What I Did Last Summer
The summer break is fieldwork time for lots of students. Here’s what some got up to this Summer:
This summer I got the chance to interview elderly residents in care as part of my dissertation. It was an insightful experience and fascinating to hear about the varied lives which the residents had led".
Sarah Criddle (3rd year BA)
Spending two months in Calgary, I interviewed Indigenous city residents on their connections to the urban landscape.
By using a QUANGO in Calgary, I was able to reach a wide range of Indigenous people to produce interesting results.
Talking to Indigenous people over the summer lead me to discover a whole range of political and moral issues with regard to land ownership. As one interviewee put it, there are things "you didn't know you didn't know".
Being so close to the rocky mountains gave me the chance to raft and cliff jump the areas where films such as "The Assassination of Jesse James" and "Brokeback Mountain" were filmed."
By using a QUANGO in Calgary, I was able to reach a wide range of Indigenous people to produce interesting results.
Talking to Indigenous people over the summer lead me to discover a whole range of political and moral issues with regard to land ownership. As one interviewee put it, there are things "you didn't know you didn't know".
Being so close to the rocky mountains gave me the chance to raft and cliff jump the areas where films such as "The Assassination of Jesse James" and "Brokeback Mountain" were filmed."
David Ashby (3rd year BA)
I worked in a summer camp in New Hampshire, USA, where there were interesting people from all over the world. It was fantastic to learn about their cultures and even some of their languages!"
Steph Boutler (2nd year BA)
This summer I conducted my dissertation research on the Island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. I was looking specifically at how mobile phones reduce the remoteness of fishermen in Zanzibar. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed exploring the island and meeting locals."
Tom Chapman (3rd Year BA Human)
This summer I spent several weeks studying the vegetation of the Lapal Canal to determine whether these disused, anthropogenic channels have undergone succession and become useful habitats for future conservation.”
Emma Evans (3rd year BSc Geography)
I’ve been using Geographical Information Systems to model road-less habitat in California and to assess how it can contribute to existing conservation networks. This is an important as it can reduce habitat fragmentation - preserving wildlife and their habitats.”
Cristina Sparks (3rd year BSc Geography)
I explored the complexities of green spaces and wellbeing in Leicester. My study looks at how green space influences the wellbeing of people, mediated by factors such as safety and meeting other people. Specifically I am looking at Knighton Park and the Rowley Field Allotments.”
Amita Bhakta (3rd year BA Human Geography)
During the summer I visited gravel beaches throughout England gathering data on beach sedimentology and beach profiles to develop a new gravel beach classification scheme. The highlight had to be my fieldwork on Chesil Beach. It isn’t until you get there that you see what a magnificent landscape this is.”
Terri Balkwill (3rd year BSc Geography)
