Sarah Thomas

MSc Environmental Science and Climate Change

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" I was attracted to this programme due to the diverse opportunities of stakeholder partnership, expert mentorship, and studying biodiversity in a unique geographical setting. "

What motivated you to choose Environmental Science as your field of study and what aspects of the Environmental Science programme appealed to you the most when applying?

I wanted to round out my background in climate change studies to include a specifically-environmental context to complement my pervious degree called “climate change and society” before pursing a PhD in urban adaptation and sustainable development. I was attracted to this programme due to the diverse opportunities of stakeholder partnership, expert mentorship, and studying biodiversity in a unique geographical setting.

What do you hope to do following on from studying Environmental Science?

After completing this degree, I hope continue to research climate change and its impacts in urban areas, focusing on nature-based or nature-inspired solutions.

What key hard skills have you developed so far during your studies?

Throughout this programme I received training and experience with a diverse range of practical and technical skills. I have completed ecological surveys such as urban bird identification, constructed and implemented conservation aids such as bug hotels, utilized software such as Biigle to log deep-sea marine litter, and deployed various data collection techniques such as camera traps. This programme has given me the confidence to look at a research question, identify what tools are needed, and complete accurate assessments to answer my research questions at a professional level.

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What ‘soft skills’ do you think you developed so far during your studies?

This programme has led me to be a more confident researcher and has helped me develop skills such as time management, group accountability, and ability to disseminate highly-technical information to a diverse audience.

Do you feel confident in applying these skills outside of an academic setting?

This program has allowed me the space and mentorships to make mistakes and build my skills so that I am confident I can apply what I have learned to my future academic and career plans.

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Have you enjoyed any placement/practical activities? If so, what have you enjoyed the most?

The practical I enjoyed the most so far is the Bug Hotel design and development practical where we researched various insect habitat types and constructed an artificial habitat with the aim of supporting insect biodiversity in areas where habitat might be scarce. My bug hotel is now part of the Alameda Gardens and features a QR code where visitors can learn more about the importance of insect conservation.

Plant Orientation | Olive Tree

For our nature reserve vegetation survey, my classmates and I joined with local botanical experts, Leslie Linares and Kian Khalilian, to evaluate the various flora found in Gibraltar and create a focused educational video for the public. Our goal was to provide an overview of the wild olive trees that can be found widely in the nature reserve and across Gibraltar.