. The current project seeks to address this question by modelling the altitude, climate and habitat characteristics of the known populations, and then investigating whether any other areas of the UK have similar characteristics. This will tell us whether the Silurian’s known range is unusual, or whether there are other potentially suitable areas where it does not occur or hasn’t been looked for. This is a desk-based project and would suit a student with an interest in spatial data analysis. Familiarity with GIS software is essential. Some fieldwork may help the successful student familiarise themselves with the known breeding areas.

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BC Project#5

Project Title: Wood White recovery in Northamptonshire Woodlands

Project Description: The Wood White Leptidea sinapis is one of the fastest declining butterflies in the UK and is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. The butterfly generally breeds along woodland rides and clearings where it uses various legumes as food plant, commonly Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis. A new project in Northamptonshire has recently started which will target habitat improvement for the Wood White Butterfly, specifically on six woodland sites, four near Silverstone and two near Kettering. The first phase of habitat management will take place during winter 2012/13 and this project will investigate the impact of this management work on the ride side vegetation, the host plant and on the butterfly. There is also a mass of historical butterfly transect data (10 years plus) for these woods which could form part of the analysis. This is a great opportunity to be involved in a project where the results will help to shape future ride management for the Wood White and hopefully influence standard forestry practice. The majority of the work will be field-based with some lone working in rural locations although it may be possible to link up with local Butterfly Conservation volunteers. The species flies between May and July and the food plant is easy to locate over a longer period of the summer months. Data collection methods will include egg-laying preference observations, adult timed counts and habitat suitability mapping etc.

BC Project#6

Project Title: Saving Silver-studded Blue on Ipswich Heath

Project Description: The Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus has undergone substantial declines in the past and is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Recent declines have slowed and although the species does not seem to be at risk of significant further distribution loss at present, there has been little progress towards reversing its major long-term decline. The species is mainly found on heathland where the most common host plants are Heather Calluna vulgaris, Bell Heather Erica cinerea and Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix. The species also uses some calcareous sites and sand dunes. This project will focus on the Ipswich Heaths in Suffolk and is a great chance to be involved in a project to help secure the species in this landscape. A new project to target heathland management on 14 sites on the eastern edge of Ipswich will start in January 2013 and continue over a 4-year period. Management work will include scrub clearance, forage harvesting and creation of bare ground. The first phase of habitat management will take in January/February 2013 and the project will study the impact of this management on heathland re-generation and habitat 116

utilisation by the butterfly. There is also a mass of historical butterfly data (10 years plus) and habitat maps for some of these sites which could form part of the analysis. The majority of the work will be field-based with some lone working in urban edge locations although it may be possible to link up with local Butterfly Conservation volunteers. The butterfly is on the wing in June/July but suitable habitat can be located over a longer period. Methods used could include observation of egg laying, adult timed counts and habitat suitability mapping. The project could potentially include other species such as Lunar Yellow Underwing and Gloworm which will also benefit from the management work.

BC Project#7

Project Title: Landscape scale habitat restoration potential for the Heath Fritillary Project Description: The Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia has undergone major declines in distribution and abundance and is now only found in four landscapes in Southern England – Exmoor, Tamar Valley and specific woodlands of Essex and Kent. The severe long- term declines have slowed due to significant conservation effort but in order to restore the species to its previous distribution habitat restoration will be necessary. This project will focus on the Tamar Valley on the Devon/Cornwall border. The Heath Fritillary flies from the end of May until early July with the main host plants being Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense and Rbiwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata The Heath Fritillary population in the Tamar Valley has now declined to two colonies within one woodland. This project will investigate the extent and suitability of habitat within the surrounding landscape focusing on the existing Tamar population and explore the potential for expansion into former sites and new sites. This work will build on a previous report (published 2005) that investigated other potential sites within the landscape. The emphasis will be on assessing a sites potential, through vegetation assessments for the Heath Fritillary in terms of host plant presence, abundance and other characteristics. The project will include significant fieldwork with the necessary desk-based study prior to the field work. The habitat assessments are recommended to be completed by the end of July Training in habitat mapping, species identification and habitat condition assessments will be provided and general support and advice will be available throughout the project. This will be suitable for a personable individual as working with private landowners and partner organisations will be an essential part of the study. The individual will need to work professionally and independently and be comfortable with lone working. . Private transport is essential as many of the sites will be remote with no public transport available.

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BC Project#8

Project Title: Management of a landscape to retain the Heath Fritillary in Essex Project Description: The Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia has undergone major declines in distribution and abundance and is now only found in four landscapes in Southern England – Exmoor, Tamar Valley and specific woodlands of Essex and Kent. The severe long- term declines have slowed due to significant conservation effort but in order to restore the species to its previous distribution habitat restoration will be necessary. This project will focus on the Heath Fritillary populations in Essex within approximately six woodlands which were established through re-introductions during the 1980s and 90s. The Heath Fritillary flies from early June to late July with the main host plants being Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense. To retain the species in the long-term it will be necessary to establish the current site management, potential habitat within the existing woods and those nearby. This project will examine the surrounding landscape focusing on the existing occupied populations and exploring potential methods for further habitat management such as assessing a sites wood fuel potential. Is it possible to retain this rare butterfly in an economic woodland coppice system? The project will include significant fieldwork with the necessary desk-based study prior to the field work. The habitat assessments are recommended to be completed by the end of July Training in habitat mapping, species identification and habitat condition assessments will be provided and general support and advice will be available throughout the project. This will be suitable for a personable individual as working with private landowners and partner organisations will be an essential part of the study. The individual will need to work professionally and independently and be comfortable with lone working. Private transport is essential as many of the sites will be remote with no public transport available.

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OVERSEAS PROJECTS 2012-2013

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Name of Supervisor: Logistical coordinator: Yani Najman

Contact details (room [email protected] no, tel no, email 01524 593898 address):

Overseas Project#1

Project Title: The effect of agricultural intensification on river water quality, central Nepal Project Description: Changing land use practices in Nepal, in particular agricultural intensification, require increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, insufficient monitoring has so far been undertaken on the potential increased pollution in the soil, water or air. This project will investigate the effect of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on river quality in central Nepal. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Nepal, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Nepal.

Overseas Project#2

Project Title: The impact of increased urbanization on the water quality of the Bagmati River, Kathmandu, Nepal Project Description: The rapid and unplanned expansion of Kathmandu city, both of residential housing and industry, has put tremendous pressure on the water quality of the Bagmati River. In the absence of appropriate sewage collection and waste water treatment plants, the river has become the main collector drain. Solid waste deposited on the river banks also further deteriorates the river environment. The quality of the river’s water is important since it is heavily used, untreated, for irrigation and domestic purposes. This project will investigate the extent of pollution of the river’s water by sampling both upstream and downstream of the city and subsequently analysing for a number of parameters. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Nepal, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Nepal.

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Overseas Project#3

Project Title: The effect of the textile industry on soil and groundwater quality in Bhadohi city, India Project Description: Bhadohi city, dubbed “carpet city”, is the biggest carpet manufacturing centre in India. This project will evaluate the environmental impact of this industry, in particular textile dyeing effluents, on the quality of the soil and ground water in the surrounding region. Samples of soil and ground water will be taken from locations adjacent to areas where there is a high number of textile dyeing units, and from more remote areas, and they will be analysed for various physicochemical parameters. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and overseas supervisor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India. The student will undertake the fieldwork in India, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to India.

Overseas Project#4

Project Title: Agricultural practices and POP’s / heavy metal pollution, Bhaktapur, Nepal Project Description: The vegetable-growing region of Bhaktapur supplies a large amount of produce for consumption in the densely populated Kathmandu valley. The agricultural land in this area is irrigated with untreated waste water and sewage including industrial effluent, and there is heavy reliance on pesticides and fertilizers to increase productivity. This project will assess levels of pollution in the soil and in grown vegetables from this region and from a nearby region which is considered to be less polluted. The project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Nepal, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Nepal.

Overseas Project#5

Project Title: The effect of discharge of industrial and municipal effluent on river water quality, Dhaka, Bangladesh Project Description: In Dhaka metropolitan area, industrial activities, particularly from textile, tannery and pharmaceutical factories, are polluting the river water due to discharge of untreated effluent. This is particularly problematic since many lower income areas of the city use untreated river water for domestic purposes, downstream the river water is used extensively for irrigation of crops, and fish from these rivers, affected by the pollution, are used for human consumption. This project will measure the levels of pollutants such as heavy metals and organic pollutants in the rivers upstream and downstream of Dhaka (Buriganga, Shitalaksha, Balu and/or Turag Rivers), to determine the level of pollution generated by the city environment. This project will benefit from dual

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supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Dhaka University, Bangladesh. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Bangladesh, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Bangladesh.

Overseas Project#6

Project Title: The impact of river water pollution on soil quality and crop production, Dhaka, Bangladesh Project Description: In Dhaka metropolitan area, municipal and industrial activities, particularly from textile, tannery and pharmaceutical factories, are polluting the river water due to discharge of untreated effluent. Downstream, agricultural lands along the river banks are cropped for food production and are extensively irrigated by water from these polluted rivers. The dual resulting problem is that soil fertility may be decreased, and vegetables for human consumption have the potential to uptake contaminants. This project will investigate the level of contamination by pollutants present in the soil, and compare them to values for soil which is not irrigated by polluted river water. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Dhaka University, Bangladesh. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Bangladesh, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Bangladesh.

Overseas Project#7

Project Title: Assessment and mitigation of soil and nutrient loss involved in changing farming methods, Central Nepal Project Description: The effect of changing / different farming practices (traditional vs intensified farming methods) on the region will be investigated in small watersheds in central Nepal. Soil and nutrient losses from these farmlands, and sediment, nutrients and soil organic carbon loads in streams adjacent to these farmlands will be monitored. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Nepal, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Nepal.

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Overseas Project#8

Project Title: The West Bengal Wetlands, Kolkata, India: the influence of changing land use on pisciculture Project Description: The man made East Kolkata wetlands are the largest sewage fed fishponds in the world. Sewage flows from the city and is used for fishing and agricultural practices, thus saving the city from building a waste water treatment plant. However, it is proposed that increased urbanisation, and unregulated industrial effluent discharge into the area has resulted in the uptake of pollutants into fish sold for human consumption. Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants in fish farmed in the East Kolkata Wetlands will be compared with levels in fish farmed in the wetlands to the NW of Kolkata which are groundwater and precipitation fed, rather than waste water fed. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India. The student will undertake the fieldwork in India, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to India.

Overseas Project#9

Project Title: Taudaha Lake Wetlands, Nepal: assessing the impact of changing agricultural practices in the area Project Description: Taudaha Lake, located in Chobhar, Kathmandu, is a wetland environment with high biodiversity, particularly waterfowl. It is surrounded by agricultural land, and recent intensified farming methods including the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers, is degrading the water quality of this natural lake. This project will investigate the level of nutrient pollution in the lake. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. The student will undertake the fieldwork in Nepal, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to Nepal.

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Overseas Project#10

Project Title: The West Bengal Wetlands, Kolkata, India: assessing water quality in the face of changing land use Project Description: Fresh water wetlands contain a diverse and unique ecosystem and play a number of important environmental roles, particularly in water purification. The wetlands to the NW of Kolkata are coming under increasing pressure from urbanisation and changing land use. This project will assess the water quality at increasing distances from the city, to assess the level of pollution. In addition, the quality of the water outputting from the fish farms in the area, which in this region are groundwater and precipitation fed, will be compared with the water from fish farms located in the East Kolkata Wetlands, which are fed by Kolkata’s waste water and thus serve to purify the city’s sewage. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India. The student will undertake the fieldwork in India, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to India.

Overseas Project#11

Project Title: The North-West Kolkata Wetlands, India: investigating the continuing efficiency of pisciculture to purify sewage in the face of changing land use Project Description: The man made East Kolkata wetlands are the largest sewage fed fishponds in the world. Sewage flows from the city and is used for fishing and agricultural practices, thus saving the city from building a waste water treatment plant. However, changing land use has put pressure on the ability of the fish ponds to purify the waste water effectively. Analyses of the water quality inputting from the city and outputting from the fishponds, in both areas adjacent and more remote from newly constructed industrial areas, will be undertaken. This project will benefit from dual supervision from a Lancaster University and an overseas supervisor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India. The student will undertake the fieldwork in India, and fieldwork costs will be met by the student. The student must have a passport valid for entry to India.

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Overseas Project#12-17

Project Title: Development Projects in Central Africa

Project Description: The MRes Environment and Development students spend roughly 3 months of their research in the South. In collaboration with local NGOs and academic institutions in the South (e.g. Ghana, Zambia and India) students develop their own research proposal focusing broadly on social and environmental development. Students experience the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and projects are designed in such a way that students are living amongst urban or rural communities so knowledge and experience can be shared between the students and local communities on a daily basis. The wider remit of the academic projects is to further support community initiatives towards improvement of the environment and creating sustainable livelihoods. A definitive list of placement projects will be provided before the Christmas break.

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Name of Supervisor: Greg Holland

Office: A24 LEC III Contact details (room no, tel no, email Tel: +44 (0)1524 510236 address): Email: [email protected]

Overseas Project#1

Possible affiliation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou.

Degree schemes: Any

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Overseas Project#2

Possible affiliation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou.

Degree schemes: Any

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Name of Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Sweetman

Contact details (room no, tel no, email Tel: 94715. E-mail: [email protected] address):

Overseas Project#1

Project Title: Catchment scale chemical pollution modelling within China.

Project Description: This dissertation project will focus on sources, fate and behaviour of selected chemicals on a catchment scale within China. There is considerable interest in water quality with respect to chemical contaminants and the factors that influence spatial and temporal concentrations. These controlling factors are many fold and include; emission (both point discharge and diffusive sources), land use (past, current and future), surface water flows including both the streams and rivers as well as the land surface drainage, chemical partitioning/speciation within the rivers as well as sediment processing and chemical/biological mediated degradation. All of these factors influence water quality and ultimately human and environmental exposure to these substances. This project will focus on modelling approaches to improve our understanding of chemical sources, fate and behaviour and the factors that control them on a catchment basis.

Possible affiliation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou.

Degree schemes: MRes Science of the Environment MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Overseas Project#2

Project Title: Volatile Organic Chemical (VOCs) in Chinese indoor air

Project Description: Due to the adverse health effects associated with exposure to VOCs and related chemicals, these substances have been increasingly regulated in the work place, with occupational exposure limits set at national levels. However, in the home environment there is very little information about exposure to these substances. This project will involve active sampling at a number of locations identified with our Chinese partners, and along with the use of newly developed passive samplers, an estimate non-occupational exposure to VOCs will be made. It will also involve a critical assessment of the peer-reviewed literature to identify key studies on sources of VOCs in indoor environments and importantly to identify data gaps.

Possible affiliation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou.

Degree schemes: (see MRes Science of the Environment key below) MSc Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation MSc Environmental Science and Technology (plus international variant)

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Name of Supervisor: Dr. Carly Stevens

Contact details (room no, tel no, email Tel: 93937. E-mail: [email protected] address):

Project #1

Project Title: Investigating atmospheric nitrogen deposition in China

Project Description: Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is a major cause of biodiversity loss and soil acidification globally. However, despite the fact that we have a good understanding of its causes and impacts in Europe in China levels of nitrogen deposition are not routinely monitored. Based on emissions levels are thought to be among the highest in the world meaning that nitrogen deposition represents a serious threat to the environment. Because mosses take their nitrogen from the atmosphere they are frequently used as indicators of nitrogen deposition. This project will use the nitrogen concentration of mosses to assess levels of nitrogen deposition. The project will involve fieldwork in China and the analysis of samples for nitrogen concentration.

Possible affiliation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou. Degree schemes: (see key below) MSc Ecology and Conservation

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Lancaster Environment Centre

Enterprise and Business Partnerships

Centre for Global Eco-Innovation: Postgraduate Dissertation Project Briefs

The projects outlined below have been generated through the Centre for Global Eco- Innovation, a new £9.8M project, delivered by a partnership team of Lancaster University (through LEC’s Enterprise and Business Partnerships team, but delivered across the Faculty of Science and Technology), the University of Liverpool, and Inventya Ltd., a specialist environmental consultancy. At the heart of the centre is a team of 50 graduates working on collaborative research and development projects with business. The graduates use these collaborations as the basis of a PhD programme of study and are supported by senior academic members of staff, all internationally-recognised experts in their fields. The centre takes a strong focus on international markets and a number of the graduates within the centre are from overseas.

The programme will also assist companies through the delivery of Masters-level dissertations. Each of the projects detailed below is currently being undertaken by a postgraduate within LEC as a PhD, having started in October 2012. The outlines below are based on the adverts for each of the PhD projects. Through consultation between the academic supervisor for each of these projects and the PhD student, a distinct Masters dissertation may be devised, to run alongside and be complementary to the work of the PhD student. A Masters project may only go ahead when it is deemed as being suitable by the academic supervisor, PhD student, and host company. This will provide mutual benefits, in the form of support to the PhD student, whilst providing masters students with an industry-based dissertation project to enhance their CVs, whilst also gaining an insight into the work of a postgraduate researcher. The first point of contact for Masters students who are potentially interested in working on one of the project briefs described below should be the relevant academic supervisor. Please do not contact any of the companies directly at this stage.

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LEC-BASED PROJECTS

CGE Project#1

Project Title Strategies for resilient and sustainable integrated catchment management Company JBA Consulting Supervisor Prof. Keith Beven Project Description This project will aim to understand how future strategies for catchment management could improve resilience to risks and deliver sustainable ecosystem and infrastructure services by investigating integrated models, requirements and opportunities for monitoring and possible future management scenarios. The company plans to meet this objective through two, closely related projects covering: 1) Prediction and understanding of natural and engineered (infrastructure) systems at catchment scale, taking into account model uncertainties (this will form the PhD) and 2) Development of resilient management strategies based on economic and business risk assessments that consider accessing distributed funding mechanisms through interventions having multiple benefits. Degree schemes MSc Sustainable Water Management MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Environmental Science and Technology

CGE Project#2

Project Title Biological amendments of organic slurries on livestock farms Company Envirosystems UK Ltd. Supervisor Dr. Ben Surridge and Professor Phil Haygarth Project Description This project will involve research being conducted into novel biological amendments of organic slurries on livestock farms. The nutrient content of such slurries is currently an under-used resource. Biological amendment, involving a combination of microbial and enzyme inoculation, can maximise the nutrient value of these slurries whilst also delivering additional benefits including reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Through laboratory- and farm- scale approaches, this research will determine the impact of amended slurries on: 1. Greenhouse gas emissions from slurry stores 2. Soil chemistry and soil hydrological properties 3. Cropping yields and mineral-nutrient balance of vegetation. Degree schemes MSc Sustainable Water Management MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Environmental Science and Technology MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

CGE Project#3 Project Title Development and application of GIS for the Planning, Design and Management of Biodiversity in Large, Complex Redevelopment Sites Company Solum Environmental Ltd. Supervisors Dr. Duncan Whyatt and Dr. Carly Stevens Project Description This project will design, develop and apply a Geographical Information System (GIS) to assist in the strategic creation of habitats for protected species on a former industrial site. GIS techniques will be used to assemble baseline data sets then assess carrying capacities for selected species (e.g. otters, barn owls, water voles and badgers) in undisturbed areas of the site. Spatial modelling techniques will then be used to 132

prioritise areas for habitat creation in disturbed areas of the site. Degree schemes MSc Ecology and Conservation MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Environmental Science and Technology

CGE Project#4

Project Title Optimising nutrient use efficiency in crop production Company Plant Impact PLC Supervisors Dr. Martin McAinsh and Dr. Frank Martin Project Description Calcium is an essential plant nutrient and is crucial to ensure both the quality and value of crops. The company has developed a technology to improve calcium uptake and retention in plant tissues. This interdisciplinary project will exploit novel imaging technologies to track calcium movement at the cellular level with the ultimate aim of optimising the efficacy of added agents in order to improve sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture systems that rely on the use of calcium products. Degree schemes MSc Environmental Science and Technology MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

CGE Project#5

Project Title Optimisation of productivity and resource use efficiency in vertical farming Company Saturn Bioponics Ltd. Supervisors Dr. Martin McAinsh and Dr. Ian Dodd Project Description There is a need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed the increasing global population. However, the potential to increase the area of crops grown is limited. Thisproject will investigate the use of an innovative crop production system to extend plant growth into the vertical dimension (vertical farming) increasing the growing capacity per unit of available land. The system divides the growth environment into three zones (aerial, rhizosphere, core) which can be manipulated independently. The project will address how these zones can be manipulated to optimise the productivity and resource use efficiency of vertically grown crops. Degree schemes MSc Environmental Science and Technology MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

CGE Project#6

Project Title Environmental impacts of a novel, benign nematode control agent Company Arcis Biotechnology Ltd. Supervisors Dr. Mike Roberts and Prof. Ken Wilson Project Description Environmental impacts of a novel, benign nematode control agent. Nematodes cause considerable damage to crops worldwide, yet existing commercial nematicides are extremely toxic and damaging to the environment. The company which has devised this project has recently tested a nematicide product that is both novel and environmentally- friendly. The aim of this project is to address a number of commercially- 133

relevant and ecologically important questions about the potential use of this project: Q1) What is the dose-response profile of product against target and non-target organisms? Q2) How does the product affect the soil community structure? Q3) Does the product act as a plant growth stimulant? Q4) How does the product affect the non-biotic elements of the soil? Degree schemes MSc Environmental Science and Technology (see below) MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security MSc Ecology and Conservation

CGE Project#7

Project Title Novel approaches to sustainable pest control through light manipulations Company Arid Agritech Supervisor Prof. Nigel Paul Project Description This project will investigate potential new products that manipulate the light environment of crops grown in greenhouses or tunnels can contribute to sustainable pest control, reducing both crop damage and pesticide usage. The project combines fundamental crop and pest biology with direct, practical exploitation in the major production areas of the Mediterranean rim and Middle East.

Degree schemes MSc Environmental Science and Technology MA Environmental Management and Consultancy MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

CGE Project#8

Project Title Physiochemical properties and risk assessment strategies for the use of ENP Company The REACH Centre Ltd. Supervisor Dr. Andy Sweetman Project Description As the use of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) increases so does the need for risk assessment strategies designed specifically for the unique physicochemical properties of ENP and their implications for environmental safety. This project will look at the existing methods available and will assess the appropriateness for use with ENP. The outcome will be a framework for the development of an intelligent testing strategy, including practical guidance and recommendations for industry and regulatory use.

Degree schemes MSc Environmental Science and Technology MA Environmental Management and Consultancy

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CGE Project#9

Project Title Development of fluorescent magnetic particle tracking and sediment tracing technology Company Partrac Consulting Ltd

Supervisor Prof. John Quinton

Project Description "Particle tracking" or "sediment tracing" is used in a wide range of terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments to monitor the movement of particulates, and associated nutrients, contaminates and microbes, through space and time. A PhD student is currently working within LEC on a project that will develop a unique fluorescent magnetic particle tracking methodology. The method will then be applied to examine source-sink relationships, the nature and location of the transport pathway(s) and the rate of transport in marine and terrestrial environments.

A distinct Masters dissertation may be developed to run alongside, and be complementary to, the PhD project through discussion with the academic supervisor of the project, and the PhD student.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management students

CGE Project#10

Project Title Understanding stress responses in crop plants - developing crop- specific management tools Company Levity Crop Science

Supervisor Dr Sally Wilkinson

Project Description This project is based on an existing PhD studentship within LEC. This PhD studentship will seek to understand how different stress responses in plants interact, and what differences there are in interactions between key crops. This is vital in order to produce reliable broad- spectrum new products for farmers to manage stress response via foliar sprays. Such products would have a positive global impact, and allow farmers to produce more reliable crop yields with less seasonal variation using lower levels of inputs.

A distinct Masters dissertation may be developed to run alongside, and be complementary to, the PhD project through discussion with the academic supervisor of the project, and the PhD student.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security students

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Masters dissertation opportunities through the Enterprise and Business Partnerships team

This document provides outline dissertation briefs from organisations who want to work in collaboration with PGT students in the Lancaster Environment Centre. To discuss a particular project you should first contact the academic supervisor associated with the outline. The expectation is that these outlines will be developed into final project specifications by the student in collaboration with the academic supervisor and the project partner. Because these dissertations involve collaboration with an organisation outside LEC, you will need to demonstrate effective communication and project management skills in order to convey a positive impression of your capabilities and of LEC. Before agreeing to supervise your work, academic supervisors will judge whether you possess the communication and project management skills required to complete the project successfully.

EBP Project#1

Project Title Production of a flexible model for the purpose of carbon and waste estimating/reporting

Company Enterprise PLC

Supervisor Dr Andy Jarvis

Project Description Enterprise PLC is the UK's largest dedicated provider of maintenance and front-line services to the public sector and utility industry. The company has over 13,000 people working from over 150 locations nationwide, delivering over 100 different services to more than 15 million people across the UK. Enterprise has over 40 years experience of maintaining and improving the UK’s utility

infrastructure on behalf of utility companies, in addition to 25 years experience of working in partnership with the public sector to ensure that their front-line services are delivered to respond to local needs, while providing the best possible value.

Enterprise works with a huge range of micro-enterprises for whom the task of producing environmental management information is an unsustainable burden. We do however have a need to account more fully for our supply chain emissions and impacts, driven by both clients and competitors.

This project will involve creating a model applicable, initially, to gas meter fitting and support operations within Enterprise. The model will produce an environmental footprint to include carbon, waste and materials (as far as possible). You will work closely with a small number of micro enterprises to gather environmental data and produce a representative model. The model should be sufficiently flexible to allow for changes in geography, workload, etc by changing simple parameters, and be based on a set of transferable indicators that can be used across similar contracts and adapted for different workstreams (should time allow a sample

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from a different workstream may be studied, should the student wish to). The student will also design a verification programme that allows data to be revisited/sample checked with individual subcontractors through existing communication and checking processes.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment students

EBP Project#2

Project Title Identification of a methodology to ‘normalise’ the Enterprise carbon footprint

Company Enterprise PLC

Supervisor Prof. Ian Marshall

Enterprise provides a wide variety of services across the UK with varying levels of fuel use which accounts for >90% of our Group carbon footprint. However it can be difficult to understand our carbon reduction performance due to the size and diversity of the company. This project will investigate potential ways in which our carbon footprint can be ‘normalised’ for the different activities we conduct, in order to provide a more informative representation of our carbon reduction achievements, rather than relying on ‘absolute’ measures or by normalising against turnover which is not always indicative of performance. The project will involve a review of current widely used normalising factors in the main workstreams Enterprise are involved in, and application of a range of these factors to carbon emission data from the Group. In addition, the project will investigate potential normalising factors which could be used on a contract/workstream basis, and the factors that influence fuel usage and therefore carbon emissions across the Group.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment students

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EBP Project#3

Project Title Life cycle assessment of virgin versus recycled aggregates

Company Enterprise PLC

Supervisor Dr Andy Jarvis

This project will produce a comparative analysis of ‘traditional’ products and ‘green’ alternatives to enable contract management to make informed selections. This will involve a lifecycle assessment of the alternative products, providing information regarding the environmental benefits/impacts of their use. Because Enterprise uses huge volumes of aggregates on an annual basis, the use of recycled compared to virgin aggregate may provide a suitable comparison for the project. The general structure of this project is likely to include: i) identify a workstream with the project supervisor; ii) identify key spend areas; iii) review information submitted by suppliers during the ‘vendor management’ process; iv) approach suppliers to evaluate products; v) seek alternatives (from existing suppliers or the wider market) and evaluate, and vi) provide an evidenced assessment of each product including cost, performance and sustainability.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment students

EBP Project#4

Project Title Understanding the variables (non-technological) which could influence fuel use and impact carbon footprints

Company Enterprise PLC

Supervisor Prof. Ian Marshall

years experience of working in partnership with the public sector to ensure that their front-line services are delivered to respond to local needs, while providing the best possible value.

Approximately 50% of Enterprise’s carbon footprint is generated through the operation of Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCV’s) on behalf of major Councils across the UK. Understanding the variables (non-technological) which could influence this fuel use is important for targeting reduction initiatives. This project will involve identifying a specific waste contract within the business which has good fuel and other data available (i.e telemetry reports, weight information, routes, topography) in order to determine the scope for a study. Data analysis will subsequently target understanding of how the contract works, for example routes and rounds, etc, and the variables which influence fuel usage, for example wet weather may mean that green waste is heavier and so requires more trips/more fuel for collection. Once these factors have been identified, the project will quantify their impact over a contract which could use up to 1 million litres of fuel per annum. This project would help in modelling predicted fuel use and understanding the associated costs which could be offset, for example through more fuel efficient driving behaviour.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment students

EBP Project#5

Project Title Feasibility of a tidal barrage across the Wyre Estuary – 1991 and 2011

Company Strategic Energy Consulting

Supervisor Dr Suzi Illic

Project Description Strategic Energy Consulting works with private and public sector clients to help prepare them for the financial, reputational and practical challenges of the existing and emerging environmental regulations and issues of energy security.

Strategic Energy Consulting is involved with http://www.wyretidalenergy.com/. A feasibility study was conducted in 1991 but the financial drivers, for example renewable energy subsidies, and concerns about electricity cost have changed dramatically since 1991, and therefore so has the potential viability of the barrage. Energy costs are high and will only get higher with the international competition for limited fossil fuel reserves. The UK and other governments have a real commitment to the development of all forms of renewable energy. In addition, there are uncertainties that could be explored with respect to the scheme itself. For example, the energy outputs assessed in the 1991 report of an annual output of 122 to 131 Gwh based on a 63 Mw installed load, could be increased significantly with limited 139

dredging of the main channel to increase the volume of water in the basin. There is significant momentum in government support for renewable energy and this will increase to ensure that renewable generation is a profitable enterprise so that we can meet the 2020 commitment the UK has made to produce 20% of our energy from renewable sources. The Preliminary Feasibility Study conducted in 1991 provides a platform from which this project will be developed to assess the environmental and economic implications of an updated tidal barrage scheme.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#6

Project Title The development/enhancement of environmental energy efficient indicators

Company Downey Hynes Partnership (Dublin, Ireland)

Supervisor Dr Paul Young

Project Description Downey Hynes Partnership (DHP) based in Dublin, Ireland is a vibrant and diverse planning, development and economic consultancy that has an extensive skills base with a particular expertise in the application of evidence based analyses, and a proven track record. DHP works for and with a wide range of public and private sector clients, ranging from Local Authorities to Government Departments and Universities to Multi-national Organisations.

This project involves work to develop a tool which will be used to identify potential improvements in the way energy is generated, transmitted and consumed within urban areas. Specifically, the project will identify, develop and refine a comprehensive set of urban sustainability indicators which will be directly applicable and adaptable to allow for the analysis of urban energy efficiency within varying urban contexts. These indicators will form the basis of “sustainable urban metrics”, which, when completed, will be utilised to identify ways and means of enhancing urban energy efficiency through the identification of weaknesses and shortcomings within the energy systems of urban areas, regardless of the nature of such areas or the characteristics which ordinarily exert influence upon energy consumption (climate, population, industrial character etc.). The use of energy efficiency indicators has traditionally been in the measurement of improvements in energy efficiency which may result from the introduction of new measures or technology. In this way, such indicators do not 140

measure or assess changes in demand at the consumption end, but rather at the generation end of the system, and this allows them to confirm whether or not energy efficiency has improved. These types of indicators are not suited for use outside of this context and will be extended by work in this project.

This placement comes with a travel grant from the KARIM programme.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Energy and Environment and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#7

Project Title Why do some drinking water reservoirs have higher amounts of colour that others?

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Prof. John Quinton

Project Description United Utilities is a provider of water and sewage services to approximately 7 million people and 200,000 businesses in the North West of England. The company operates and maintains a large number of assets within the region from reservoirs to sewers in order to provide these services.

Project Requirements: An investigation into the relationships between Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in reservoirs and catchment features in North West England. To investigate whether there are any significant relationships between DOC in raw water reservoirs that feed water treatment works and catchment features. Catchment features include but are not limited to: temperature, rainfall, land use, soil type, slope gradients and reservoir mixing. United Utilities will provide data on colour, soil types, rainfall and water flow in and out of their reservoirs.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

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EBP Project#8

Project Title Do agri-environment grants help improve drinking water quality?

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Dr Nigel Watson

Project Requirements: A review and analysis of agri-environment grants available that could improve or protect raw water quality with particular emphasis on NW England. This will include a literature review of the available grants in England and assessment of the advantages and limitations they have in respect to water quality. The project will then map the grants’ geographical availability onto drinking water catchments and discuss the effectiveness of these grants on drinking water quality in NW England.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#9

Project Title A tool for mapping catchment constraints on raw water quality

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Dr Duncan Wyatt

Project Requirements: The first stage in assessing risk to raw water quality in catchments is to collate and analyse relevant data on activities within the catchment which potentially affect the parameter/s of concern. These activities are many and varied and this project will develop a process for obtaining, collating, and assessing the relevance of these activities for different parameters of concern to UU. The project will include the development of a spatial/graphical tool related to these activities and their effects to inform catchment management.

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Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#10

Project Title Pesticide usage, removal and risk

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Dr Crispin Halsall

Project Requirements: Over recent years UU has detected rising trends in pesticides in the raw waters abstracted for drinking water use. This project will include: i) an analysis of historical pesticide data collected by UU from raw water sources; ii) an analysis of the relationship between pesticide detection in raw water sources and catchment landuse/land management; iii) collection and analysis of raw water samples to complement historical data, and iv) a review of potential pesticide removal processes and their effectiveness.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management students

EBP Project#11

Project Title Investigation of role of P limiting algal blooms

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Dr Ben Surridge

Project Requirements: Investigation of the hypothesis that keeping the concentration of phosphate in a reservoir below 20μg/l would prevent algal blooms. This investigation would build on a previous study carried out for UU. It would include further in depth analysis of UU archive water quality data, laboratory analysis of both water and sediment from reservoirs and measurement of algal growth

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rates under laboratory conditions.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MSc Ecology and Conservation

EBP Project#12

Project Title Risk assessment from septic tanks and water recreation on water quality of surface water abstractions for drinking water.

Company United Utilities PLC

Supervisor Prof. Phil Haygarth

Project Requirements: This study is to develop a methodology to evaluate the risks from both septic tanks and the variety of recreational activities in and on water such as angling, sailing, diving and swimming. It should include a literature review of recreational activities and associated risks, and the production of a matrix of risks and an evaluation checklist for each activity or risk group to support catchment management.

Degree schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#13

Project Title Analysing the success of riparian habitat improvement schemes in the Ribble Catchment.

Company Ribble Rivers Trust

Supervisor Dr Ben Surridge

Project Description The Ribble Rivers Trust was established in 1997 in order to enhance the water environments of the Ribble catchment, by restoring and protecting the river to make certain that future generations can enjoy the beauty of its wildlife and fauna. Our work extends over a catchment of 900 square miles, the majority of which is concentrated on the smaller tributaries and feeder streams as these are the “arteries” of a river and are much more vulnerable to pollution and physical damage.

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The Trust has been undertaking riparian habitat improvement schemes for 13 years. Many of these sites are now approaching maturity. Although rudimentary data exists on the successes of the schemes, for example through visual confirmation of reduced erosion and improved vegetation structure, empirical assessment has not been achieved. Attempts have been made through electro fishing, but there have been limiting factors that have prevented conclusive assessment of the projects.

Much work has been undertaken on riparian improvement schemes across Europe and North America, showing the benefits associated with such activity. However no work has been focused on the Ribble Catchment. This project will address this gap, seeking to identify whether there is a relationship between macroinvertebrate communities (abundance and diversity) and: size of improvement scheme, age of the scheme, number of trees/vegetation structure and the proportion of the catchment not in an improvement scheme. This will help to clarify the successes of past projects, but more importantly help to prioritise and improve the design of future restoration schemes.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MSc Ecology and Conservation

EBP Project#14

Project Title Use of mircofluidics in the detection of contaminants in drinking waters.

Company T.E.Laboratories (TelLab) (Ireland)

Supervisor Dr Hao Zhang

Project Description T.E.Laboratories (TelLab), based in Tullow, Ireland (and with office space in LEC), is a multi-divisional company operating in the chemical and environmental sectors. They boast a first-class INAB Accredited Environmental Laboratory, a Chemical Manufacturing Laboratory, and a Microbiological Laboratory in addition to a Fuel Laboratory. There is an active R&D programme covering the full range of the company’s activities.

TelLab are developing a microfluidic technology platform in a wide range of water applications which includes the detection of contaminants in drinking waters. In particular, the analysis of iron and manganese is of great interest. This project will focus on developing a reagent chemistry method that is suitable to add to the microfluidic platform for the analysis of these parameters at drinking water MAC levels. This will be validated against traditional

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analytical techniques.

This is a great opportunity to work with a growing knowledge intensive research based company in Ireland. Students selecting this project will be working with the company and supervisor to develop their thesis questions. This placement comes with a travel grant from the KARIM programme.

Degree Schemes All

EBP Project#15

Project Title Providing accurate alerts of pollution incidents via the development of intelligent analysis of pollution data.

Company T.E.Laboratories (TelLab) (Ireland)

Supervisor Dr Wlodek Tyche/Dr Ben Surridge

Project Description T.E.Laboratories (TelLab), based in Tullow, Ireland (and office space in LEC), is a multi-divisional company operating in the chemical and environmental sectors. They boast a first-class INAB Accredited Environmental Laboratory, a Chemical Manufacturing Laboratory, and a Microbiological Laboratory in addition to a Fuel Laboratory. There is an active R&D programme covering the full range of the company’s activities.

TelLab are developing a microfluidic technology platform in a wide range of water applications. The analysers developed in this project will generate large amounts of analytical data which will need to be indexed and analysed to provide useful information to the users. The aim of this project is to undertake time series analyses of these data, building algorithms that are able to recognise key events within a time series. The aim is to alert users only when an important event occurs, such as a pollution incident.

Degree Schemes All

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EBP Project#16

Project Title Establishing the performance characteristics of an innovative recycled tyre product

Company EU Environmental

Supervisor Prof. Andy Binley/Dr Ben Surridge

Project Description EU Environmental is an innovative Irish recycling company based in County Kerry within the Munster region of Ireland. The company has developed a range of innovative products from recycled tyres that until recently were used in flood defence and road construction. These were unshredded tyres wrapped in plastic cubes. They are deployed as a barrier for flooding and used in new road construction as a foundation layer.

However, the Irish EPA has halted their use, due to concerns over leachates. The company has responded by working with a geosynthetic manufacturer to use a waterproof geocomposite traditionally used in landfill construction to wrap their tyre cubes. The company would like to work with a student to develop a project to address a number of the following issues:

1. Describe functionality of the product 2. Test the product against relevant standards 3. Compare the product with other similar products 4. Research the type of certification/standard required for the EPA/govt departments, engaging with the companies contacts there. 5. Undertake testing: a. Permeability/leachability of wrapped bale b. Thermal Conductivity c. Structural design

There is a travel budget available via the KARIM Network to enable the student to undertake travel to the company in Ireland. Degree schemes All

EBP Project#17

Project Title Visualization of the water research and innovation landscape in the UK

Company Technology Strategy Board

Supervisor Prof. Phil Haygarth

Project Description The Technology Strategy Board subscribes to the SharpCloudTM software suite. SharpCloud is a visualization tool used to facilitate the sharing of complex information that is

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otherwise not easily communicated.

The water-related research and innovation ‘landscape’ in the UK is not easily navigated or understood and it has been proposed that information collated by the United Kingdom Water Research and Innovation Framework and by the Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network could be used to enable easier access

to and understanding of this landscape.

The student would be required to work with key individuals in the sector to determine what material could be presented, cross- reference and sense-check the information and populate a database from which SharpCloud visualizations would be generated (by the student). It is envisaged that the database would be adopted and maintained thereafter by the ESKTN with the resultant tool being made available (with differing levels of access) to interested parties.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#18

Project Title Protection of vital water resources - Population attitude and behaviour change campaign

Company Carr Communications (Ireland)

Supervisor Dr Nigel Watson

Project Description Carr Communications is Ireland’s longest established and most recognised name in communications consultancy. Since the company was founded in the early 70s, they have developed highly specific expertise in influencing population attitude and behaviour change on issues relating to, for example, public health, road

safety, and the environment. Their client list contains many of the leading public sector agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. In 2013 the EPA in Ireland must deal with one very specific but related issue that will serve as a pilot for the wider change needed in land and water management. The single issue is septic tanks, with 25% of the population not connected to mains sewage. If septic tanks are not properly maintained by households, they pose a threat to groundwater and to rivers.

In order to influence changed understanding and changed behaviour towards water in the coming five years, we need to fully understand the dynamics driving current behaviour. For example, why did 50% of the septic tank owners comply quickly with a voluntary registration scheme? What did a further 50% not? What factors contributed to this resistance? What messages / channels /

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influencers are likely to bring about initial compliance by all – and maintain this compliance once achieved – since ongoing assessment / policing can only be on a risk-basis. The understanding and the learning from this specific issue will, we believe, be critical in the wider communication work on water in the coming years.

This placement comes with a travel grant from the KARIM programme.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Sustainable Water Management and MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

EBP Project#19

Project Title Vertical walled gardening, aquaponics and hydroponics

Company BJ Indoor Gardening

Supervisor Dr Martin McAinsh/Dr Ian Dodd

Project Description BJ Indoor Gardening is a new hydroponics and vertical walled garden systems venture based in Fleetwood. Founder Will Lamb is currently in the early stages of establishing the business and aims to use it to fund his interests in future farming techniques and sustainable living for both domestic and commercial use.

BJ has identified a number of early objectives including the development of prototype vertical walled garden systems for inside or outside both domestic and commercial premises. The company is now keen to answer a number of research questions in support of the above venture and broader company future aspirations around urban farming, hydroponics and aquaculture as follows:

 What are the current public and commercial perceptions to vertical walled gardens?  What is the typical expected throughput of an aquaponics system, and can systems be made small enough to fit and provide food for the ‘average’ UK household?  Given the above, is aquaponics a realistically viable future possibility on domestic a scale in the UK?  What is the feasibility of running aquaponics systems from small scale renewable energy sources, and if feasible would this enable such systems to be utilised in 3rd world and disaster areas lacking electricity supplies?  What is the feasibility of combining aquaponic and hydroponic systems to create self sustaining micro ecosystems?

It is recognised that the above questions present a very broad ranging research area potentially beyond the scope of what is achievable with a single dissertation project. It is therefore

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recommended that in the first instance the student should consult both with the company and the academic supervisor to agree a focus area achievable within the available timeframe, of suitable interest to the company and of sufficient academic merit for the student’s course of study.

Degree schemes All

EBP Project#20

Project Title Investigating the total energy balance of an enclosed Azolla Biosystem

Company Azolla Biosystems Ltd

Supervisor Dr Ian Dodd

Project Description Azolla Biosystems Ltd is an environmentally sensitive company that develops natural biological systems to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide.

One system converts the sequestered carbon dioxide directly into Azolla – a unique plant-cyanobacterial symbiont that draws its nitrogen fertilizer directly from the atmosphere and which requires less than 3cm of freshwater to grow, so that it does not displace other food or biofuel crops. Selected amounts of the resulting Azolla biomass are permanently removed from the biological and atmospheric systems, with the remaining biomass providing local renewable food, livestock feed, biofertilizer and biofuel.

Azolla Biosystem are keen to work with LEC in investigating and understanding the energy balance of this system, thus enabling the company to quantify the system’s economics, including the methods and cost of resources required to achieve the claimed benefits; e.g. lighting requirements in a vertical growing environment could outstrip the CO2 savings.

Degree Schemes All

EBP Project#21

Project Title Restoring species rich grasslands on heavily degraded soils

Company Watchtree Nature Reserve Ltd

Supervisor Dr Carly Stevens

Project Description Watchtree Nature Reserve is the largest man-made nature reserve in Europe, created on 83 ha of old airfield and semi natural woodland. Situated near Carlisle, Cumbria the site was in 2001 150

used as a mass burial site during the foot and mouth outbreak.

The Management Team at Watchtree is keen to create a viable habitat that will support Devil's bit Scabious (Succissa pratensis) to the extent that it will allow for the introduction of the rare and endangered Marsh Fritillary butterfly. This project will work alongside this habitat restoration scheme, seeking to:

1. Increase understanding of restored vegetation systems with respect to ecological concepts,

2. Identify and evaluate the role of ecological factors and processes which direct vegetation systems,

3. Interpret the findings from practical investigations in terms of community ecology and further to make recommendations for practical application at Watchtree Nature Reserve and beyond,

4. Assess the success of Watchtree Nature Reserve’s restoration in context of the objectives and purposes of the site as stated by Defra.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Ecology and Conservation students

EBP Project#22

Project Title Willow Warbler – Study of territorial behaviour to determine the location and size of territories held by male willow warblers.

Company Watchtree Nature Reserve

Supervisor Dr Ian Hartley

The team at Watchtree would like to work in collaboration with a student in LEC to develop a project to:

 Study territorial behaviour to determine the location and size of territories held by male willow warblers by locating colour ringed males. (Colour ringing has been on-going for 5 years by Watchtree Ringing Group)  Locate colour ringed females and locate nest sites.  Observe nest behaviour and pairs relative to male territory.

The field work is intensive and can be carried out from mid-April to July. There is a good data set from previous year’s observations that will be made available and can be factored into the study.

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Watchtree Ringing Group will help with locating and if necessary catching males, locating nest sites etc. If needed one or two nests can be observed with spy cameras.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Ecology and Conservation students

EBP Project#23

Project Title Skylark – Investigate predation and impact of weather and site conditions on a declining population.

Company Watchtree Nature Reserve

Supervisor Dr Ian Hartley

Watchtree attracted a good number of Skylarks which have declined steadily from a peak about 4 years ago. The factors affecting the decline are thought to be habitat development, (certain areas of plantation woodland and scrub are no longer suitable habitat), predation (potential predators – fox, stoat, weasel, hedgehog, crow, kestrel) adverse weather conditions. This project would involve observation to locate nest sites and determine potential factors influencing nest success/failure and chick fledging success/failure. Watchtree Ringing Group has been colour ringing nestlings for the past five seasons. For both species there are nest records of all nests found.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MSc Ecology and Conservation students

EBP Project#24

Project Title Evaluation of social, economic and environmental benefits from promoting local food

Company Ribble Valley Borough Council

Supervisor Prof. Nigel Clarke

Project Description Ribble Valley Borough Council devised and coordinates the award- winning Ribble Valley Food Trail and has supported the Clitheroe Food Festival in 2011 and 2012. The Borough Council is now keen to collaborate with a student in LEC to undertake work in the

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following broad research areas:

 Understand the social and economic impacts of the foodtrail/food festival on Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley.  Construct a food miles footprint for the food festival.  Explore the value for money offered for current sponsors and funders, and understand future funding opportunities.  Understand the economic/environmental impact on the producers who are invited to attend the food festival, and the consequences for Lancashire producers of having selection criteria as part of the festival.  Explore current and future trends in food that the festival can consider in order to improve the offer, marketing and sustainability.

These broad areas can be developed into a single project through collaboration between the student, Council and academic supervisor.

Degree Schemes All, but priority given to MA Environmental Management and Consultancy students

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