Bath Spa University Biology Newsletter - November 2021

Newsletter of Bath Spa Biology November 2021

Heading through Autumn, we could be thinking about closing up for the Winter, with hibernation and inertia; but the news items and articles here are all about renewal, reignition and reinvention, as the new academic year gets underway. We are welcoming back staff and students, with new course leaders and representatives, student ambassadors, and resources in place. This encompases a significant amount of change, which received wisdom persuades us to resist, but it has certainly been embraced in these pages. This Newsletter records and reports novel ways of collecting data through citizen science, and innovative platforms such as iNaturalist; future forms of sustenance with dietary insects

and 3D printed food; imaginative use of old spaces such as the redeveloped Gatehouse museum, as well as creative research recording underwater soundscapes; no sign of seasonal stagnation with Bath Spa Biology! Of course the sadder element of progress sees our recent graduates and some staff members leaving us for adventures elsewhere, and we wish them well as, in the words of the World’s greatest heterochromatic singer, we turn to face the strange ch-ch-changes….

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 Allotment Society

2

SPECIAL FEATURE 1 BSU Food Tips

4

SPECIAL FEATURE 2 University Moth Challenge

8

SPECIAL FEATURE 3 The Gatehouse Museum

10

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

12

LIFE, HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS (LHSE)

14

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

16

NEWS FROM ALUMNI

By Nicole Evans BSc (Hons) Biology (Conservation Biology)

18

SCIENCE-ART End of summer/Autumn Fruits

19

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED!

Congratulations go to Dr. Ceri Davies for becoming a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)!

Attaining membership of the RSC is a formal recognition of Ceri’s expertise and professionalism.

Graduate Prize Winners 2021 We are delighted to announce the Biology Subject prize winners as follows: • Bath Spa University Awards for Highest Final Year Grade were awarded to Evie Templeman (Environmental Science BSc); Marianne Evans (Biology BSc); and Elizabeth Hims (Human Nutrition BSc). The Food and Nutrition Prize for Best Dissertation was awarded jointly to Elizabeth Hims (Human Nutrition BSc) for her project entitled ‘The probiotic properties of kimchi; vegan and traditional’ supervised by Lisa Thomas, and to Bethany Winstone (Human Nutrition BSc), for her project entitled ‘Impact of diet on dental health and oral microbiota also supervised by Lisa Thomas; these students win cash prizes of £50.

• Across the biology awards, Anil de Sequiera has also sponsored several personal prizes and these have been awarded to Madeline Reason (Environmental Science with a Professional Placement Year BSc), for the highest academic achievement in the Biology Dissertation (Publication) module; Francesca Holland (Food with Nutrition, BSc) for the highest academic achievement in BIO6106-20- Global Trends in Food Preservation and Packaging, and Amber Smith (Food with Nutrition, BSc) for the most committed student in the BSc (Hons) Food with Nutrition programme.

There are also sponsored awards: • The Oxford University Press Achievement in Biosciences Prize was awarded to Madeline Reason (Environmental Science with a Professional Placement Year BSc), for her Dissertation entitled ‘The effect of tourism on marine ecosystems’, supervised by Ian Thornhill.

• The Royal Society of Biology Top Student Award for the highest overall degree mark also won by Madeline Reason as above.

• The Best Food and Nutrition in Practice Award, sponsored by Marshfield Bakery, was won by Roksana Cegielska (Food with Nutrition BSc), for her project designing a vegan chocolate ice cream, supervised by Anil de Sequeira.

• Huge congratulations go to the following MSc Environmental Management students Bethany Searle and Jack Edwards who have won the KIER Environmental Manager of the Year for 2020/21 and 2019/20 respectively for achieving the highest overall grades from their cohorts! Each receives a prize of £250.

Well done to all our prize winners, and graduates we are very proud of you!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Good luck for the future!

The last few months have been the final for several members of the Biology staff. Dr. Lucy Anderson and Dr. Nick Murry have reached the end of their contracts for teaching on the MSc Environmental Management. Both are likely to remain in contact with the university as either Visiting Research Fellows or Associate Lecturers, but it is a good moment to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the MSc, and for their contributions to the undergraduate programme.

We have also said goodbye to Dr. Maren Pauly who has returned to her native Canada. Maren was a huge asset to the department, providing excellent teaching of core plant science and developing the Biology in Society module, as well as contributing to our research profile, and we wish her every success for the future.

Furthermore, Dr. Ian Thornhill will be parting company with the university December 13th 2021. If you are concerned about how any of these departures may impact you, please contact Ian (i.thornhill@bathspa.ac.uk) directly, or Sam Lane (s.lane@bathspa.ac.uk).

Welcome to the team!

We also welcome two new members of staff. Dr Miriam Thavarajah, a Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation joins us from Germany, where she has been managing a large wildlife rescue charity. Alongside experience in teaching animal sciences, Miriam has previously worked as a Research Assistant, carrying out active fieldwork in South Africa, on both the Dwarf Mongoose Project in Hoedspruit, and the Kalahari Meerkat Project in Van Zylsrus. We are very excited to have Miriam joining the Biology team. We also have Dr Kate Petty joining us a little later in the term as a Lecturer in Plant Science. Kate is currently working for Plant Life International where she manages a national conservation campaign to save wildflowers on road verges.

We are looking forward to Kate bringing her wide ranging communication skills to the team in November.

Biology Society “Welcome to all incoming and current students for 2021/22 school year! We hope this year will be full of exciting new opportunities and we are here to support you through your studies. Biology Society holds regular socials throughout the year and we have some exciting events planned for you. If you are interested in getting involved, feel free to check out any of our Facebook and Instagram for updates” Samuel Moore. @bsubiologysociety su-biology@bathspa.ac.uk

Food and Nutrition Society @Bath Spa University Food and Nutrition Society @bsu_foodandnutritionsociety Rebecca.mcguinness17@bathspa.ac.uk

EcoSoc su-eco@bathspa.ac.uk @bsuecosociety

Allotment Society Are you interested in growing your own vegetables on campus? If so, the allotment society is recruiting. Please express your interest in being a part of the society by contacting Sara Cundy on the email below! environment@bathspa.ac.uk

June 2021 1

SPECIAL FEATURE 1

BSU FOOD TIPS

by Julie Rivrain, BSc Human Nutrition

We are all familiar with the government’s guideline “eat your 5 a day”. And yet, on average, the British do not get their 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day (Public Health England, 2019). University students are not an exception. In fact, their eating behaviours are commonly thought to be unhealthy, which has been confirmed by several studies.

Diets low in fruits and vegetables, high in confectionery, alcohol, fried foods, readymade and convenience foods are the most consistently reported among students (Sprake et al., 2018). The daily intake of fruits and vegetables of university students reported by different studies ranges between 2.2 and 3.8 portions per day, which is far from meeting the dietary guidelines (Tanton et al., 2015).

A great tip is to “eat the rainbow”, and this is because if you include fruits and vegetables of different colours in your diet, you will get all the different micronutrients and phytonutrients you need.

Unhealthy diets have been identified by the World Health Organisation (2013) as one of the four modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, and eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables is a very important part of a healthy diet. The reason for this is that they contain many nutrients and other compounds with health benefits (Geissler and Powers, 2017): • Vitamins and minerals: they contribute to many biological processes in our body; • Fibre: a high intake protects against chronic diseases like colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease, it improves digestion, and it has a satiating effect, which can help for weight control; • Phytonutrients (eg. Flavonoids and phenols): they may be beneficial to health by reducing the risk of some chronic diseases and age-related conditions.

This is why we started the BSU Food Tips initiative. Our aim is to encourage students at Bath Spa University (and elsewhere!) to cook more, especially with fruits and vegetables, and to waste less food. We will use Instagram to get you excited about fruits and vegetables: our feed will contain recipes, nutritional facts and storage tips for seasonal fruits and vegetables. We will also share cooking tips and tips on how to reduce food waste to enable you to improve your skills little by little.

University students have been identified as an important group to target with public health messages as student life is a transition period during which important lifestyle changes occur (Tanton et al., 2015). Many factors influence students’ food choices, but an important one is their cooking ability. Studies have found that as many as 45% of students reported limited or inexistent cooking abilities, which was linked to poorer diets (Sprake et al., 2018).

We also want to change the environment around students to make it easier for them to access fresh ingredients and to cook from scratch. This is work in progress so you will hopefully hear more about it in the future.

5 2 A bite of Bio

A graph showing the distribution of responses to five diet related questions

What you told us At the end of the last academic year, we ran a survey to understand how you feel about cooking, eating fruits and vegetables, and food waste.

These were your answers: what we concluded from that: there is still hope for fruits and veggies, and cooking is definitely on your radar!

Get involved Our Instagram account @BSU_foodtips is now live. Follow us to find out about seasonal fruits and vegetables and get lots of helpful tips!

If you have any suggestions or if you would like to contribute to this project, email Julie: julie.rivrain20@bathspa.ac.uk

References Geissler, C. and Powers, H. (2017) Human Nutrition. 13th edn.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Public Health England (2019) National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Years 1 to 9 of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009 – 2016/2017): Time trend and income analyses. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/statistics/ndns-time-trend-and-income-analyses-foryears-1-to-9 (Accessed: 13 May 2021).

Sprake, E., Russell, J., Cecil, J., Cooper, R., Grabowski, P., Pourshahidi, L. and Barker, M. (2018) ‘Dietary patterns of university students in the UK: a cross-sectional study’, Nutrition Journal, 17(90).

Tanton, J., Dodd, L., Woodfield, L. and Mabhala, M. (2015) ‘Eating Behaviours of British University Students: A Cluster Analysis on a Neglected Issue’, Advances in Preventive Medicine, 2015.

World Health Organisation (2013) Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020.

Geneva: WHO Document Production Services.

June 2021 3

SPECIAL FEATURE 2

MOTHS AND THE “UNIVERSITY MOTH CHALLENGE”

by Darrel Watts, Technical Demonstrator, Science During the summer of 2021 me and BSU Biology students Martin Richardson, Marianne Evans (pictured), Katherine Doyle and Charlotte Wiles have taken part in the “University Moth Challenge” (UMOC) The University Moth Challenge is a joint initiative by the UK’s youth nature network “A Focus on Nature (AFoN)”[i] and “Butterfly Conservation”[ii].

To be of value environmental records need to be both accurate and in the public domain, if we don’t share environmental records they lose their value and for this reason we’ve taken photos of many of the moths and posted the images on “iNaturalist”[v] a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists[vi], and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe.

The aims of UMOC are: • To encourage more biological recording at University.

• To encourage more young people to take an active interest in moths.

• To give young people valuable biological recording and identification skills.

• To link young people and Universities with the National Moth Recording Scheme[iii].

Records from “iNaturalist” are semiautomatically transferred to “Bath Spa Observer”[vii], a digital mapping platform that captures environmental data for use in the classroom and beyond.

During UMOC 2021 (1st May to August 31st) we’ve recorded over two hundred different species of moth at Newton Park. The majority of our records have been from a “Robinson” type moth trap situated in the Walled Garden.

The moth trap is a simple light and box arrangement that attracts moths and gives them a safe place to rest until they can be recorded and safely released back into the wild. Moth traps aren’t very efficient and only capture a small proportion of the night flying moths, mainly male ones[iv].

4 A bite of Bio

Why record moths? And does it matter if we don’t?

Moths are numerous and widespread, with over 2,500 species in Britain. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from the highest mountains to the most urban of conurbations.

We know that moths are declining in the UK and this is because we have historical moth records to compare current catches with. It looks like the situation is particularly bad in southern Britain, where moth numbers are down by ~40%. Among the species which have declined are many moths that were previously common.

Changes in the moth assemblage are detailed in the “State of Britain’s larger moths”[viii] reports, downloadable from “Butterfly Conservation”.[ix]

Funny image for the University Moth Challenge.

For different species of moth are sat as contestants on University Challenge.

Biological recording, the Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS) and Citizen Science.

The standard methodology for evaluating moths populations has developed from the UK Government funded “Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS) - Light Trap Network’[x]’ which became active in 1964, and it is the RIS that gives us a baseline moth population datum from over fifty years ago.

In the very near future iNaturalist and iRecord will be linked and all BSU UMOC moth observations will be loaded onto “iRecord”, to be checked and verified.

Winners and losers, some moth images from UMOC 2021 (Images and descriptions of all these moths are available on the “UK Moths” website[xxi])

In more recent years we have seen the rise of citizen science, largely facilitated by mobile phone cameras, the growth of the WWW and greater environmental awareness. It is citizen science, and recording programmes such as the “Garden Moth Scheme’[xi], that have vastly increased the volume of moth records and given us a much finer scale measure of the winners and losers among our moth assemblage.

The official platform for Biological Recording in the UK is “iRecord”[xii] operated by the Biological Records Centre (BRC). The goal of “iRecord” is to make it easier for wildlife sightings to be collated, checked by experts and made available to support research and decision-making at local and national levels.

Marianne Evans holds a moth.

June 2021 5

Box-tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) [xiii] The Box-tree Moth is a striking black and white moth which has been accidentally introduced to Western Europe. Native to China and Korea, it was first recorded in the UK 2007 (in Kent), and since then it has spread across Southern Britain.

We recorded at least four separate individuals during UMOC. Although it is quite a large moth (wingspan~ 40mm) it is technically a “micro moth” from the Pyralidae family[xiv].

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria)[xv] During the early 20th Century “Jersey Tiger” was only resident in the UK in the Channel Islands.

After spreading to south Devon, it then colonised the coast of Dorset and the Isle of Wight before being recorded in London. In the 21st Century it has spread to Bristol, and then Bath, and is now widespread across southern Britain. It is very likely that global climatic change, and particularly urban heat islands, have facilitated its spread.

Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)[xvi] The rise and fall of industrial melanism in the “Peppered Moth'' is an example of Darwinian natural selection. Usually a white moth with black peppering an entirely black (melanic) single gene mutation (forma carbonaria) was first recorded in Manchester in 1848, and by 1895 98% of Mancunian Peppered Moths were black[xvii]. The Victorian Lepidopterist, J. W. Tutt, recognised that the black moths were less visible on the soot blackened trunks of Manchester’s trees and were less frequently predated by birds than the, predominantly white, type form, which had been better camouflaged against the lichen covered tree trunks found prior to the industrial revolution. In the UK during the 19th and early 20th century, away from the far western fringe of the UK, lichens declined and f. carbonaria Peppered Moth became the dominant. In the late 20th and 21st centuries, as heavy industry and coal use have declined, moths have “reverted” to their type coloration, but the carbonaria phenotype gene still exists within the population at very low frequency[xviii], as this carbonaria Peppered Moth shows. The type form, white with black peppering, is on the left and both moths were recorded at Newton Park on July 20th 2021.

8 6 A bite of Bio

Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata)[xix] The Rosy Footman is a lichen feeding moth that has spread from north and eastward from south west England in the 21st Century. We recorded it on numerous occasions during UMOC, including six individuals on 23rd of July. The spread of the Rosy Footman has been aided by both climate change and cleaner air.

Brussels Lace (Cleorodes lichenaria)[xx] During the 20th Century “Brussels Lace” was restricted to the far western fringe of the UK, occurring in the western areas of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. During the 21st century, as industrial pollution has decreased, Brussels Lace has spread east, feeding, as a caterpillar, on the more foliose lichens that have re-colonised their former range in cleaner air.

Moth Trap Intruders[xxii] It is not only moths. You get a wide range of other nocturnal insects (Beetle, Bush Cricket, Caddis, Ichneumon, Mayfly and Social Wasps) in moth traps. Often these are species that are rarely recorded by methods other than light trapping. If we record intruders, as well as moths, these may prove to be valuable records in the future.

False Blister Beetle (Oedemera femoralis) [xxiii] This is a nationally scarce beetle (Nb)[xxiv], but one that is relatively common in the Bristol area.

Adults feed on flower pollen and nectar, but it is not known what the larval food source is.

June 2021 7

[i] A Focus on Nature: www.afocusonnature.org [ii] University Moth Challenge: https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/mothrecording/university-moth-challenge [iii] National Moth Recording scheme: https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/ recording-and-monitoring/national-mothrecording-scheme [iv] Surveying Moths Using Light Traps: Effects of Weather and Time of Year: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0092453 [v] iNaturalist: www.inaturalist.org/home [vi] No PhDs needed: how citizen science is transforming research: www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07106-5 [vii] Bath Spa Observer: www.bathspa.ac.uk/projects/bath-spa-observer/ [viii] Fox, R., Dennis, E., Harrower, C. et al. (2021) “The state of Britain’s larger moths 2021”: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530375 [ix] State of Britain’s larger moths: https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/ files/2021-03/StateofMothsReport2021.pdf [x] Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS) - Light Trap Network: www.rothamsted.ac.uk/insect-survey [xi] Garden Moth Scheme: www.gardenmoths.org.uk/' [xii] iRecord: www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/about [xiii] Box-tree Moth: www.ukmoths.org.uk/ species/cydalima-perspectalis/ [xiv] Pyralidae: www.ukmoths.org.uk/ systematic-list/#Pyralidae [xv] Jersey Tiger: www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/ euplagia-quadripunctaria/ [xvi] Peppered Moth: www.ukmoths.org.uk/ species/biston-betularia/ [xvii] Majerus, M (2009) “Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia: An Excellent Teaching Example of Darwinian Evolution in Action” Evo Edu Outreach 2, 63–74: https://evolution-outreach.biomedcentral.com/ articles/10.1007/s12052-008-0107-y [xviii] Hof, A., Campagne, P., Rigden, D. et al.

(2016) ”The industrial melanism mutation in British Peppered Moths is a transposable element.” Nature 534, 102–105: www.nature.com/articles/nature17951 [xix] Rosy Footman: www.ukmoths.org.uk/ species/miltochrista-miniata/ [xx] Brussels Lace: www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cleorodeslichenaria/ [xxi] UK Moths: www.ukmoths.org.uk/ [xxii] FB Group: “Moth-trap Intruders UK” https://www.facebook.com/ groups/119091688719071 [xxiii] False Blister Beetle: www.coleoptera.org.uk/ species/oedemera-femoralis [xxiv] National Beetle Recording Schemes: www.coleoptera.org.uk/recording-schemes 8 A bite of Bio

SPECIAL FEATURE 3

THE GATEHOUSE MUSEUM

by Ralph Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Zoology Over the summer we moved the collection of zoological and botanical specimens from the back of the lab cupboards to a new home at the top of the refurbished medieval Gatehouse, a remnant of the St Loe Castle, which once bordered the area of Newton Park that Bath Spa Biology now inhabits. This has allowed the specimens to be displayed in glass cases in a room that facilitates their examination on central tables, that can also be used for related study in a peaceful environment. The collection includes taxidermy skulls, skeletons, spirit-preserved bodies, pinned insects and various other curiosities to spark the imagination, and allow close examination of the wondrous results of evolution.

As the students returned this Autumn they have started to enjoy the opportunities offered by the new resource. We plan to make use of it for our zoology, botany and ecology teaching across the Biology subject but particularly on the new BSc in Wildlife Conservation, which also welcomed its first cohort of students this Autumn. We also hope to add to the collection as we receive donated specimens, including those found by the grounds team at Newton Park. Elements of the University’s larger Natural History Collection inherited from the Bath Academy of Art and currently housed at Corsham Court will visit the room to provide some further variety to the exhibits on display.

If you are interested in visiting the collection please contact r.thompson@bathspa.ac.uk

Sophie Scott (Environmental Science, 3rd year) and Samuel Moore (Conservation Biology, 3rd year) examining the large and the small

Angel Plumb (Environmental Science, 3rd year) enjoying a classic text in the Gatehouse window overlooking the parkland

How do you sex an echidna?

A common frog (Rana temporaria) skeleton

A pigeon (Columba livia domestica) skeleton in front of the display cabinets

June 2021 9

NEWS FROM THE COURSES Biology and pathways Samantha Lane

We would like to offer a very warm welcome to our incoming first year students and a welcome back to our returning students. It is so nice to see the campus becoming busy again. We are geared up for an exciting new academic year, with lots of new resources in place, including upgraded lab equipment, library purchases, and some shiny new staff members! This year marks the start of a new course structure for Biology BSc and pathways, where students will be taking a common first year, and can then make informed choices about their programme, based on their specific interests as they go into the second year. This flexibility is proving popular at recruitment events, and we hope this will give students some space to decide in which direction they would like to take their studies. Following a very sunny on campus graduation celebration in September, we will be looking to invite some of our alumni back to highlight all the opportunities available to Biology graduates to our current students later in the year. We wish everyone a super start to Semester 1.

Environmental Management Ian Thornhill

As we approach the end of the current postgraduate year, it is also the twilight of the MSc, which will be discontinued hence-forward, although a couple of students remain to finish their degrees in part-time mode.

Since being relaunched in 2019/20 with new directorship, a refreshed curricula and IEMA accreditation, the number of applications to the MSc has increased dramatically from 87 to 145. Recruitment similarly, increased from a low of 3 in 2017/18 to 10 students in 2019/20 and 2020/21 despite the pandemic. Unfortunately, this did not meet the university’s bottom line requirements. I would like to give my personal thanks to all staff and students who have been involved in the MSc and encourage anyone who hasn’t already joined, to join the LinkedIn group. I’m delighted to say that graduates from the MSc have an excellent track record for gaining employment in the sustainability sector and I look forward to seeing their careers develop.

Environmental Science Stephanie Greshon

I am delighted to be taking on the role of Programme Leader in Environmental Science and getting to know you all over the coming months. It was lovely to meet some of the new first year cohort and to welcome back the 2nd and 3rd years to the programme during the settle in fortnight. I am building strong links with geography colleagues and students to bring a strong sense of community to your programme. We will also be working closely with the Biology and Wildlife Conservation students to ensure you have opportunities to deepen your learning experience across the courses.

As part of this extended learning, please do sign up for some of the fascinating talks by guest speakers who are prominent in their field of study, as part of the Hazards, Risks and Disaster (HRD) Research Group lecture series. This kicks off Wednesday 20th October 15.00 - 17.00 with an online talk by Dr Katie Oven from Northumbria university on landslide risk in post-earthquake Nepal. Any questions, ping Dr Rich Johnson an email! For a full listing of events see the HRD events homepage.

I am pleased to welcome Angelica Plumb as a new Student Ambassador. Angel is a 3rd year Environmental Science student so will be spreading the word about the benefits of studying Environmental Science at BSU amongst potential new students who will be visiting our beautiful campus at Newton Park over the next few months. We are also looking for new Course Reps for 2021 22 and nominations are running in October. If you are thinking about getting involved and to help shape your course then email su-academicreps@bathspa.ac.uk

10 A bite of Bio

Food with Nutrition Anil de Sequeira

It was wonderful to welcome the first year students and welcome back the second and third year students. The sun was shining on the graduation, which was held on campus on the 7th of September. We had the opportunity to raise a glass to the graduates of 2021. It was lovely to meet up with the graduates and their families. Across the week beginning the 8th of November, The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), by whom the course is accredited, will be showcasing 5 events across the week; one for each day. Students will be able to learn from, listen to and question a variety of industry professionals from a range of sectors of the food industry. Students will also be able to attend virtual factory tours with Q&A sessions as well as hearing from a national recruitment agency to hear the key skills and requirements of a career in the food sector. I have also discussed with students the possibility of setting up a student led cooking club and students who I spoke to were keen to take this forward. I will be taking this forward with both Food with Nutrition and Human Nutrition students.

Human Nutrition Tracey Lewarne

Welcome to the new first years and welcome back to the second and third years. It is wonderful to see you all. We’ve got an exciting year ahead with the new Human Nutrition meetings that include a great selection of visiting speakers and will concentrate on the professional role of Nutritionists. It was lovely to meet up with the graduates of 2021 at their ceremony in September and it’s fabulous that so many were already in graduate jobs or about to embark on postgraduate study. We have a number of students doing project work and placements with local charities and organisations this year. I would also encourage everyone to consider voluntary work as there are many places in the local area looking for student help. Some of our students have also been busy over the summer setting up the brilliant ‘BSU Food Tips’, which you can read more about in this newsletter.

Wildlife Conservation Ralph Thompson

This is an exciting time as the first cohort of Wildlife Conservation students have arrived on campus, ready to begin their journeys towards becoming agents of conservation and restoration of wildlife. We are also very happy to have welcomed Dr Miriam Thavarajah to the Biology team (see special announcements). Miriam is our new Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and will be contributing extensively to the Wildlife Conservation degree as well as to modules taken by all Biology students. The BSc in Wildlife Conservation has also been identified as a priority area for development and recruitment by the University. To see more of our wildlife activities follow @bathspawild on Instagram.

June 2021 11

LIFE, HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS (LHSE)

by Ian Thornhill and Anil de Sequeira BSU BIOLOGY AT FUTURES 2021 Dr’s Anil de Sequeira, Lori Bystrom, Ian Thornhill and Darrel Watts all took part in FUTURES 2021, organised by the University of Bristol and funded by the European Union on the 24th of September.

Drs Lori Bystrom and Anil de Sequeira at their stall during FUTURES 2021 event on the SS Great Britain.

Dr Bystrom said “It was lots of fun discussing the future of food with the public next to Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s nautical engineering marvel, the SS Great Britain.

Surprisingly, a lot of children seem quite excited about the idea of trying crickets and other insects as food”.

Pond ecology on the Community Radio As part of FUTURES2020 & 2021 EU funded festival,Stellaria Media facilitated a series Dr Ian Thornhill and local members of programmes, co-created by members of of public gathered around trays with pond invertebrates. community radio stations with researchers from the University of Exeter, Bristol, Bath, Bath Spa & University of Plymouth in partnership Food of the future – What will be on our plates? with Agile Rabbit.

Dr de Sequeira talked about his work on Future Food – What will be on our plates? As part of the Research Bradley Stoke Radio members walk around their Fair on Brunel’s SS Great Britain. The world will local Three Brooks Nature Reserve with freshwater host 9 billion people by 2050. Insects, fake meat, ecologists Ian Thornhill (Bath Spa Uni.) and Jack seaweed and 3D-printed food all have the potential Greenhalgh (Uni. Bristol). With pond dipping, to address malnutrition, but could we stomach it? ecological conversations and underwater sounds What we put in our shopping trolleys as we steer they discuss the ecological and community networks them down the aisles of our supermarkets will help that thrive here. To listen to the show, click here. decide the future. He also developed a do it at home activity, Tasting with our Eyes? (https://futuresnight. co.uk/do-try-this-at-home) for parents and their children –as part of Discover and Discuss.

As part of the bathscape walking festival, Dr Ralph Dr de Sequeira said “I was excited to be part of this Thompson and Dr Matt Baker led a series of walks event and enthuse the public and young minds of the at Newton Park focussing on areas of Nature that joy of science and its role in aiding to solve the global benefit human health and wildlife conservation. All challenges, connecting citizens of the world, as we three walks were full to capacity and we are pleased continue to battle with Covid19“. to say that we have been asked to contribute to the walking festival again next year.

12 A bite of Bio

RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDING SUCCESS Two new projects awarded to BSU Biology!

Engaging food hypersensitive communities in citizen science BBSRC Dr. Ian Thornhill will be lending his expertise in citizen science to a newly funded Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) project with Prof. Julie Barnett (University of Bath) 'Engaging food hypersensitive communities in citizen science'.

Eating food prepared outside the home when you have a food hypersensitivity (FH) risks undermines quality of life and causes stress and anxiety, and because it is associated with an increased likelihood of accidental or unwanted consumption of allergens. This is a significant challenge to the Food Standards Agency given that their aim is to protect the UK consumer from the health risks posed by FH. Citizen scientists with FH are ideally placed to actively engage with addressing this issue and contribute detailed first-hand observations and reflections around their experiences of eating food prepared away from the home. A citizen science approach that is compliant with the ECSA ten principles of citizen science, engaging those that by definition are motivated to avoid allergens, can provide detailed, relevant and focused information about eating outside the home encounters spanning restaurants, cafes, work places, schools, hospitals as well as at social occasions in homes eating food that is prepared by others. The project will commence 1st December 2021.

Creative Climate Connections: COP26 ‘Hear Water’ - NERC The ‘creative climate connections: COP26 environmental science public engagement’ funding aims to create positive change for the members of the public and other collaborators by engaging underrepresented groups with Natural Environment Research Councilfunded climate change research (adaptation and mitigation) and related societal issues through the arts. A cross-disciplinary team from BSU including Prof. Amanda Bayley (music), Dr. Ian Thornhill (biology), audio-visual artist and BSU Research Fellow Kathy Hinde, and RESPiRES PDRA Dr. Sarah Hobbs have been awarded a total of £28,416 to carry out a new project entitled ‘Hear Water’ that builds upon the HEQR-funded Interspecies Listening project. Hear Water will engage with under-represented groups that are critical to and often most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The project will take an arts and technology based approach to engagement with communities represented by IMAYLA, in Bristol. The project will consist of skills-based workshops and talks about climate change, freshwater ecology and underwater sound. Participants at the workshops will build hydrophones, and then record underwater soundscapes to provide inspiration for co-created artistic outputs for public exhibition. Participatory research will assess the extent to which aural perception of environmental issues could be a new approach to achieving positive social change and increased environmental empathy. Hear Water was one of 8 funded projects from a total of 130 applications to the fund!

PUBLICATIONS HOT OFF THE PRESS Hill, M., Greaves, H., Sayer, C.D., Hassall, C., Milin, M., Milner, T., Marazzi, L., Hall, R., Harper, L.R., Thornhill, I. and Walton, R., 2021.

Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps. Ecosphere.

The first ever BSU Postgraduate Research Festival for Sustainability On the 27th September 2021 Ian Thornhill and colleagues from the Environmental Humanities (Kate Rigby and Mike Hannis) and Heritage Management (Sarah Morton) courses were joined by a host of current and past postgraduate students to discuss their research in the field of sustainability. The ev ent was hosted in Commons, and attended by around 50 current and past staff and students, and industry professionals in a blended (in person and online) format.

Although a bitter-sweet experience for the outgoing MSc Environmental Management programme, it was a fantastic forum to exchange ideas, and keynotes were given by Dr. Brett Favaro Associate Dean British Columbia Institute of Technology and author of The Climate Code, Amber Hayward (BSU Sustainability Rep.) and Dr. Mike Hannis (Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Politics and Environment). To review the programme and abstracts click here where a video link of the presentations will soon be made available.

June 2021 13

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Students in a grassland during the Purbeck Field Course.

Purbeck Field Course September 2021 This year I was delighted we were able to run the Purbeck Field Course which kicks off the 2nd year module BIO5003 Ecology and Biodiversity before the start of formal teaching in Semester 1. After the disappointment of this course having to be cancelled last year due to the restrictions of the pandemic, we were joined by three 3rd students who enjoyed the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Dorset landscape and enjoy working with the group to enhance their ecological fieldwork skills.

The article below is written by Nicole Evans, a second year student on the Conservation Biology pathway at Bath Spa University.

A module choice during my first semester of year 2 was Ecology and Biodiversity, a module with the opportunity to attend a three-day field course prior to starting Semester 1. The field course takes place in Purbeck Dorset, an area of the UK known for its Jurassic Coastline and more importantly it’s important heathland habitats. In the last century an alarming 70% of the Dorset heaths have declined for reasons such as agriculture, housing, and industrial developments, and Dorset is one of the few areas in the UK with remaining heathland.

14 A bite of Bio

On our field trip we travelled to a range of different environments including heathlands, sand dunes, calcareous and acid grasslands and saltmarsh. Through the trip we developed an understanding of Phase 1 Habitat Surveys and the National Vegetation Classification, techniques which will be useful in future work. The characterisation, naming of plant communities and their abundance/distribution allowed us to determine the conservation value of the given area.

The key objectives of the trip were to identify what plant species characterised the heathlands and coastal habitats we visited, to understand what the main environmental factors were that influenced the habitats and the distribution of plant communities. We placed 2m2 quadrats on selected areas of the sites and identified the plant species within these plots, using field guides and help from our lecturers who were all very knowledgeable in the local flora and fauna. At each site we also took soil samples to analyse back at the field centre, where we had a laboratory set up to measure pH, conductivity and soil types. This allowed us to understand what plant species thrive in certain soil conditions and why this could affect the species we had found.

2021 field trippers taking cover under Agglestone Rock During the evening we carried out a bat walk on the grounds of the field centre where we used devices capable of picking up bat calls and identifying what species of bat we were hearing.

On the walk we were able to pick up the noises of a Common Pipistrelle bat as well as a Soprano Pipistrelle. A fun fact I was told during the walk was that the Soprano part of the bat’s name actually refers to the noises that the Soprano bats are capable of making, with the Soprano having the highest vocal range of all pipistrelle bats. We also had the chance to visit a bird hide at Brandt’s Bay, where we identified three different species of bird: the Little Egret, Black-headed Gull, and Blackbacked Gull. However, my favourite bird spot was a Peregrine falcon that had perched itself upon the cliffs at Durlston Head on our last day.

Students and staff huddle by a large rock during the Purbeck Field Course.

Using identification keys to identify the plants within our quadrats Despite the on and off rain during our trip, we were also able to see the legendary Agglestone Rock (and even shelter under it to protect ourselves from the rain!). Also known as the Devil’s Anvil, legend states that it was thrown over from The Needles on the Isle of Wight by the devil himself! For anyone wanting a more factual understanding of how the rock ended up here I recommend using Google!

Agglestone Rock is a sandstone block weighing approximately 400 tonnes. I note to any future field trippers to remember this weight; you’ll earn yourself a point in the field trip quiz so thank me later!

Away from university I live in a landlocked region with the nearest beach being two hours away, an area also with very little ecological value due to human urbanisation. I find it easy to forget just how precious our UK habitats are and why we should conserve them. For me visiting the sites I was amazed at the beauty and the fragility of heathland ecosystems. To the others attending the trip I must’ve sounded like a broken record complimenting the beauty in the scenery and the amazement I had over the fact that I’d never even considered a visit to Dorset! Visiting an area of ecological value was an eye-opening experience.

Although it is easy to discover information about our UK habitats through lectures and seminars, being able to see the environments first-hand allowed for a deeper understanding into concepts such as ecological succession. Not only is Purbeck a chance to gain a skill set within the scientific field of ecology, but also a great opportunity to meet your peers prior to starting the semester. I highly recommend to any first years taking the Ecology and Biodiversity module in their 2nd year, to attend the Field Course beforehand. Personally, after attending I feel more confident using identification keys and have a newfound appreciation of the beauty of heathland environments. I certainly intend to revisit Dorset once again to appreciate the beauty of it’s flora and fauna!

By Nicole Evans BSc (Hons) Biology (Conservation Biology) June 2021 15

NEWS FROM ALUMNI

FROM NUTRITION TO AN ORGANIC FARM IN ITALY

By Lucy Noon; Graduate from BSc Human Nutrition 2019

Planting courgettes and aubergines on an organic farm in Italy.

16 A bite of Bio

During my undergraduate degree, I was always fascinated by sustainable food systems. I wrote essays on soil degradation and food waste, I volunteered for a food waste charity and always tried to minimise my impact on the environment through diet. But when I graduated, I only had one desire, which was to travel. I flew to India to do my yoga teacher training and then to Canada to do a ski season. I was also lucky enough to present my undergraduate dissertation research in Wisconsin at the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) conference. However, the one experience that stayed with me was volunteering on a farm in Italy.

After I returned to the UK I landed a job as the Programme Manager for a sustainable period product company. On paper, it appeared to be the perfect role in the perfect company. However, I quickly became disillusioned with the level of impact a luxury sustainable brand can have on protecting the planet. I stayed in this role for a year and then decided to do something drastic. Just before the second lockdown, I quit my job, flew to Italy, and alongside 3 friends, took over the farm I had previously volunteered at.

We encountered many hurdles; namely me not speaking Italian, applying for residency three weeks before the UK left Europe, and opening a business amid a global pandemic. Berta and Guenda (our donkeys) made it their mission to wreak havoc on our crops. Water and electricity would regularly cut out and we were often left without any internet. We lost our car and had to cycle or borrow lifts to pick up stock for the restaurant.

People left the project and others joined. Eight 8 months after opening the 9-hectare farm we have hit many milestones. We threw an inaugurazione for 150 people with musicians, DJs, and food.

We ran yoga retreats and week-long children's summer camps. We served a 7-course meal to 60 people. I took on the role of chef, cooking fresh pasta, meat dishes, and English desserts. Where possible, ingredients in the restaurant are either locally sourced or grown by ourselves. All of the produce we grow is completely organic and we use permaculture methods in our synergistic garden.

We have renovated part of the house with the help of volunteers from around the world. Now the season is heading into Autumn we are harvesting the fruit from our 200 kiwi trees and autumn crops. I wanted to understand food security from a global perspective, so I have just started a Master's

course in Food and International Development.

I'm hoping I can apply what I've learned to turn the farm into a social enterprise, bringing together communities of people through regenerative farming.

The farm has been the most fulfilling, challenging project I've ever embarked on and I am so grateful for everything I've learned so far. It's taught me many things but most importantly to stay open to every opportunity and to not to worry about following one set career path. I could have never imagined that two years after volunteering on a farm I would subsequently own the same business.

We didn't start the project with money or longterm plans; it started because we had a genuine passion for something and a hunger to learn more.

We love to share the experience with others so if you would like to volunteer or have an idea for a collaboration please get in touch: lucyalicenoon@gmail.com

The Farm

From left to right: Pietro, me, Sam (volunteer), Gaia and Sele.

There used to be corn planted alongside the sunflowers but Berta and Guenda ate them.

June 2021 17

SCIENCE-ART End of Summer/Autumn fruits

Clockwise from top left:gourds (Lagenaria spp.) in Bruton; raspberries (Rubus spp.) in Bristol; unripe wild North American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), apples (Malus spp.) from Manor Valley Woods in Bristol.

18 A bite of Bio

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!

GET

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.

Bristol climate strike October 2021

The SU President, Marianne, attended climate protests for COP26 in Bristol on the 22nd of October and 5th of November. If you'd like to find out more, reach out on su-president@bathspa.ac.uk and take a look at the facebook event ‘Bristol climate strike October 2021’.

Dissertation volunteers

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 and it will appear 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!

Do you have a future Bite of Bio! Special Feature in mind?

Are you an alumni that wants to tell your story, or a student who has gained some work experience worth shouting about? Then let Miriam know: m.thavarajah@bathspa.ac.uk

June 2021 19