Author Archives: Christina Ong

Practical elements of the MSc Environmental Engineering

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Takudzwa Chipamaunga, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Environmental Engineering, writes about the laboratory sessions involved in her degree and how these practical elements link to real issues

As part of the MSc Environmental Engineering course, I have attended several laboratory sessions, the most recent one where I had the chance to test the quality of River Tyne water. The laboratory facilities in the School gives one access to research equipment that is at the forefront of technology, which includes a range of apparatus for making measurements and investigating water treatment processes. I find that conducting experiments in the laboratory sessions, with discussions before, during and after the experiments an effective and enjoyable approach of moving from passive to active learning. I feel as if the active learning has exploited my natural curiosity about environmental affairs and what I enjoy about the sessions is that it gets me to think of the questions before they are answered during the experiments.

In general, the course has so far provided me with the scientific skills and the understanding of the fundamental chemical, physical and biological processes fitting for a practising environmental engineer. I have gained experience of practical analytical methods to evaluate pollution of the natural environmental and engineered treatment systems. I have so far developed a good understanding of sciences which reinforce Environmental Engineering and sustainability of the environment. I would now be confident to go out in the field upon completion of my course having gained this experience and I believe that the laboratory studies bridge the gap between analytical models and real environmental issues.

My passion for Environmental Engineering

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Takudzwa Chipamaunga, a postgraduate student studing an MSc in Environmental Engineering, writes about her passion for the subject and what she hopes to achieve from her postgraduate degree

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After doing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, I wanted to choose a Postgraduate course that directly specialised in matters that would help to protect the environment. I want a career that would have a global impact on our future and the future of the planet by making it a mission to think and act through respecting and protecting the environment; for this reason, I thought environmental engineering would be the best route. This interest was further fuelled by a voluntary project I took part in Nepal with other volunteers as part of the Post Disaster Relief building work following the two devastating earthquakes the country experienced in 2015.

Building airbag earthquake proof homes and schools for the local people in Nepal gave me a whole new perspective on life. It felt good to contribute in activities that helped to restore hope where it was lost for the locals, and it was then when I realised that if I could make such impact on a small scale, how great would be to continuously do it but on a larger scale. As an environmental engineer, I know I will be able to overcome and help prevent the negative effects natural disasters have on society and the environment, like the situation in Nepal. Upon completion of my degree, I do hope to gain a greater understanding in ways to enhance the quality of life on the planet which will help make life better for people around the world.

Postgraduate Water Resources Engineering FAQs

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Roberto Villalobos Herrera, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Hydroinformatics, answers some frequently asked questions on postgraduate opportunities in Water Resources Engineering.

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Earlier this month Newcastle University held its Postgraduate Open Day, providing a meeting point between potential students, currents students and staff members. I supported the event as a current postgraduate student and several candidates came forward with questions regarding postgraduate opportunities offered by Newcastle University. As a current MSc student studying Hydroinformatics, here are my answers to some frequently asked questions.

  • Are students allowed to change modules of their course?

Yes, with conditions. You can change up to two of the modules in your course (representing 20 credits). This is usually done during the second semester as there are more specialty modules and not for the first semester where most modules are core to the syllabus. The conditions are that any change must be approved by the Degree Programme Director. There’s a range of modules available for you to ‘switch’ to, however scheduling limitations must be met.

  • How maths intensive is the course?

Students are expected to be competent in mathematics by the end of semester 1. There is a core module, Quantitative Methods for Engineering, which is oriented towards levelling the math skills of the class. Completing this module is simple if you have a strong background in Engineering, other technical undergraduates or A-Level Maths. If you come from a different background or haven’t used maths in a while you might need to work harder but the course is designed to give all students the mathematical tools they need to successfully complete the degree.

  • What do you mean by ‘core’ modules?

The four MSc programmes (Hydrology and Climate Change, Hydroinformatics, Flood Risk Management, and Hydrogeology and Water Management) share common core modules during semester 1. These are Quantitative Methods for Engineering, Hydrosystems Processes and Management, Hydrosystems Modelling, and Climate Change: Earth System, Future Scenarios and Threats.

  • What’s it like to live in Newcastle?

The environment here is great, the city centre is just the right size to walk anywhere in under 30 minutes, and the public transport links are top-notch. The people here are welcoming and friendly and there’s a great deal to do and see throughout the year. Nature-lovers will find the Pennines and other great places nearby, the coast is beautiful and the River Tyne majestic. Night-life in Newcastle is well famous and lives up to the hype but if you’re a bit more laid back there are great alternatives such as comedy clubs, live music bars, pubs, restaurants, theatres…

  • Is there plenty of study room in the Library?

Yes, it gets busy during exam season but there’s plenty of options for you to find a free computer or study desk, and their opening hours get extended to help cope with the extra demand. The University app is great for this because it tells you where computers are available and how busy the libraries are. CEG MSc students also have access to a resource room in Drummond building with computers and study space on top of the Isaac computer cluster in Cassie building.

My passion for Environmental Engineering

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 Alexander Alfageme Schmidt, a postgraduate student writes about his passion for the subject and what he hopes to gain from his postgraduate degree in Environmental Engineering 

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Before starting my Masters degree in Environmental Engineering I had honestly done very little that someone could say was directly linked to environmental engineering. Although my BSc was in Applied and Environmental Geology I mostly learnt a lot about rocks and minerals for 3 years. It wasn’t until my final year that I took a module on environmental geology that I realised that my interests lay in environmental issues and not solely in rocks (shocking I know). I began reading further into this and becoming more and more interested in how people were going about trying to solve environmental issues around the world, at the time acid mine drainage and land remediation strategies were of particular interest.

When I saw there was a course called environmental engineering I knew straight away what I wanted to do my masters in. In doing this course I hope to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to make a difference. By the way things seem to be going globally, working to maintain our environment is going to become an even greater challenge than it already is, and I want to be part of the solution.

Newcastle University – a diverse student experience…

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Tshepo Tshambane, a MSc in Geotechical Engineering student, writes about her experience so far as a postgraduate student and what its like living in the city of Newcastle

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From starting in a big city (Sheffield) to relocating to a small town in the corner of the country (Penryn), living in Newcastle has been the ‘pièce de résistance’ of my time in the UK; from the people I’ve met to the things I have done-and all within the few months that I’ve been here so far. I can only describe it as one of kind.

To begin with I have never been in an institution that values the input and varying opinions of its students; there are multiple student held positions across the board such as course reps who sit on Staff Student Committees as well as Board of Studies meetings which go towards influencing how the courses are run and the general betterment of the student body and go so far as having school reps sitting on Graduate School Committees-so there is never a shortage of student representation within Newcastle University.

The same sentiment is carried through to the smallest corners of the university, the cultural representation in my course cohort alone is something special. I have since met so many people who originate from all parts of the world; Spain, India, Jamaica… including those born and raised in Northumberland county. The mixture of students and the ongoing journey to get to know them all has been an experience on its own and from a fellow international student, the spirit of inclusion and comradery has never left since the first group activity we had of exploring this new city with a group of people I had never met before during our intro week. The continued effort from each postgraduate student to be helpful and approachable has been more than what I expected which lets me enjoy group activities more-yes even GROUPWORK isn’t so bad… and of course the group’s social outings aren’t so bad either as a reward to ourselves after each hard worked submission!

Who can mention Newcastle without touching on the social life of the city?? Granted, being a postgraduate has not awarded me with as much leisure time as my undergraduate years but there is still a plethora of happenings to take advantage of around any schedule. For the social night bugs, there are a string of clubs and pubs that welcome the student status with discounted entries and drinks on almost every night, great places to eat and at least four cinemas around for the movie buffs like me! Daytime activities aren’t on the shortlist either, there is plenty to do and see in Newcastle; I can proudly boast that I have walked under or across all six bridges that cross the Tyne including the famous Millennium bridge! I am yet to stand at the feet of the Angel of North but that and much more can be achieved through the university’s “Give-It-A-Go” initiative!

Ranked amongst the top 10 universities on the Time’s Higher Education Student survey, studying here at Newcastle University is building to be a bittersweet experience between wishing I could have started my educational journey here from undergraduate and being grateful that Newcastle University is where I get to complete it all! 🙂

Why I chose to study MSc Geotechnical Engineering

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Tshepo Tshambane, a postgraduate student writes about her passion for Geotechnical Engineering and what she hopes to gain from her postgraduate degree in the subject

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I was born in Botswana, a country well known for its mines and rare earth commodities. So from living an almost nomadic life between all the mining towns in the country (due to my mother’s work within the various mines) this set the course for what I thought would be my life plan. I studied Mining Engineering as an undergraduate to be a mining engineer and go work in a mine-but it was then that I was introduced to Geotechnical Engineering. I fell in love! Geotechnical Engineering was the technical side that I felt that I had been missing. Mining was more about people and resource management, more theory than a “hands on approach”. I began researching the subject as a career and every coursework I undertook, I made sure to make it geotechnically aligned. I learnt that by studying Geotechnical Engineering at a higher level it could open doors that I had never cast my mind upon due to its niche nature.

It has only been a few months in and I am still astounded by the options and directions that my career path can take. At the end of my postgraduate degree I could go immediately into consultancy-which is an umbrella word in its own right as no one company seems to do the same thing! I could go back and work in those mines I grew up around but in a more specialised capacity; mining engineers are a dime a dozen but geotechnical engineers are a worth their weight in gold! At the end of the day I have a secret hope to be a lecturer… so I’m playing around with the idea of going into a PhD after this degree. To say that studying in Newcastle has broadened my horizons would be an understatement. I have never been more surrounded by information or help and guidance to pursue any future that I prefer. I chose Newcastle University only knowing how great their module choices were but it has been more than that since being here; I see the growth of my soft skills as much as my technical skills, I have met members and employees of companies and organisations that I now aspire to be a part of… My career path was never set in stone but it is here that I believe that I began the first steps.

Why I chose to study MSc Geotechnical Engineering

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Gaby Vicarey, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, writes about her passion for the subject and what she hopes to achieve after completing her postgraduate degree

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During secondary school and sixth form I really enjoyed geography lessons, so much so I decided to pursue it at University. Although, I preferred to only continue with physical geography rather than human geography, as I enjoy the more scientific approach to the discipline. Thus, when looking for undergraduate university courses I decided to complete a joint honours BSc in Physical Geography and Geology. Until then I had never studied geology and didn’t know what to expect, at first it was tough but later in the course I started to enjoy it which made it easier to study. By the time, I came to complete the course in 2015 geology became the subject I enjoyed the most and had the best grades in.

Originally, I wanted to go straight into industry once graduating, however the companies I applied for stated that I required more experience and a master’s qualification. As a result through recommendations from a friend, I decided to attend an open day at Newcastle University.

Whilst at the open day I found out that the university was ranked within the top 1% of global institutions, 16th in the world for global research power and 80% of students went into work 6 months after graduating.

In addition, whilst there I spoke with staff about the MSc in Engineering Geology degree programme, which my friend from my undergraduate degree spoke highly of. They stated how this programme would be able to provide me with the specialist technical skills and industrial knowledge which are paramount to having a career in engineering geology. Furthermore, throughout the course several professionals from the industry give guest lectures on techniques and industrial codes of practice, these are sessions designed to benefit not only our education but it also allows us to ask questions about companies, specific jobs and how you would apply for them.

The combination of the university’s reputation, the course specification and guest lectures, prompted my decision to apply for the programme starting September 2016.

Whilst here I have been able to consider a variety of options for my future career, often fluctuating between working within the industry and going into academia. I have been able to discuss with staff about these options and decide what my next steps will be. Resulting in me deciding to become a teacher, as I would like to stimulate and encourage young people into considering an enjoyable and educational geological career.

Being at Newcastle has helped me realise my potential, as I have been able to work alongside students and lecturers to develop my communication, leading and organisational skills to run group sessions and be a valuable member of the student-staff committee.

My experience so far…

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Gaby Vicarey, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, writes about her experience so far as a postgraduate student at Newcastle University

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I believe that Newcastle itself is a very welcoming city, there are a lot of cultures here and recreational areas where people can get together and have a good time. The University is in the town centre making it very easy to just walk into town and do something, like going to the cinema or watching the football. This nice relaxed attitude spreads throughout the university as well. There are plenty of opportunities across the campus to spend time with people on your course or just any one in general. It is very easy to meet other students on your course as during induction week there is an ice breaker party and an orienteering session where students from all courses are mixed to complete several tasks as a team.

Personally, I have really enjoyed my time here as everyone on my course and related courses are all really pleasant and friendly. Although a large percentage of our time together is spent in the research room, we all still talk to each other and help if needed. When we finish coursework or an exam we meet up in town and have a few drinks to relax and get to know each other a bit better. It is nice to mingle every now and again outside of university.

It is a bit easier for people who live in student accommodation to mix together as they are closer, a lot of people on my course live in the same block. Whereas, myself and a few other students live in separate housing in other parts of Newcastle such as Chillingham Road, Heaton which is a popular student area as the rent prices are fair and there are a lot of shops and restaurants. Nevertheless, there isn’t much of a difference as it is easy to use the metro service which is cheap and well connected throughout the whole of Newcastle. For example from Chillingham road to the university on foot is approximately 30 minutes whereas getting the metro will only take 10 minutes tops. Getting a metro day saver only costs £2.80 and you can visit other areas in a certain zone for the day.

Combining all this together, it has been very easy moving from home to Newcastle. If I ever need any help or someone to talk to about university work or personal matters there is always a friend on my course or an adviser from the university to help me.

Why I chose Newcastle University

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Valini Samaroo, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Transport Planning and Intelligent Transport Systems, writes about the decision making process of choosing a university, how she reviewed similar programmes and what attracted her to finally choose to study at Newcastle University.

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Before discovering Newcastle University, my road to choosing a postgraduate programme of study was quite challenging. I’d already been working for seven years within the field of Transportation Engineering; I loved it so much, and decided that this was the career path to continue along.

I sought an MSc program that would challenge me academically, have a good mix of theory and its practical applications, cover a range of topics and offer the opportunity for innovative and exciting research. I was expecting a lot, to say the least.

My months of searching narrowed me down to three Universities in the UK: Newcastle University (Newcastle), Imperial College (London) and the University of Southampton (Southampton). Each of these Universities offered postgraduate programs in Transport Planning/Engineering, with subtle differences among them, but there was one that stood out to me: Newcastle University.

The program content of the Newcastle University MSc, in my opinion, is a lot more balanced. The ‘Road Safety’ and ‘Intelligent Transport Systems’ modules are most interesting, as these are two areas I am very keen on. The program offers a great mix of theory and real-life applications, supplemented by weekly seminars from industry leaders and even a trip to Germany!

The Transport Operations Research Group (TORG), based at the University and encompassing staff involved in the Transport Planning course, is at the forefront of transport research with many industry-leading projects. It offers great connections between the University and industry, which is useful for job-seekers later on.

A quick search online returned one common result: Newcastle is THE city for students. Information on the University’s website and student forums such as ‘thestudentroom.com’ speak of the city’s charm, friendliness and most of all, affordability.

I am glad that I chose Newcastle University to pursue my postgraduate studies, as it has surpassed all of my expectations. The support from staff within my programme and across the campus is phenomenal. It is so easy to get almost anything done, with assistance available at every point. The campus itself is beautiful with its historical buildings and effortless grace.

The friendliness of the City is not a myth and Newcastle offers something for everyone: from a quiet bookshop to have ‘cuppa’ to a booming club to dance the night away. I’ve seen many more blue skies since I’ve been here than bad weather, and the view at Whitley Bay early on a Saturday morning, just brings it all together!

Engaging with Industry – Environmental Consultancy MSc

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Sophie Metcalf, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Environmental Consultancy, writes about her experiences so far with industry and what she has gained from guest lectures and site visits offered by Newcastle University.

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Experience and knowledge of industry is important when studying Geoscience. For many of us, the end goal is to get a job. Therefore, it is important to hear from the horse’s mouth about what techniques are currently being used, how academic research is being applied to those techniques and what the geosciences job sector is currently looking like. What better way to hear this and apply it to our studies than guest lectures and site visits?

Not only is it important to get an insight into industry, guest lectures and site visits also enrich the learning experience and mean that as MSc students, we get a perspective different to the usual academic one. Here at Newcastle University we have excellent industry links and balance the content of the courses between academia and industry well.

Guest Lectures:

During my first semester here, I have sat through many guest lectures from industry experts. These have given our classes an alternative view to some of the theories and content we have covered in class. For example, as part of the Solid Waste Management module Forbes McDougall (Head of Circular Economy at Veolia UK) lectured on the Circular Economy and his experiences in the Solid Waste Management sector. This provided valuable insight that you couldn’t get from standard lectures alone.

Site Visits:

So far during my first semester here, I have had the opportunity to participate in quite a few site visits/field trips. From identifying geological features along the Northumberland coastline, visiting geotechnical soil testing labs and to sampling waters at acid mine water remediation sites. These have been opportunities to apply knowledge and concepts covered in lectures to industry and real world examples. In particular, the visit to Acomb mine water remediation site, not only gave the class the opportunity to sample and analyse treated waters. The trip was also an opportunity to see the application of leading research undertaken within the department.

 

Societies at Newcastle University

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Valini Samaroo, an MSc Transport Planning and ITS student, writes about the societies she’s been involved in at Newcastle University and how societies can help when relocating to another country.

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Making the decision to pack your things and move to a new country, by yourself, for a whole year, is a nerve-wracking experience. So many things go through your mind: Will I fit in? Will I enjoy it? How will I cope with the weather? Suppose I miss home too much? What will I eat?

Before I arrived in September, I decided to do some research into the societies at Newcastle University via the Newcastle University Students’ Union webpage. What better way to settle into a new place and make some friends than joining a group of like-minded people? To my amazement, the Students’ Union offered over 160 societies from which to choose! I decided to join the Dance and Civil Engineering Societies, as well as keep a keen eye on ‘Give it a Go’ which offers opportunities to participate in completely new things like paintball and ice skating at ridiculously low prices.

Being a part of these societies has helped me settle in immensely. I was even encouraged to join societies by my Personal Tutor within my degree programme! It has helped me appreciate Newcastle University even more, as emphasis is placed on both work and play, and one needs only to find a way!

I have always been passionate about dance and the dance society’s classes are my way of connecting with both myself and other dancers from all around the Uni. The classes, taught by other students, have offered me a sisterhood that I know I can escape to after eight plus hours of lectures, to simply relax and have fun.

I attended the Civil Engineering Society’s Christmas Ball, which gave me the opportunity to interact with my colleagues and classmates in an informal setting, where we could truly relax and have a fun night out. This event and others allowed us to connect beyond the classroom and develop a kinship that truly helps when home-sickness sets in. You always have a group of people that you can look forward to spending time with.

Joining a society offers you a home away from home, and I would recommend it for any student coming to Uni, international or not. You get a chance to connect with people through a medium that transcends language and cultural barriers. The best part: you get to have fun!

 

Celebrating International Women’s Day – Women in Engineering

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Takudzwa Chipamaunga, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Environmental Engineering, writes about what its like being a woman in a male-dominated sector and how having a female mentor encouraged her to further her studies in the field.

After doing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, I wanted to choose a postgraduate course that directly specialised in matters that help to protect the environment. I want a career that would have a global impact on our future and the future of the planet by making it a mission to think and act through respecting and protecting the environment; for this reason, I thought environmental engineering would be the best route.

During my second year at my previous university, I did an internship with a Waste and Environmental Services consultancy firm in the UAE where the Technical Director of the organisation was a woman and had a similar background in academics as mine; she started off as a civil engineer, progressed into the Environmental and Sustainability field and worked her way to the top. During the internship, she gave me the opportunity to carry out my final year dissertation topic on a project the organisation was working on, where she became my mentor and supervisor. The project we tackled was implementation of healthcare waste management approach in the UK to the UAE. The team I was in was able to launch legislation and policies directed to waste management in three different emirates and we were able to drive down waste management problems.

What made it cool? A diverse pipeline of female talent via leadership teams and employees worked together to make a difference in the pursuit to achieve a safe and sustainable initiative.  Working alongside the team and receiving guidance from the technical director further encouraged me to pursue a career in the field as I learnt a lot and had grown a greater interest in the subject along the way.

Today I enjoy seeing females choosing STEM-based programmes to pursue paths as engineers and consultants in various industries. I believed that this has really driven closure of the gender gap in many male-dominated sectors, and definitely helps in giving young girls hope for the future!

Volunteering with the Disaster Relief Building project in Nepal

Volunteering with the Disaster Relief Building Project in Nepal

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2017

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Tshepo Tshambane, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, writes about what its like being a female engineer in a male dominated field and gives advice to young women interested in pursuing a career in STEM.

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I think as a female engineer in a male dominated field I have always felt or anticipated that I would feel intimidated at times but I have never let that stop me from studying/working in a field that I have grown to love. With women like Bridgette Radebe – the first black South African deep level, hard rock mining entrepreneur, Claire Carr and Kate Hall who are listed under ’35 under 35’ both from the civil engineering sector or Dervilla Mitchell who lead one of the largest construction projects in Europe once upon a time, Heathrow’s Terminal 5- women who are achieving what was once considered unimaginable there truly is never a shortage of female inspiration and definitely plenty of room for more in engineering and its related fields.

Having studied Mining Engineering at undergraduate level and now Geotechnical Engineering at Master’s level I can say that there has been a positive change to the ratio of female students to our male counterparts in the lecture room; 1 in 10 and 1 to 5 respectively-not by a skyrocketing change but a change nonetheless. A study in the US once indicated that there was approximately only 11% of women studying geotechnical engineering compared to 15-17% in structural engineering for example. I would like to say that I am not disheartened by these statistics, to me they say “Hey, at least WE ARE THERE!”. Of course more can be done to increase these figures, not only by us women but by men too! We can encourage young girls to think bigger and not be afraid of what they can accomplish, especially in areas that have never been touched by a female hand.

During my time I have come across numerous organisations that encourage women to be a part of the science and engineering world. Through Newcastle University I was able to become a member of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE). WISE does what is says on the tin; it is a “campaign that promotes women in science, technology and engineering” through the sharing of events, training courses and advertising of STEM roles … a true platform that boosts women interaction and inspiration in the world of engineering. Newcastle University has and continues to receive prestigious Athena SWAN awards. The University’s School of Civil Engineering (CEG) received a Bronze Award status for their efforts in creating one of the largest diverse academic units in the United Kingdom. Studying under such a dedicated body has inspired me to not be discouraged at being one of two or three female classmates but to fortify my own efforts to be successful and inspire others.