Environmental-related projects

If you have a specific environmental-related challenge that you don't have time or resources to tackle, hosting a fourth-year Stirling student studying Biology, Ecology and Conservation, Environmental Science, or Environmental Geography may benefit you.

We are looking for employers to offer work-based dissertation projects for fourth-year undergraduate students from these subject areas, providing you with a piece of work to take forward whilst further developing our students with the skills and confidence to become productive and positive employees.

Student holding clipboard by the loch

How you would benefit

  • Progress a project which you have not previously had the resources to do.
  • Gain an enthusiastic and fresh approach to your business needs.
  • A chance to create some evidence to support future decision-making.
  • Discover future graduate talent before your competitors.
  • Promote your organisation as a great place to work.

What specific knowledge and skills can our students offer your organisation?

Our students can offer your business a range of skills and knowledge exchange by studying the following subjects.

 

Biology/Animal Biology

These programmes teach the full scope of life on earth through multiple biological disciplines from cell biology, physiology, biodiversity and sustainability, ecology, climate change and evolution.

Students develop a wide range of field and lab-based skills and data analysis skills. Field skills are honed through both campus-based and international residential field courses.


Environmental Science/Environmental Geography

These programmes take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental studies focussing on scientific knowledge and technical training, to equip students to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The environmental geography programme is also unique in bridging environmental and social sciences. Students study a range of subjects from planet earth, landscape evolution and biogeography, to earth observation and environmental policy management. Field skills and data management science are also key aspects of the students’ skill sets.


Ecology and Conservation

This degree programme focuses on the main issues in managing and conserving biodiversity. Topics range from environmental policy and management, physiology, and biodiversity to population and community ecology.

Key skills developed are field, practical and analytical skills with the option of two international residential field courses to hone these skills.

What broader skills do they have to offer?

By the time our students undertake their dissertation projects, they are already well along in their studies and can, therefore, bring valuable skill sets to the workplace.

At the end of all our degree programmes, our students are:

  • able to critically engage with material, and understand the wider context and relevance of their chosen degree programme;
  • competent in field, laboratory and data science methodologies to a level at which they could perform necessary tasks in an entry-level position in the biological/environmental sector ;
  • able to understand the process of designing effective methods of scientific inquiry and understand how this process should be implemented in an ethical and effective manner ;
  • well-developed in their self-confidence skills to allow effective integration into new and challenging environments beyond their degree;
  • well developed in their ability to interact with individuals from a variety of backgrounds on topics related to their degree, through the application of group assignments and peer discussion throughout their degree.

Academic requirements for a work-based dissertation project

As with normal dissertations, work-based dissertations will need to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate many of the following skills and practices:

  • research design and execution;
  • planning and organisational skills and time management;
  • data handling, analysis, interpretation and presentation;
  • independent working;
  • interpersonal and team working skills;
  • synthesis of ideas;
  • effective communication through a written and an oral report.

All students will also have an academic supervisor who will liaise with both the project provider and the student to make sure all of the requirements of the dissertation are covered as well as the project requirements of the organisation.

Examples of previous work-based dissertation projects

Production of a carbon calculator for offshore wind turbine development

Outputs for the organisation were an Excel-based calculator model, an accompanying handbook and a training session with organisation staff on how to use the model.

Understanding the drivers of public engagement with conservation groups

Pieces of work for the organisation included a survey of people engaged with conservation groups and development of video content based on the survey findings. Pieces of work for the organisation included a survey of people engaged with conservation groups and development of video content based on the survey findings.

The impacts of climate change on land suitability for NVC woodland groups

Outputs for organisation were a model and model outputs and an accompanying report.

Examples of previous traditional dissertation projects

Biology projects

  • How does the body size of non-pollinating fig wasps change with latitude and altitude?
  • Tracking beetle movement behaviour on campus using mark-recapture.
  • Using Species Distribution Models to predict the spread of invasive species.
  • Assessing butterfly, bee and other invertebrate diversity of Stirling Council managed verges.
  • Buzzin’ about trees: Responses of pollinator communities to woodland creation.
  • How does damming by beavers affect water temperature regimes in small streams.
  • Marine litter composition and distribution on coastal areas.

Environmental Science and Environmental Geography projects

  • Can satellites help us during peatland restoration?
  • Eating like there's no tomorrow: Public understanding of sustainable diets.
  • Investigating the influence of recent climate change on lake water temperature.
  • Water quality at beaches on the Isle of Arran: what do the public think?

When do students undertake their projects?

Project scopes and outlines from organisations must be ready by the end of March so that projects can be agreed upon with students and their academic dissertation supervisor in April. This gives time for any risk assessments and ethics applications required before the summer.

Projects can be undertaken between summer and March. Students are responsible for any research conducted, analysed, interpreted, and written up for the organisation by the time agreed with them at the project agreement stage in April. They will also be required to complete assessments required by the University at the following times, regardless of when the bulk of the project work is carried out.

Autumn semester

  • Project proposal: mid-October.
  • Proposal video: mid-November.
  • Reflective report: end November.

Spring semester

  • Dissertation report: early April.
  • Presentation: by the 3rd week of April.

Submit a project proposal

Complete our scoping form to let us know the kind of support you're looking for and what you'd like students to work on within your business.

Get in touch

If you have any questions please contact Clare Bird.