RESEARCH DAY
2010
Contents 01 Calum Batten Boat Design & Production
15 Alison Hinkley Marine Science
02 Jeremy Cash Boat Design & Production
16 Joanne Hookey Marine Science
03 Fatih Cesurdura Boat Design & Production
17 Jaydene Kerton Marine Science
04 Jackson Fearns Boat Design & Production
18 Alex Mandley Marine Science
05 Nicholas Gill Boat Design & Production
19 Lisa Mead Marine Science
06 Neil Jenkin Boat Design & Production
20 Faith Moseley Marine Science
07 Angela Bojko Marine Environmental Management
21 Sam Torrance Marine Science
08 Alex Fowler Marine Environmental Management
22 Ema Weston Marine Science
09 Gavin O’Hara Marine Environmental Management
23 William Whitehouse Marine Science
10 Claire Donaldson Marine Leisure Management
24 Jonnie Cook Marine Sports Science
11 Matthew Harley Marine Leisure Management
25 Elliot Delf Marine Sports Science
12 Pete Osman Marine Leisure Management
26 David Meacock Marine Sports Science
13 James Brown Marine Science
27 James Ray Marine Sports Science
14 Tim Fitter Marine Science
28 Alice Rushworth-Lund Marine Sports Science
Student Research Projects Calum Batten Investigation and analysis of Boat Wake
Student Research Projects Fatih Cesurdura Lady K 18ft launch fishing gear installation
I am looking at and testing ways to improve and change normal speedboats to make the wake better for the sport of Wakeboarding. This will make it more affordable to the general public who at present have no choice but to purchase a competition wakeboard boat which cost £60,000 +.
My project is to design a new fishing pot lifter winch, to lift pots with an electric powered motor as well as a new design Autocad pot lifter unit especially for Falmouth Marine School’s 18ft Lady K fishing launch.
Jeremy Cash To design a 10ft monohull sailing boat capable of circumnavigating the world
Jackson Fearns An Application of Sustainable Composites for the Marine Industry This project focuses on the application and feasibility of using a renewable, linseed oil based resin as an alternative to more traditional petrochemical resins currently used in the marine plastics industry. The project enabled me to build a 14ft round bilge dinghy derived from the specialised UV curing Eco resin.
The objective behind this design is to create a microyacht capable of beating the current world record for the smallest boat to circumnavigate the world, which currently stands at 11’10”. The small size of a vessel like this makes design calculations much simpler and allows me to look at more aspects than a larger project may have done.
Student Research Projects
Student Research Projects Angela Bojko Marine environmental interpretation as an aid to increase the survival of stranded marine mammals
Nicholas Gill Assessment of three boat moulds to ensure compliance with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD). For this project I built three boat moulds RCD certified. This will allow Falmouth Marine School to build and legally sell them.
Neil Jenkin Investigation and analysis of yacht tenders, with the aim to design a concept multipurpose tender which does not require an outboard motor. The aim is to design a yacht tender that has the stability and practicality of an inflatable, with the rowing qualities of a solid tender. By eliminating the need for an engine, running costs will be reduced and it will be better for the environment. The tender must also be lightweight and be capable of being folded up or built in sections for storage onboard.
Public support is a crucial part of speeding up intervention time when it comes to the possibility of survival if a stranded creature is washed up on the shore, (or if appearing injured or in difficulty). This project looks into whether the notice boards at ‘Key’ areas along the coast where sightings are known to be frequent, provide the necessary emergency information and aid the public, or are considered just another waste of time.
Alex Fowler An investigation into the population of Crepidula fornicata in the Helford Estuary My research project is to try and establish if there is a population of the invasive Slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata) within the Helford Estuary. The study was conducted around the Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) beds to find out whether Crepidula fornicata populations would impact on the Native Oyster fishery as they have done within the Fal Estuary.
Student Research Projects Gavin O’Hara Stakeholders opinions in relation to the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme (CCS)
Student Research Projects
Matthew Harley To investigate the role of three marina managers in relation to management theories
After carrying out a work placement with the Scottish Government as part of the CCS team I understood the true importance of fisheries management in particular Cod management. I was keen to understand stakeholders opinions on the subject.
Claire Donaldson Is there a place for coastal safety within the national curriculum? My project is looking at the history of beach safety, how many deaths occur each year along the coast (in particular children); how much information on beach safety is taught at schools; and how knowledgeable school children and their parents are on beach safety. Questionnaires at four different schools were used to collect data. The results will show if there is a need for more education on coastal safety.
My project is an investigation into the use of management theory in the marina industry. My research involves interviewing marina managers using a structured questionnaire and comparing their answers against management theories.
Pete Osman An investigation into cruising yacht sails An investigation into cruising yacht sails, in particular into their cost both locally, nationally and internationally. Manufacturing has moved overseas in many industries and this project hopes to find out whether it is financially worthwhile for the cruising yacht owner to go overseas.
Student Research Projects
Student Research Projects Alison Hinkley Antibacterial Susceptibility of various seaweeds to known pathogenic bacteria
James Brown A comparison of water quality parameters and algal growth between a refugia based filter system and a technical based filter system on tropical coral aquaria.
My aims are to test various seaweeds, Chlorophyta (green), Phaeophyta (brown), and Rhodophyta (red), for their ability to resist some common strains of bacterial pathogens as well as to compare the seaweeds performance to commercial antibiotics.
Two identical aquariums both with the same biomass of coral, invertebrates and fish species have been running for several weeks. One aquarium has a refugia filter (small refuge tank situated under the main aquarium sharing a flow of water and used to propagate algal growth to aid the removal of waste nutrient from the aquarium water), the other has a protein skimmer running in parallel to a conventional canister filter. Water quality and algal growth has been monitored over the course of the experiment. Tim Fitter The effectiveness of Artemia Decapsulation in relation to Hatch Rates Artemia, or Brine Scrimp are used as part of a diet for larval culture of marine fish such as Bass and Atlantic Cod, as well as their extensive use as live food for Aquaria species. Stripping their cysts shells before hatching, through a Decapsulation process, may increase hatch rates and decrease levels of diseases and foreign bodies being carried. Decapsulated and untreated Artemia cysts where hatched in laboratory conditions. Three sets of data were obtained over three 96 hours periods, with counts taking place every 24 hours. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out and the results are discussed in my report.
From the results of my project it is hoped that an alternative natural antibiotic may be found that can pave the way for further research into finding a substitute that may eradicate the increasingly difficult to control pathogenic bacteria.
Joanne Hookey Feasibility of biofuel production from common UK species of macroalgae, based on lipid quantification by Nile Red stain The Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise on the mudflats of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation.
Student Research Projects
Student Research Projects Lisa Mead Hatching success of Chelonia mydas (green turtle) hatchlings at Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Sri Lanka
Jaydene Kerton Potential effects of Sea Level Rise (SLR) on the mudflats of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
SLR has been the subject of scientific studies for the last two decades, the majority of which have been on a large scale, identifying impacts on whole countries or coastlines. There have been few studies focussing on the small scale effects of SLR, specific to particular habitats or ecosystems.
My project is an investigation into the current practices at Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, an ex-situ turtle hatchery in south-west coast of Sri Lanka. Following a period of volunteering and undertaking research in the area, I have been looking at the hatching success of Chelonia mydas eggs in particular, including the possible influence of other factors such as precipitation and temperature, in order to produce a set of recommendations to improve the hatching success and potential conservation benefits of the project for the future.
My project will look into the potential effects of SLR on the mudflats of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC). These intertidal mudflats are regarded among the best in the UK (Natura 2000, 2005) and are home to a large number of listed species. The project will assess the impacts of SLR on the area according to the latest scientific predictions and use two relevant case studies to suggest mitigation strategies. Alex Mandley Investigating and comparing the seasonal distribution and impacts of the nonnative species Asparagopsis armata on Falmouth and Lundy Island beaches The non-native species Asparagopsis armata has not always been present on British shores. First discovered in Europe on Lundy Island in 1949, it has spread throughout the south western coast and is seen as a potential threat to local biodiversity. My research will give an idea of seasonal reproduction cycles, rate of spread and more importantly any negative impacts this alien species has on Britain’s shoreline wildlife.
Faith Moseley A preliminary study for placement of Lobster Cages based on Biofouling and environmental conditions Current lobster culture is limited to hatcheries such as Padstow. This is not economically viable past stage 4 hatchlings and due to land constraints, culture numbers are restrained and young lobsters are released at a vulnerable stage. This creates high mortality rates and lower recruitment to wild populations. Research into growing in-vitro wild cultures is limited and is the next stage in lobster cultivation. My project looks into sufficient areas to grow stage 4 lobster hatchlings in cages suspended in areas in the Fal. This was done by analysing water quality and settlement biofouling in several areas and relating this to the effect of water quality on the species and food requirements.
Student Research Projects Sam Torrance Ammonia produced via the ammonification process for various sources of organic nitrogen For this project I filled nine beakers with 500ml of seawater and added 1gm of three different kinds of dried fish flakes. In 12 hour increments I measured the build-up of ammonia and nitrite and added another gram of dried fish flakes.
Ema Weston A study into investigating the various behaviours displayed by Halichoerus grypus. Within the project two colonies of grey seal were observed, one being more exposed to human disturbance than the other and a behaviour catalogue created from the preliminary data collected. From this an ethogram was constructed and the method written, data collected and various statistical analysis carried out on the data received. The statistics were to determine whether or not more variety in behaviour was displayed in those seals within the Godrevy colony (open to more human disturbance).
Student Research Projects
William Whitehouse An investigation into the temporal and spatial processes of the sand dune system and beach profile at Porthtowan beach, Cornwall Porthtowan beach is under constant weathering processes. The dune system is slowly forming, causing problems to the local business establishments. The council are producing a coastal management strategy for the area and have asked me to collect some raw data so that action may be taken into managing the dunes.
Jonnie Cook An investigation into the efficacy of the Five Breath Technique in relation to anxiety and performance standards in freestyle windsurfing My project is a psychological study into how anxiety levels affect performance of freestyle windsurfers in contrasting environments. The study looks at a specific method designed to reduce anxiety and aid performance. The project investigates whether this will be applicable to a Freestyle Windsurfer.
Student Research Projects Elliot Delf Can a simple homemade sports drink be as effective as a commercially available sports drink at improving sporting performance? My project looks into whether commercially available sports drinks are worth their arguably extortionate prices. Is it possible to make a product equally as effective, with regards to aiding sporting performance, at a much more reasonable cost from household ingredients? These are the questions investigated in this study. An experiment orientated around indoor rowing machines involving participants from an amateur sports club was set up to investigate and the results presented and discussed in a lab report.
David Meacock Does the taste of sports energy drink used whilst taking part in aerobic exercise reflect on how much fluid a person might take on? Will they hydrate appropriately? My project aims to find out how important taste is when hydrating during exercise. An experiment was conducted using four athletes to gain results on this matter. The results found were not what might be expected and have generally conflicted with most of the research found.
Student Research Projects
James Ray The effects of dehydration after the intake of ethanol on athletic performance within students and how it affects their preserved rate of exertion in relation to the Borg scale.
Alcohol is a performance impairing drug with acute effects on motor skills, strength and power, and aerobic performance. It is common especially among university students who go out and drink heavy amounts of alcohol and then compete in sporting activities the following day.
Alice Rushworth-Lund An investigation to quantify variance on heart rate, core temperature and stress response to cold water immersion at 9oC This investigation aims to gather information on whether there is a variance on heart rate, core temperature and stress in response to cold water immersion when wearing a summer wetsuit or a winter wetsuit. To test this, subjects were immersed in 9oC water.
Falmouth Marine School Falmouth Marine School has an excellent international reputation for marine courses with facilities including boatbuilding and engineering workshops, a dedicated marine science lab and a well equipped watersports centre. We pride ourselves in providing the best possible environment for learning, with courses that focus on activity, providing students with essential practical experience to prepare for employment. Whether it is learning new skills, enjoying a hectic social life or walking on a beach, Falmouth Marine School offers a fantastic student experience. Our Foundation Degrees are approved by the University of Plymouth and after successful completion of the two-year course students will be given the option to carry on to an identified third year to gain an Honours Degree. Foundation Degrees at Falmouth Marine School: ❚ FdSc Boat Design & Production ❚ FdSc Marine Environmental Management ❚ FdSc Marine Leisure Management ❚ FdSc Marine Science ❚ FdSc Marine Sports Science For more information contact Falmouth Marine School: T: 01326 310310 E: falenquireies@cornwall.ac.uk W: www.falmouthmarineschool.ac.uk
For more information contact Falmouth Marine School: T: 01326 310310 E: falenquireies@cornwall.ac.uk W: www.falmouthmarineschool.ac.uk 01963LW05-10
CORNWALL COLLEGE GROUP