Bath Spa Biology Newsletter - June 2021 by Bath Spa University

Newsletter of Bath Spa Biology June 2021 As we come to the end of the academic year and celebrate all of our students’ achievements, there is a lot of progress and positivity, good news and exciting developments recorded in this edition, and these should be celebrated. Whilst acknowledging that our students have been outstandingly resilient in recent months and continue to succeed in their studies, as well as gaining valuable experiences and taking up opportunities offered; I would also like to pay tribute to the continued dedication, hard work and diligence of the staff within the Subject, which underpins all of these stories. This includes both academic tutors, and the wider team of technical support staff upon which our courses depend. The blended delivery taking place this year has been logistically more challenging than either full in person delivery, or 100% enforced virtual

delivery, which we became accustomed to last academic year. Being both online and in person at the same time (in some cases literally), has meant that, not only have we needed an array of tailored approaches for different students, depending on their situation, but we have been balancing/juggling those with our own altered circumstances. Students have succeeded whether they were able to join us on campus or not; modules have continued to run smoothly; laboratory sessions carried out safely, existing courses have been accredited and re-accredited, a new course developed; research funding bids awarded, and recruitment has been ongoing; we are also now already planning for next year! I would therefore like to take the opportunity to thank all staff for their Herculean efforts, and invite students to join me in a round of applause for everyone who has facilitated their studies this year. Samantha Lane, Subject Leader: Biology

FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL Samantha Lane, Subject Leader: Biology 1

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

STUDENT VOICE Biology society Food and nutrition society EcoSoc

SPECIAL FEATURE 1 Hedgehog conservation on campus The Hedgehog Friendly Campus

SPECIAL FEATURE 2 Seeking Opportunity: Volunteering and Internships

SPECIAL FEATURE 3 Green Spaces, Sunlight and Health

SPECIAL FEATURE 4 From the Leaves and Leather Archives - The Fundamental Elements of Plant Construction

NEWS FROM THE COURSES Biology and pathways Environmental Management Environmental Science Food with Nutrition Human Nutrition Wildlife Conservation

LIFE, HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS (LHSE)

NOTES FROM THE FIELD Annual Great Crested Newt monitoring

NEWS FROM ALUMNI Meet Nick and Steph from Green Door Chocolate

SCIENCE-ART Plants and People Poster winner 2020

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Special announcements We had a number of staff within Biology nominated for this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards; well done to those, and many thanks to those who nominated them. Additional kudos to the Science Technical Team who have not only been nominated, but have been short-listed for the Vice-Chancellor’s Team of the Year Award, this is hugely well deserved, and we wish them all the best for the final awards later in June. Other staff congratulations go to Ralph Thompson who has been promoted to the role of Senior Lecturer in Zoology from the next academic year, in recognition of his qualifications, experience, and course leadership of Wildlife Conservation; and to Steph Greshon (FHEA) who has been awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy; fulfilling all the many criteria in the UK Professional Standards Framework, for teaching and supporting learning in higher education - well done to both of you!

LECTURER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE Bill Hosker, Ralph Thompson, Samantha Lane MANAGER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE Samantha Lane OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AWARD NOMINEE Stephanie Greshon TEAM OF THE YEAR FINALIST Science Technical Team

In other news, two students graduating from Biology Courses have been elected as the 2021/22 President and Vice-President (Welfare and Community) for the Bath Spa Students’ Union. Many congratulations to Marianne Evans (Biology) as PresidentElect and Sian Bently (Environmental Science) as Vice-President-Elect, we very much look forward to working with you next year.

We are also delighted that the BSc Human Nutrition course has been re-accredited with the Association for Nutrition for the next five years (until 2026). This is good news for the students who can be assured that they are getting the appropriate knowledge and skills required by employers. The professional outlook and understanding of the workplace will help them stand out when applying for jobs. Particular congratulations to Tracey Lewarne who put all the documentation together for this.

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Biology Society

@bsubiologysociety su-biology@bathspa.ac.uk

Food and Nutrition Society If you’re interested to find out more, then please visit the contact details below! @Bath Spa University Food and Nutrition Society @bsu_foodandnutritionsociety Rebecca.mcguinness17@bathspa.ac.uk

EcoSoc Thank you to everyone who came to our Party for the Planet! You raised £30 all together which will go towards the Whale and Dolphin conservation charity in their efforts to improve the lives of our marine mammals. As the Wildlife Trust’s 30 days wild approaches we will be taking part in one random act of wildness each day in the month of June. We challenge you to do the same. Whether that be wild swimming or eating breakfast in the garden. We look forward to seeing what you get up to! #30dayswild su-eco@bathspa.ac.uk @bsuecosociety 2 A bite of Bio

voice

We would like to congratulate our social secretary Marianne Evans on her success in the 2021/22 election as Student Union President. It has been rough to start a society during COVID-19 and we appreciate all the positivity and engagement she has brought to our new society. In the coming year, we hope that our society will not only be able to meet in person, but support students as well. We are planning some exciting events for next year and weekly short meet ups to bring biology closer together. If you are interested in getting involved, check out our Facebook or Instagram for updates.

SPECIAL FEATURE 1

Hedgehog conservation on campus - The Hedgehog Friendly Campus by Laura Allen and Ian Thornhill

Imogen Stock

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOGS Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a beloved and iconic species, are classified as vulnerable to extinction in the UK. Population estimates can vary significantly but figures estimate there are 1.5 million hedgehogs across England, Wales and Scotland. However, due to the vast number of threats they face; including, roads, habitat fragmentation and intensive agricultural practice, the species is disappearing. For instance, up to 335,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually; which figures peaking in July when young hogs are starting to separate from their mothers. Hedgehogs can live up to ten years, but life expectancy in the wild is typically between two - three years and many die within their first

year. Individuals can weight to two kilograms, and their weight typically peaks during autumn when they are stocking up for hibernation. Hedgehog are carnivorous, and their diet comprises beetles, worms, caterpillars, slugs, amongst other small morsels. Hedgehog hibernation typically starts in autumn, around November and ends April, but the start and end of their hibernation period is very temperature dependent. Often, you may see a hedgehog briefly out of hibernation during warm spells, but they may then return is the temperature plummets once more. When active, they can travel one to two kilometres per night and are somewhat nomadic. Female hedgehogs have litters of four or five young. 5

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SPECIAL FEATURE 2 THE HEDGEHOG FRIENDLY CAMPUS The Hedgehog Friendly Campus (HFC) Campaign, which is funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), provides universities with the opportunity to put hedgehog friendly changes into practice and policy. The Bath Spa University HFC team was established in Autumn 2020 and has made significant progress such as conducting hedgehog surveys at Newton Park, installing hedgehog houses and making safety improvements to lakes and cattle grids. The Bath Spa University HFC team have been working in partnership with the Grounds Team and student societies to make Bath Spa a hedgehog friendly campus. In January the Walking and Mountaineering Society held a fundraiser for the BHPS with members walking 50km. Additionally, the Grounds Team received Ecology and Land Management training, placed hedgehog warning stickers on strimmers and conducted litter picks. As a result of the team’s progress the university was awarded the bronze award! Following this, the team launched their campaign to raise awareness of the threat of roads and the importance of rewilding ‘tidy gardens’. WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR HEDGEHOGS AT HOME If you have a garden, there are a few things you can do for hedgehogs at home. First, you can leave some areas a bit messy. Let the undergrowth grow dense and leave a variety of different length grasses (stop mowing some areas). Don’t feed hedgehogs milk or bread as they can’t digest it! Because hedgehogs are mobile, they need passageways to get around and between gardens. See if you can make sure you have openings (about 10cm will do) in your boundaries to allow them to move around. You could also build (or buy) a hedgehog a home. Here is an RSPB link showing you how. HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN HFC The team welcomes new members all year round so please consider joining the team! There is plenty to do as we move forward with the aim of achieving the silver award. For more information please get in touch: @bsuhedgehogfriendlycampus @hedgehogsbsu hedgehogs@bathspa.ac.uk 4 A bite of Bio

Seeking Opportunity: Volunteering and Internships by Samuel Moore BSc (Hons) Biology (Conservation Biology)

My name is Samuel Moore and I am in my second year of my Conservation Biology course. I came here to study from the United States, and I am an avid volunteer wherever I go. I want to provide some advice to others like me, who like to get out there and participate in their community, but aren’t sure where to start. Whether you have a passion for volunteering like me, or just want to get work experience while at university, I have some advice on seeking those opportunities. Internships are different to get into than volunteering, but often they are looking for the same thing: someone who has an interest. I want to share some of my volunteer experiences from the past year and the ways I was able to get involved. VOLUNTEERING CAN BE EASY TO GET CONNECTED WITH. To give a better understanding of just how many ways you can join a volunteer group, I want to share some of my history with volunteering. Volunteering is a major way to get involved in any community and there is a large range of organisations to match your interests. In the U.S., I would volunteer locally with trash picks at my local river the most often. The teams I would work with varied, however everyone there was interested in helping clean up our trails and keep them safe for people and wildlife. My volunteering hasn’t always been environmental, I would also volunteer at Mathew 25, a non-profit humanitarian aid for global disaster relief and for Give Hope, a local volunteer organisation for pancreatic cancer research and aid. Since getting to Bath, I have been volunteering with environmental causes alongside my degree. As a volunteer, I help complete surveys with the

Avon Wildlife Trust and participate in community efforts with Bathscapes and the National Trust. My interests are in getting more opportunities for environmental causes, so I have been making an effort to seek out those connections. As a seasoned volunteer I can say it can be incredibly easy to join organisations. Seeking out volunteering can also give you aid in finding more opportunities; any experience you gain from volunteering can be used in applications to jobs, internships, or more volunteering. It is always better to have a specific goal when searching for volunteering opportunities, but don’t let that scare you away from joining a group if your only interest is the volunteering itself. Direct communication with organisations is the best way to find more volunteering, so finding emails or phone numbers to contact is an easier way to get their attention and join. Many organisations post on their websites when they have openings for new volunteers or how to get in touch, so checking out their resources is a good place to start. INTERNSHIPS CAN BE HARD TO GET, PUT AS MUCH EFFORT INTO IT AS YOU CAN. This December, I completed an internship with Hengistbury Head for a week. It was held virtually this year and took place through zoom calls where I was able to meet many people from all different sectors of conservation. Although it was short, I felt by the end that I received something really special from the experience. Internships can be hard to get, but the application process is similar to getting any other job. The best thing you can do is to show a genuine interest in what you are applying for. To apply, I had to submit a video of me explaining why I deserved to get the internship and what I would gain from the experience. I did my best to answer with real interest. I am studying and hoping to spend my life being involved in conservation, so I looked for conservation focused internships so that I could truly show that I deserved to be there. There is a lot of pressure in university to know what you want to do and there is competition for experience after university is over, but now is the time to explore what is available. Take volunteer opportunities and internships that you have a genuine interest in.

KEEP LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES. I cannot stress it enough, put yourself out there. Send emails, search websites, make phone calls, ask people around you if they know of opportunities and you will find them. Your experience is what you make of it. The more seasoned a volunteer you become, the easier it is to be confident in approaching new experiences. My most recent volunteer experience outlines exactly what opportunities I had been asking for. After volunteering with a few of their other surveys, I participated in a newt survey with Avon Wildlife Trust. I was able to join their survey because I had asked what other projects they had available, specifically for me as a student who wanted to become more involved with their work. It was a small group of three and together we counted great crested newts and palmate newts in two ponds. Participating in the newt survey was an amazing experience that I was incredibly happy I was able to be a part of. I discovered it only because I had asked my volunteer supervisor about other opportunities, and I only knew her because I participated in another volunteer group, Bathscapes. Networking can be a powerful tool. The information you need to succeed is out there, you just need to be able to take the opportunity. Asking your superiors if they have other opportunities or know anyone who does is a great way to connect. Take the experiences you gain from interning or volunteering and use those to create more opportunities for yourself. June 2021 5

SPECIAL FEATURE 3

Green Spaces, Sunlight and Health by Dr Matt Baker The 10-16 of May saw the University mark Mental Health Awareness week. Central to this year’s message was to connect with nature; to spend time outside in green spaces being aware and attentive of our surroundings. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that time spent immersed in green spaces such as the woodland on Newton park campus can support both our mental and physical health. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. However, immersing ourselves in nature is not just about what we see, hear and feel, it also includes many, less obvious phenomena, including multifaceted aspects of sunlight, components of the air such as plant-derived volatile organic compounds as well as the obvious benefits of exercise.4,10 Over the last year I have spent much time looking into one of

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these aspects and the effects it has on human health, wellbeing and creativity; namely sunlight. The most obvious way in which we all sense light is through vision, but did you know that the human body can also sense and react to light in a non-visual way? The skin and the elements it contains and even some non-visual aspects of the eye, can all sense different components of light.11 We respond to this light by producing hormones that can modulate our mood and focus, such as endorphins12 and serotonin.¹ Our cells release signalling molecules that regulate our immune system13 and with the help of certain wavelengths of light our skin can do some clever chemistry and synthesise new molecules such as

vitamin D 14 that further impact our wellbeing. In turn, all of these can also influence our actual vision and how we experience our surroundings and form memories from them.15 So do we get all of these effects just by being exposed to sunlight or is there something special about the light environment in green spaces that really helps boost these processes? The answer is, yes, there is something pretty special about these forms of light that sets it apart from just being outside, and it’s all down to nature. You may have heard of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’. It’s likely that many of the positive effects seen from forest bathing studies are due in part, to the unique light environment that a forest possesses.16,17 Although Japanese traditions have always had ties with forests, forest bathing is actually something that began in the early 1980s as a way for the overworked urban population to reconnect with nature as well as a way of protecting and restoring the nation’s forests. The practice has grown since then and there are now more than 60 certified therapy forests across Japan.18 So how might a walk in the campus woodlands give the same therapeutic benefits to you? Well there are some common features across the woodlands of the world that all do pretty much the same thing to the light as it passes through them. Without going into the physics of light, ultimately it is all down to what forms of light make it through the trees to the forest floor where you stand, and which forms are filtered out. Once the light has penetrated into the forest it can then be further absorbed or reflected by different plants or bodies of water to boost some wavelengths whilst dampening others.19 All the while the movement of the leaves in the tree canopy causes quite rapid fluctuations in this

pattern and as you move between different areas of the forest you would also experience bigger fluctuations as you move between areas of open space, cover and heavy cover. In short, it’s a constantly changing light environment that tickles your senses in different and varying ways. You may well be thinking if there is anything else special about forest bathing compared to say going for a regular walk or hike in green space? The answer here is yes, but that’s not to say a regular walk doesn’t have at least some of the same benefits as a full on forest bathing session! The main difference between a hike and forest bathing is the focus. Often when you are walking, the goal is to get from point A to B and you pass through your surroundings at a reasonable pace focusing on the end point rather than your surroundings. You might look at things as you go, but you are generally always moving. Forest bathing on the other hand has no set pace, and generally stays within a small area. There is a focus on the immediate surroundings and the goal is to experience what is happening around you and take in all the amazing things that you might otherwise have missed. It’s almost like foraging, but instead of looking for things that you might eat, you are looking for things that you might experience in depth. And all the while the light environment is shifting and changing around you. Whilst this is a practice that you can incorporate into your life to help you manage your mental wellbeing it’s important to point out that this is no miracle cure. It is something that might help you manage or maintain where you are rather than as an escape from mental illness. If you find that you are feeling unwell or overwhelmed by your thoughts please do contact Bath Spa University’s Student Wellbeing where specialist support is available.

Blume et al (2019). Somnologie, 23(3), pp. 147-156. 2. Yu et al(2017). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 14(8). 3. Park et al (2011). Landsc. Urban Plan., 102(1), pp. 24-32. 4. Bach Pagès et al (2020), Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17(3). 5. Trees and woodlands: Nature’s health service. Available at: www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/trees-and-woodlands-natures-health-service-3/ 6. Holick (2016). Anticancer Res., 36(3), pp. 1345-1356. 7. Kuo (2015). Front. Psychol., 6, pp. 1093. 8. The Woodland Trust. State of UK’s Woods and Trees 2021 Report. Available at: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications/2021/04/state-of-uk-woods-andtrees-2021/ 9. Keniger et al(2013). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 10(3), pp. 913-935. 10. Yau et al (2020). Environ. Health Prev. Med., 25. 11. Cronin and Johnsen (2016). Integr. Comp. Biol., 56(5), pp. 758-763. 12. Jussila et al (2016) J. Photochem. Photobiol. B, 155, pp. 104-108. 13. Mao et al (2012). J. Cardiol., 60(6), pp. 495-502. 14. van Dijk et al (2016), Photochem. Photobiol. Sci.,15(7), pp. 896909. 15. Zhu et al (2018). Cell, 173(7), pp. 1716-1727.e17. 16. Parket al (2010). Environ. Health Prev. Med., 15(1), pp. 18-26. 17. Hansen et al (2017). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 14(8), pp. 10.3390/ijerph14080851. 18. Japanese Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Available at: www.rinya.maff.go.jp/e/national_forest/recreation_forest/ 19. Endler, J.A. (1993), Ecol. Monogr., 63(1), pp. 2-27. 1.

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SPECIAL FEATURE 4

From the Leaves and Leather Archives The Fundamental Elements of Plant Construction by Dr Nigel Chaffey (autumn 2017) Before ‘A Bite of Bio’ came ‘Leaves and Leather’. Here, we’ve delved back into the archives and brought you a contribution from our former colleague Dr. Nigel Chaffey The relatively recent confirmation of the names of four new chemical elements is a tribute to the creative powers of humankind. It also shows how much we’ve advanced since ancient times, when it was widely believed that all things were composed of just four fundamental elements: earth, fire, air, and water. However, although that idea has long since been discarded, it still has relevance today because all you need to make a plant is earth, fire, air and water. How so?

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EARTH Of the approx. 92 chemical elements that occur naturally, only 17 are considered essential for proper plant growth and development: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, sulphur, calcium and magnesium are needed in relatively large amounts; molybdenum, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese, boron, iron, and chlorine in lesser amounts. Of those, plants obtain carbon and oxygen primarily from the atmosphere (the “air”) while they extract the rest from the soil (the “earth”). Combined in different ways those elements make molecules such as proteins, fats, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates – which are used in the construction of plant cells. Many of the metals act in partnership with enzymes helping to ensure that the biochemistry necessary for proper functioning of the plant takes place. Other metals are involved in processes that produce energy via photosynthesis and by respiration. L to R: soil profile at South Haven dunes, Isle of Purbeck; sunset at Newton Park. FIRE The Sun is the ultimate “fire” in the life of plants. But that star produces much more than ‘fire’, the infrared heating wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Accordingly, fire is interpreted as the full range of solar wavelengths – which also includes light (visible wavelengths), used importantly in photosynthesis. Heat from the Sun is thus

responsible for providing a suitable temperature range which sustains the life of plants (and other organisms). The Sun’s light is extremely important to plant life; differences in both its quality (wavelength, colour) and quantity are amongst the most influential factors on plant development as underlined by the range of plant biological processes that start with the prefix ‘photo-’ e.g., photosynthesis, phototropism (directional growth of plant parts in response to light), and photomorphogenesis (development of plant form and structure in response to light). Although our planet’s atmosphere (the air) contains many components, oxygen and carbon dioxide are of most relevance to our elemental view of plant biology. The air therefore provides plants with two essential nutrients – carbon (as CO2), which is incorporated into organic compounds for plant growth by photosynthesis, and oxygen, which is essential for respiration. And moving air – i.e. wind – can help to mould a plant’s shape, providing a graphic example of the way in which plants can be formed from this fundamental element.L to R: iconic wind-sculpted yew on Clevedon seafront; the floating concrete grain barge in Bristol. WATER Water accounts for up to 95% of the mass of growing plant tissues and is the major component of the vacuole, often the largest component of the plant cell. The vacuole is essential to plant

growth because it causes the cell to expand as it swells to its full volume by uptake of water. It is this expansion of individual cells that ultimately leads to growth of the entire plant. But water has many other roles that help to make the plant: as the driving force behind many growth movements; as a medium for the transport of sugars from photosynthesis to all growing regions; as a reactant (e.g. in photosynthesis); and as a promoter of germination (hydration of dry seeds is one of the first stages in the germination process). GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT Just as ancient medical practice believed that an imbalance of these four elements caused harm to humans, so too with plants. Generally, you need the right balance of everything for a properly functioning individual. If one, such as water, is in excess – e.g. in flooded soils – or is insufficient as in arid deserts – plant growth will suffer. And this is a problem for Mankind because such fundamental environmental stresses experienced by our crop plants are some of the most serious constraints on current agriculture and future global food security. We rightly applaud mankind’s ability to create new chemical elements. However, we should also celebrate the amazing achievement of plants who long ago worked out how to make a complete life form from the four fundamental ‘elements’, fresh air, soil, sunshine and water.

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NEWS FROM THE COURSES Biology and pathways Samantha Lane

We have made it to the end of another challenging year, with a lot of positives to think about; being able to return to in person lab and fieldwork just before Easter was hugely appreciated by staff and students. This has enabled students to build confidence in key Biological laboratory techniques, particularly in Microbiology, as well as getting outside on the campus for survey work. Students also had the opportunity to be involved in Great Crested newt monitoring on the campus as part of routine licenced surveys (see Notes from the Field for more information). We also continue to hear about our graduating students securing a variety of interesting jobs, as well as places on MSc courses and Graduate schemes, which is really encouraging. We would like to remind graduates from the Biology course that you can apply for Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Biology, for discounted rates for two years after graduation; there is also student membership available; for more information see the website: www.rsb.org.uk/membership/individual-membership. We wish you a restful Summer break, look forward to seeing those returning students in September and wish graduating students the best of luck with their new endeavours.

Environmental Management Ian Thornhill

The MSc students are now turning their attention to the third trimester and their major research projects. We’re very excited by the range of topics being researched and the extent to which the students have so far applied themselves to their research - being generally ahead of the curve! To give you a flavour, we have students undertaking research in association with the Earthwatch Institute, KIER, the RESPiRES project, Bath and North East Somerset Council, the HBBE centre and Bristol and Avon Rivers Trust. The subjects vary from Tiny Forests to pesticide pollution, to living buildings and biodiversity in the planning system, and not forgetting the circular economy and environmental justice! On the other hand, the decision has been taken to discontinue the MSc Environmental Management after the current academic year, as such, this is my penultimate address to you as the MSc Course Director. If you would like to discuss this with me, please get in touch. That aside, please say hello to our MSc students if you see them, and wish them well with their theses.

Environmental Science Samantha Lane

The majority of Environmental Science students have been back on campus to carry out fieldwork and projects, again with a focus on applications of field skills. There has also been some good news, in that the Second Year Geographical Fieldwork module and associated field trip to India, which was unable to run last year will be offered to both years two and three next academic year, to make up for that disappointment. Although there are no guarantees it will be able to take place, the aim is for next Spring, with a review to take place in September, so we will keep our fingers crossed. In addition, by way of making up for some of the restrictions on fieldwork, there is also a planned short course in Ecosystem Health Monitoring to take place over several days on campus in June offered to Environmental Science and Conservation Biology students. Students taking the Wildlife Photography module were also able to enjoy a day trip to the Somerset Levels, when restrictions eased in May, to engage with the local wildlife; suggesting a slow return to normal practices, and it was even sunny! We wish our graduating students all the best with their next steps and do stay in touch.

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Food with Nutrition Anil de Sequeira

It has been wonderful to be back on campus and be in labs with the students. We continue to educate and train for professional life and despite the global pandemic, a number students from this course continue to find fruitful employment in the food and nutrition sector. A number of second year students from this course have found a year long placement and will be going on this placement in 2021-22 and return to their studies in 2022. This is indeed commendable and we wish them all the very best with their placement. The course is accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), the UK’s leading professional body for those involved in all aspects of food science and technology. I would encourage you to apply for student membership. Your IFST student membership will demonstrate your commitment to, and passion for the food industry. It will help you stand out from the crowd when you’re looking for your first role in food - for example, Marks & Spencer recognises IFST membership in their job specifications. We would like to remind graduates from the Food with Nutrition course that you can apply for Associate Membership of the IFST, for discounted rates for the first three years after graduation: www.ifst.org/membership/student-membership. We would also encourage all graduating students to join the University alumni association. Over the summer, take time to rest, enjoy time with friends and family and recharge your batteries. It has been a challenging year for us all. We look forward to seeing those returning students in September and wish graduating students the best of luck.

Human Nutrition Tracey Lewarne

Well, I cannot quite believe we are at the end of another academic year and what a strange year it has been. We finish with the good news that the course has been re-accredited with the Association for Nutrition for the next five years. We will also be saying goodbye to our final year students. What can I say to those of you leaving us to go onto the next exciting chapters in your lives… you’ve all been amazing! You have completed your degree, despite a global pandemic - what a story you will have to tell in the future! It’s been a pleasure working with you over these past three year and I wish you all the very best as you progress with your careers. Remember, that once you have graduated you are eligible to apply to the Association for Nutrition, for direct entry onto the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists and call yourselves Registered Associate Nutritionists and use the letters A.Nutr. after your name. For the rest of us coming back in September it will be great to be back on campus and see each other in person again. Have a wonderful summer and look out for any volunteer opportunities that will enhance your CVs for the future.

Wildlife Conservation Ralph Thompson

As we look forward to the start of the BSc in Wildlife Conservation in the Autumn, we are advertising for a new lecturer in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation to contribute their expertise to the teaching. We have also begun work to rehouse our collection of zoological specimens in a museum environment in the campus’s medieval gatehouse, and hope that this will be finished over the summer before our new students arrive. We have a new Instagram page for the degree and associated activities, so give us a follow @bathspawild.

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Life, Health and Sustainable Environments (LHSE) by Ian Thornhill and Anil de Sequeira • The LHSE Seminar Series (full programme here) coordinated by Ian Thornhill and Lori Bystrom, completed its first round of talks on 13 April with Dr. Lori Bystrom and T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss giving a fascinating insight into the power of berries ‘the Vaccinium collective’ (a recording can be found in Biology Core Documents for students and staff of Bath Spa). The Seminar Series included talks from seven external practitioners and researchers, partnered with seven talks from our own Biology staff. I’m pleased to report that the total attendance was 150, and ranged from

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staff across the university, and students of all levels. We’re already thinking about the next series in the next academic year. If you want to take part, please get in touch! • Ian Thornhill and Ralph Thompson took part in the Festival of Nature (5 to 12 June). Ian talked about citizen science and freshwater ecology, and Ralph talked about studying nature on a green campus. To watch the recordings on YouTube, click here for Ian, and here for Ralph!

Publications hot off the press! Lucy G. Anderson, Jamie Bojko, Kelly S. Bateman, Paul D. Stebbing, Grant D. Stentiford, Alison M. Dunn (2021) Patterns of infection in a native and an invasive crayfish across the UK, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2021.107595

Dr. Ian Thornhill and Prof. Amanda Bayley - Interspecies Listening

‘Interspecies Listening’ is a School of Sciences and School of Music and Performing Arts project, in collaboration with Operation Wallacea, the Dominican Forestry Division and audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde. The project will set up audio monitoring equipment New research projects in Biology following HEQR in the rainforest of Dominica to help assess the funding success! conservation status of Mountain Chicken and Imperial Parrot (two endemic species to the island The last round of quality related research income of Dominica), and similarly to record underwater grants (HEQR grants) saw great success for the Biology soundscapes on the Newton Park campus associated department! For a full run-down of the award see the with the presence of a European Protected Species BSU Research Newsletter. Small grants up to £5000 the Great Crested Newt. went to Dr. Lucy Anderson, Dr. Ian Thornhill and Dr. The audio recordings will be coded in two ways. First, Lori Bystrom - WELL DONE! to utilise the Zooniverse platform to enlist the help Dr. Lucy Anderson - Microplastics of citizen scientists to listen for the two Dominican Exploring the microplastic footprint of UK households species at hard to monitor areas of Dominica, and also to see if bioacoustics is a viable way to monitor to inform public and policy action Microplastic for Great Crested Newt and other aquatic wildlife. pollution threatens freshwater and marine biota as Secondly, the soundscapes will be used to enable the well as posing a risk to human health. However only a use of the sound recordings (Dominica and Newton third of microplastic studies in the UK focus on plastic Park) to inform a future series of experimental entering freshwater environments. workshops on ‘Interspecies Listening’ to notate, There are many gaps in our understanding of describe and memorise nature’s sounds for use in the relative importance of different sources of music education and composition. In addition, to microplastics entering freshwater environments, explore artistic, cultural, scientific and educational particularly through domestic use. If we are to perspectives on the urgent environmental problems effectively control plastic waste through policy and we face by exposing the different ways in which the public action, we must first understand and quantify various disciplines involved in Interspecies Listening the most important sources. inform their work. The initial work on Newton Park This collaboration between the environmental campus will begin in spring 2021, laying the foundation NGO Earthwatch Europe and Bath Spa University for future engagement with students and staff alike. will quantify the relative contribution of UK Dr. Lori Bystrom - The Vaccinium Berry Collective domestic household activities to microplastic waste The funding received will be used to facilitate the in freshwater environments. Through a literature setup of the new Cell Culture and Genetics laboratory synthesis, it will i) identify the main sources of in Biology. This lab will enable staff members and microplastic waste from UK households in terms of students to conduct more rigorous molecular and cell activities, and types of consumer product; ii) quantify biology research. Although funding from the UKRI WCL the relative contribution of waste emitted from has allowed the department to create a lab space, each household product/activity to help prioritise proper equipment is still required to make the lab fully their management; iii) and inform the development functional. For this reason, the funds will be used to of a manuscript and public engagement tool (a purchase a laminar flow cell culture hood (to plate and Microplastic Footprint Calculator) to increase passage cell cultures); a CO2 incubator (to maintain participant’s understanding of how their household cell cultures); and a crushed ice maker (to keep cells activities are emitting microplastics into the samples cold for DNA/RNA extraction). environment, quantity their emissions from different This equipment would be beneficial to multiple sources, and provide them with possible actions and types of research projects in the department, which solutions for reducing it. require sterile lab conditions. In particular, this would enable me to expand on prior research — focused on the cellular iron metabolism effects of secondary metabolites from cranberries and other Vaccinium spp. — which, in turn, would complement an upcoming science and art collaboration, entitled “The Vaccinium Berry Collective.” June 2021 13

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

First year, Hannah Walters, took part in the annual Great Crested Newt monitoring, under licence from Natural England, on Newton Park campus, co-ordinated by Dave Harvey of Nicholas Pearson Associates. This will be the last year of five years of post-development monitoring for this protected species following the development of the new student residential accommodation.

“On 11 May 2021 I was invited to assist the University’s ecological consultants, Nicholas Pearson Associates, in the annual monitoring of Great Crested Newts on Newton Park Campus. Up early! We met at 6:30am where we started at the mitigation ponds where 15 bottle traps had been set the previous evening in each pond. Whilst they collected the traps, I was handed a clipboard to record the findings. All three UK newt species were present in the traps, of which only a few were empty, so a good tally was recorded for each species. I was able to use the following characteristics to differentiate between the species: The Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus is significantly larger than the rest with a bright orange underside and a white flash on its tail.

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The male also has a jagged crest running down its back. Smooth Newts Lissotriton vulgaris, although much smaller than the Great Crested Newt, also have a bright orange and brown spotted underside. Palmate newts Lissotriton helveticus are the smallest of the three and have a smooth unspotted underside and webbed back feet. May is mid to late breeding season for the newts so is the ideal time to look for eggs and we found many individually wrapped in leaf folds of aquatic plants. I was able to hold a Great Crested Newt. They feel very different to how you may imagine, smooth not slimy, cute, and rather like mini dragons! It was a real privilege to be given the opportunity to see and handle this protected species.” Hannah Walters BSc (Hons) Biology (Conservation Biology)

NEWS FROM ALUMNI by Anil de Sequeira

Past students of our BSc Human Nutrition course, Nick and Steph Donnelly, graduated in 2012 and have recently opened their online independent chocolate business. Green Door Chocolate is handcrafted from bean to bar and made in small batches, using ethically sourced premium single origin cacao. With an ethos that chocolate should be crafted for flavour through an honest and ethical supply chain, they hope to contribute their own piece to the changing landscape of how people enjoy chocolate, which includes greater transparency and traceability on how chocolate is made and how cacao is sourced. They have both worked in the food industry since graduating; Nick bringing his experience as a Food Product Developer for food and drinks companies and Steph with a background in Quality and Marketing in food ingredients and nutrition companies. It has long since been their goal to start their own small food business, built on using high quality ingredients with lots of opportunity

to experiment with flavour, no room for shortcuts and plenty of science; all of which craft chocolate has in abundance. After spending the last couple of years creating and refining their chocolate making process from their kitchen in Bath, they now have their own converted dedicated chocolate workshop, online shop and hopeful plans for the future to bring bean to bar chocolate to the community of Bath and beyond. They control every step of the process where they hand-sort, roast, crack, winnow, grind and conch cacao beans, before tempering and making them into beautiful chocolate bars which are wrapped in compostable packaging. Their range includes dark and dark milk chocolate bars made with cacao from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India & Madagascar. You can find them on Instagram @greendoorchocolate or online www.greendoorchocolate.co.uk June 2021 15

Science-Art Here is the BIO6104-20 Plants and People Poster Winner 2020!!

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Members of the group included Marianne Evans, Julia Archer, Sian Bentley, Florence Coleman, and Alice Jerrome. Illustrations by Julia Archer and Sian Bentley. For a full list of references, click here.

Step 1) Download iNaturalist smartphone app Step 2) Your records will be collected on Bath Spa Observer.

#ExploreBathSpa

If you need a break from your studies or you’re having a difficult day, our beautiful campus grounds offer the perfect escape. Follow the hashtag or read more here.

Ecosia campaign

Bath Spa on Ecosia is a campaign to switch the default search engine on campus to Ecosia – the search engine that uses its profits to plant trees. Support the campaign and turn your internet searches into trees by downloading through this link: ecosia.co/ bathspauniversity so that your searches can count towards the University’s tree tracker. Find out more @ bathspaecosia on Instagram.

involved

Recording wildlife at Bath Spa University: take part!

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Student opportunities

Postgraduate Society!

Zoë Newth and other postgraduate representatives are setting up a Postgraduate Society. To find out more, visit either the Facebook or Instagram pages.

Dissertation requests

If you are on the lookout for volunteers for your dissertation then why not contact Matt Baker (m.baker@bathspa.ac.uk) with details of your request for inclusion in the next newsletter? Whichever year that you are in, remember that at some point you may need volunteers for your work, too. So if you can spare the time to take part now, dissertation Karma may be paid back to you when you need it!

Bath Spa enters the University Moth Challenge!

Would you like to take part and help see how how diverse the moth populations are on the Bath Spa University campuses? If so, contact Darrel Watts (d.watts@bathspa.ac.uk) to get involved. So far Darrel and company have identified 94 species on Newton Park alone!

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