Alumni Q & A- Brogan Pett

Brogan Pett studied both the FdSc Zoological Conservation and BSc Applied Zoology at Cornwall College Newquay before completing his MSc in Wildlife Biology in Edinburgh.

Since then, Brogan has used the knowledge he gained studying to travel the globe pursuing his passion for wildlife and conservation. 


He is now working in Paraguay as an Entomology researcher and museum curator with the organisation Fundacion Para La Tierra.  

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We sat down with Brogan to find out more:

• Tell us about your time at Cornwall College?

Brogan: I chose the course because, based on the modules, it gave the most comprehensive array of topics in the zoology/ conservation sector of any other universities subject guides I had read. In general, conservation of the natural world had been the panacea of my ethos since I was about five, so it was the right choice for me. 

The location of the campus is absolutely beautiful, the small size of campus and classes meant I had very good relationships with my lecturers and tutor, being able to have a personable chat with lecturers makes a great deal for creative discussion and enables students to maximise what they gain from classes.

I learnt an awful lot reflecting on the wide range of modules that we studied, (truly, many many modules), which gave me a great feel for where I wanted to go in regards to specialisms etc. 

• What have you been up to since finishing your course?                               

Immediately after finishing my course in Cornwall, I worked in a small village in southern Tanzania for four months on an amphibian monitoring project, followed by a short trip to the Zambezi to jump off the Victoria falls bridge (Terrifying). The following summer (2017) and this summer (2018) I did work as an entomologist for Operation Wallacea in Madagascar. 

This past summer I have been awarded grants from both the Linnean Society and Mohamed Zayed species conservation fund, to conduct an independent research project after the Opwall season with BSc students from Mahajanga University on a recently discovered and highly endangered species of Lycosidae (wolf spider) found in the region.

We will be used mixed modelling approaches to try and estimate population sizes and range estimates and see if we can get this pretty spider some international exposure to aid its conservation. 

• What tips would you give future students that you have found useful?

Be better than yourself last week, that’s all, in whatever small ways you can push those boundaries, if you do that from the day you start a three year course, you’d have 156 weeks of growth which means you’d essentially be a human sunflower.

 

• How did your course help you with your career?

The wide variety of modules and assignments really helped spur me on as a scientist in a range of different disciplines. You may wonder why you have many assignments but you’ll be thankful for them in a few years! Challenging yourself is absolutely key to development and any future success you want to have and  Cornwall College was challenging and interesting, I really cant stress enough how much having those personable relationships at the College was to my development.

• What is the best thing about a career in conservation?

Aside from the actual job, I’d just like to say that conservation as a career path is absolutely a world opener. i.e. there is no destination you can’t go and work, truly. If you like exploring, doing something positive, and science, or even if you don’t particularly like science. Stick with conservation and the worlds your oyster! 

My actual current role as an entomologist is my dream job. Studying tropical insects / spiders etc. is just mind- blowing. The sheer diversity and range of species, colours and forms is almost too difficult to put across. But it’s something that fills you with wonder everyday.

For more information on the range of Zoology and Conservation courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330123 2523. 

Something to crow about: There’s life in the churchyard!

Written by Kayleigh Hunt 

Kayleigh is a student at Cornwall College Newquay, currently studying a BSc in Applied Zoology.      
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As our world becomes more urbanised it is often the countryside which suffers, it is therefore so important that our pockets of green space are preserved. Churchyards can often be the only remaining green area within fragmented landscapes and have an important role in conserving natural habitats. Preserving churchyards may not only benefit the fauna and flora, but the public too, with it being widely accepted that nature can have positive effects on human well-being.

I have loved birds ever since I can remember, when I was little, walking round my Grandad's aviaries was time well spent! Birds are excellent environmental indicators and the range of bird species within a churchyard not only reveals information about the avian community but other communities as well. For example, where there’s insectivores, it’s likely the invertebrate community is thriving! Therefore, as part of my BSc Applied Zoology degree I decided to research how the habitat composition of churchyards in North Cornwall is affecting bird communities and what management implications this may have.

My data collection involved two visits a day for two days to each of the ten chosen churchyards. One visit at 5am (thanks to the Spring/Summer weather of 2018, the spectacular sunrises were worth the early starts!) and one at 7pm. Six points were established throughout each churchyard and the maximum number of individuals of each bird species seen at any one time was recorded. As well as this, various habitat variables were recorded, including tree cover and grassland structure.

Results revealed that the most influential habitat variable on bird diversity is grassland structure. The management of grassland varied greatly between the ten churchyards and management level could be divided into three categories. Overly managed (mown), well managed (overgrown and mown areas) and unmanaged (overgrown). The three ‘well managed’ churchyards had the highest levels of bird diversity. At one site, between two visits, the overgrown grass was decimated. Wildflowers destroyed. Any invertebrate life inhabiting the area lost. Very tellingly, just 15 bird species were observed following the cut, compared to 26 and 23 before.

During this project I met with Robert Moor – coordinator of The Cornwall Living Churchyards Project. One of the projects main objectives is to diversify the grassland structure of churchyards to increase the range of wildflowers and invertebrates. Upon this discovery, I realised how important the findings from my project could be, that the science behind it could support the efforts of Robert Moor and local groups trying to help the fauna and flora in their churchyard.

My passion for the subject has led to a group in North Cornwall – The South Petherwin Cake and Raker’s - approaching me to join their committee to transform their churchyard into a ‘Living Churchyard’. This opportunity enables me, along with other members of a small community to take a proactive approach, which along with my research, I hope can make a real difference in the future.

For more information on the range of Zoology and Conservation courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330123 2523. 

Life as a Ranger

Written by Phil Maund

Phil is a former student of Cornwall College Newquay, studying an FdSc in Applied Ecology in 2012. Last Winter he started a new job role on the Isles of Scilly, with the Wildlife Trust, working as a Ranger.    
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Amidst breath-taking views of rugged Atlantic coast, the cool sea air easing in from the West, we clamber over granite boulders and endless hummocks of pastel-pink thrift flowers. Despite the awesome backdrop, our gaze is firmly on the ground before us lest we trip, or worse step on one of hundreds of carefully prepared seabird nests cradling eggs or fluffy chirping chicks. It’s summer and the land around us is strewn with nests, guano and feathers; we have intruded on an avian world, the likes of which is rare in modern times. We don’t intend on staying long, not merely due to the threat of painful dive-bombing skirmishes from above, but we have a couple of days to count the nests and chicks before leaving these majestic animals in peace.

We are on Annet, in the Isles of Scilly, some 30 miles southwest off the coast of Cornwall. Annet is a small island that is a protected site for seabird breeding colonies, including Great Black-backed Gulls, Shags, Oystercatchers and others. Many of these species are not often seen breeding successfully on mainland Britain, in part due to predation by land predators (such as rats) and disturbance from humans. Fortunately, a highly successful eradication and monitoring project has removed rats from both Annet and neighbouring St. Agnes & Gugh, which has seen a marked recovery of breeding success for seabirds on these islands. Furthermore, humans are prohibited from landing on Annet year-round, to prevent harmful disturbance. We are a small number of lucky individuals with the opportunity to enter their amazing world for a very brief period, in order to survey for the health of the seabird colonies, which will inform nationwide efforts to protect these species.

I work as a Ranger for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, a small charity based on St. Mary’s, responsible for managing 64% of the land across the islands. The charity have a lease agreement with the Duchy of Cornwall to manage the full range of marine and land habitats, including working to promote and protect the amazing species that reside here. We also carry out a wide range of public activities such as guided walks and beach cleans, removing a whopping 3.5 tonnes of debris from the coastline in 2018 alone.

 My role is to work with the other rangers in managing the habitats, surveying populations of our target wildlife communities, organising our friendly herd of cattle and keeping 30 miles of footpaths open and accessible year-round. My work is incredibly varied, from surveying seabird nests to coppicing wetland trees, setting up fencing for our grazing and clearing ancient archaeological burial sites. We experience the beauty of the Isles throughout the seasons and enjoy spectacular panoramic views on nearly every day of work. 

In the summer, we see the Isles in all their glory and our work helps others to enjoy them, with tourism being central to the local economy. In the winter, conditions can certainly be testing as we are often battered by raging winds and squalls of rain but this is all part of the job for a ranger. We take the highs with the lows in the hope of helping our precious wildlife through our work. 

Having made a drastic career change from trying to become a professional musician, I began studying with Cornwall College in Newquay on an FdSc in Applied Ecology back in 2012. I graduated three years later with a full Honours degree and this enabled me to begin my career in conservation. The skills and knowledge I developed throughout my course are frequently called upon in my current job, including the surveying techniques for a full range of wildlife.

Back on Annet, we finish our seabird nest counts as quickly as we can, to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the devoted parents circling overhead and their offspring. Our work isn’t quite finished, though, as we then survey for the vocal calls of two fascinating species, the Manx Shearwater and the Storm Petrel, both of which nest in cavities under rocks and in burrows under the ground, much like their well-beloved Puffin neighbours.

All of the data we collect informs our grasp of the national and local trends of these seabird populations and there are certainly winners and losers. Worryingly, modern times are seeing an increasingly frequent abundance of losers in the fight for species survival. As we leave the islands, watching our feet as we go, every other step is punctuated by a distinct hollow crunching sound which betrays a disturbing truth. Beneath these granite boulders and endless hummocks of pastel-pink thrift flowers are strewn countless objects of various shapes and sizes, dumped by the surrounding sea and winds, nearly all formed of plastic. This truth beneath the surface of an otherwise incredible and majestic wild world underlines the importance of nature conservation in our times and for the future, making the work of Rangers vital.

For more information on the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, visit ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk or find us on social media.

The road to Zero Waste

Since studying a degree in Applied Marine Zoology at Cornwall College Newquay, Adele Morgan has been striving to live a zero waste lifestyle. Adele decided to make changes in her own life after realising that, like the vast majority of people, she was contributing to an ongoing problem.

Adele Morgan 

Adele now takes every opportunity to make a considered choice when it comes to her own consumption and the things she purchases and uses. Adele shares her zero waste experiences on a blog called Minimal Impact Kernow, which is well worth a visit for details on how you can make small changes that collectively can have a large-scale positive impact on the environment.  

Adele is also the newest member of the Your Shore Beach Rangers team, a collaborative project between Cornwall College Newquay and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, which allows young people to learn key work and life skills, meet like-minded people, get active and make a positive impact on the marine environment.

We caught up with Adele to gain an understanding of her motivations and insights relating to a zero waste lifestyle:

Why Zero Waste?

Adele collects her monthly waste that cannot be recycled in a single jar

Adele: Zero waste is a movement and a goal to reduce the amount of trash you create. Living in Cornwall, I have witnessed first-hand how anthropogenic waste has impacted our environment. I have recorded marine life entangled in plastic and observed coastal locations covered in litter. 

Before I went zero waste I bought and chucked out so much trash and didn't even think about it. But that being said, I grew up around single use plastics and other disposables, not actually taking into account where all of our trash goes because it was the normal thing to do. I was highly addicted to buying 'stuff' just because I wanted it and most of the time, it got used for very short periods of time before breaking and ending up in landfill. 

I have always been a massive nature lover and studied a bachelors in Applied Marine Zoology so I knew all about the plastics in our oceans and how they were harming our marine and terrestrial life.  

By taking little steps in our own lives to reduce our impact we can make a massive difference. By making a change, we are creating awareness for our environment and awareness as to how much trash we create on a daily basis. 

So what's wrong with plastic?

Adele: Plastic is a synthetic material that is made to be durable, cheap and easy to produce. Because of this, plastic will never breakdown in our environment and will last hundreds and thousands of years. That means that every single item of plastic we use will remain on the Earth forever.

Instead of breaking down naturally like food waste and natural materials, plastic will simple break into smaller and smaller pieces. Plastic in our oceans is a very concerning topic. Micro plastics, identified as pieces less than 5mm are floating on the ocean surface and are ingested by smaller marine species such as plankton and fish.

Plastic is coated and made from chemicals and toxins which are hydrophobic (doesn't like water) and therefore will sit on the surface of the item and therefore also become ingested it. In addition to being hydrophobic, these chemicals are also lipophilic, so will store themselves in muscle and fat affecting the anatomy and physiology of animals such as their hormones, endocrine systems and reproduction organs. Larger mariner life such as baleen whales that eat these plankton will then accumulate these toxins and store them in their bodies. As mammals they unfortunately also gain these toxins and as a result pass these onto their young, also known as the toxic dump.

What will people get out of reading your blog? 

Adele: I use the blog to share information and shed light on the common problems we face today regarding waste and plastic pollution. I share my top tips as well as my own journey on how I'm producing less waste in my life. ​I hope people enjoy reading the blog and I hope it inspires them to reduce the amount of waste they create and possibly join the zero waste movement. 

What can people do to start their journey towards a zero waste lifestyle?

Adele: Firstly, it’s important to know that becoming zero waste doesn't happen overnight. It is impossible to be completely waste free and it may take many years for you to transition fully by slowly replacing items over time. A good place to start is my blog post offering my own beginners guide to get you started! (HERE) There are a number of easy swaps that you can make that will a big difference.   

Here is something simple to remember- In order to achieve an efficient zero waste life style, I live by the 5 R's:

Reduce - The amount of disposable products you use

Refuse - What you don't need

Reuse - What you already have

Recycle - Items you cannot reuse

Rot - Compost food scraps and natural materials

Overall, a zero waste lifestyle is a journey where you will have successes but also fails and you will learn from your mistakes every day. Despite this, the journey is self-rewarding and every change has the potential of great impact on the environment.

-You can read Adele’s blog Minimal Impact Kernow HERE

-For more information on Your Shore Beach Rangers visit HERE

-For more information on the range of Zoology, Surf and Marine courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330 123 2523.

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Field Trip: Kruger National Park, South Africa

A group of degree students from Cornwall College Newquay have joined the fight against wildlife poaching as part of a conservation experience in South Africa.  

The students have just spent a week in Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa, to learn about what is being done to counter a huge increase in wildlife poaching over the last decade.

Elephant poaching in South Africa has skyrocketed in recent years, with an increase in the number of illegal killings year-on-year since 2015. Kruger National Park is the largest target in southern Africa with 67 elephants poached throughout 2017.

Under the guidance of Eco Training, a wildlife education company offering gap year opportunities, safari experiences and inspirational wildlife courses, the students were immersed in the heart of wilderness areas of the Maluleke Concession in the northern section of the national park. This area offers varied vegetation, folklore of the early explorers and great wildlife viewing including leopard, buffalo, lions, elephants and a huge variety of birds and insects.


We caught up with three students: Corey Hawkins (FdSc Animal Husbandry & Welfare), Elle Adams (FdSc Conservation & Ecology) and Helen Williams (FdSc Animal Behaviour & Psychology) to find out some of their most memorable moments from the field trip:

How was the field trip?

Helen: This was the most amazing trip of my life. I got to see and learn so much, as well as making lots of new friends. Everywhere we stayed was fantastic, the food was amazing and all the people were so friendly and welcoming.

Corey: It was an incredible experience. From the minute we landed in South Africa to taking off again at the end was just amazing! It is strange getting into the South African routine but once we’d done it a few days, it felt like I’d been doing it all my life. Early mornings and bushwalks in the National Parks made the day pass so quickly it felt like half the day had gone, yet it was only 11am!

Elle: The conservation experience was a once in a life time opportunity that will stay with me, and many of the others, forever. 

Students and staff at the Hoedspruit End
angered Species Centre 

What was your motivation to go on the trip?

Helen: I have always wanted to go to South Africa. I knew that there was no way I could do this trip with all it offers for the same money ever again so it was a bit of a no brainer for me to be honest. Plus all the great connections you get to make are well worth it for the future. 

Corey: For my future career once finishing my degree, I’m looking into working as a Zookeeper. My previous experience of working with the animals at Newquay Zoo gave me more of an insight into the types of animals I wish to work with one day. I wanted to go to Kruger because I wanted to go and see these species in the wild and bring back the knowledge I gained from wild behaviour, feeding, etc to use for animals in a captive setting.

What have you taken away from the trip personally? 

Helen: I learned so much on this trip about birds in the area we were in as well as all the differences/similarities in the land conservation between there and the U.K.

I have taken so much from this trip but if I had to choose my top three they would be: holding the elephants trunk while it was being collared. Visiting the community centre and meeting the ladies and children there. And the friends I made at the Eco-Training camp.

Visiting the Maluleke community 

Corey: I now have an even greater respect for the people that work in conservation and how they manage and protect their wildlife from poaching and trade. Being an Animal Husbandry student, I have broadened the range of animals I have worked with, including big cats, Elephants, and Antelope. This would look good on my CV for looking at Zookeeping jobs. 

Elle: I am extremely glad that I got to share this experience with a group of amazing people. Kruger is a place that is full of beauty in more ways than one. Not only is there amazing and interesting wildlife there, the people are so caring and dedicated. I know that this isn’t going to be the last time I go to Africa and I am sure it won’t be that last time for many of the others either. If anyone is wondering whether to go on the trip, I would definitely recommend it.

 This trip has opened my eyes a little cause I realised that there aren’t many places in the world that are truly wild. There were fences for miles and I know its to protect the animals and prevent people from getting in and poaching these incredible creatures. But I can’t help but think we as a human race need to change and stop pinning the blame for everything that is wrong in the world on other people.

Darting and collaring a bull elephant 

Can you tell me a story that was particularly memorable? 

Helen: The most memorable story from the trip has to be going out on that first morning to collar a bull elephant. We went to the airfield meet the team, which included the helicopter pilot, the vet and the anti-poaching team. Then it was just like on T.V. the chopper went up to find the elephants we tracked the chopper in trucks then once they had successfully found and darted the elephant we were looking for we moved in to assist with getting the collar on and caring for the elephant while it was down under sedation. I got to hold the end of the trunk to keep it open while the guys fitted the collar, some others in our group were pouring water over the elephant to keep him cool. It was just an amazing experience that I feel so privileged to be apart of. Once the collar was fitted the vet gave the reversal and we all retreated to the trucks to watch him wake up. This was all before breakfast on out first day there. Just blew my mind in the best way.

Helen Williams holding the sedated elephant's trunk

Corey:  One night when we were in Makuleke, we had a sleep out. We packed our stuff from camp and walked 2 hours through the national park until we got to the site we were going to be sleeping at that night. Everything was running smoothly so far, we’d set up camp and got settled, enjoyed a nice dinner, sat around by the fire, and sorted out who was going to be taking each shift for lookout through the night. We went to sleep after looking at the stunning array of stars, as all was well... until the heaven’s broke. Whoever said that it doesn’t rain in Africa lied. The heavens burst, and we had to pack up camp whilst the guides tried to radio camp to come and collect us. It was fair to say the radio wasn’t working and we got incredibly wet. We eventually got back to camp soaking wet. It didn’t seem very funny at the time but looking bad it was a hilarious situation to be in, really good fun.

Students settling in for their camp out 

Elle: I think the most memorable event that happened for me was on one of the bush walks, we were walking along and came across an Elephant. One turned into two then another came along then before we knew it we were walking parallel with a small herd of four wild African Elephants. 

Elephants being my favourite animal I thought it couldn’t get any better. However, we continued the walk and about 5 minutes later we cam across another Elephant. This was a lone young adult male that was following the other Elephants. He was not as happy with our presence and mock charged at us, but the guiding leader told us to stand still and not run and warned him by banging his stick on his riffle and the Elephant then walked round us a little bit then stopped as if he was going to charge again. After this I could not stop smiling because it was so overwhelming coming face to face with a creature with such beauty showing natural behaviour. Even when I think about it now it makes me smile it is definitely one of my most memorable moments. 

For more information on the range of international field trips available to students at Cornwall College Newquay, please visit HERE 

College experience for young scientists

Degree students from Cornwall College Newquay have been providing an insight into the exciting world of science for local primary school children. 

Around 140 Year 6 pupils from Newquay Junior Academy attended the ‘Cornwall Science Fair’ event at the College campus as part of British Science Week.

The wide range of interactive science-based activities on offer were all organised and delivered by first-year Foundation Degree students from Cornwall College as part of their Personal and Employability Skills Development (PESD) module.

“Our original inspiration came from the British Science Week theme of discovery. We wanted our watchers to come on the journey with us following a well-known story that maybe people didn't know as well as they thought they did” said student Abigail Farrant, one of the foundation degree students in Wildlife Education & Media who took part in the day’s events.

She continued:  “We hope that everyone who saw our play, adults and the children, get a taste for how education can be so much more than just a day in the class and can take away how there are so many exciting opportunities for learning everywhere you look!”

The ‘Cornwall Science Fair’ ties into a wider initiative of raising aspirations in relation to studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects that Cornwall College currently leads.

Throughout the day, the school children took part in a series of short sessions, designed to educate them on a number of different subjects and show them that a white coated scientist working in a lab is just one of many vastly different professions that can result from studying science.

The activities included making a necklace of their own DNA, completing a freshwater invertebrate’s survey from the onsite pond, shaping a surfboard, taking part in a recycling challenge, learning about the marine environment using the college’s virtual reality headsets and experiencing a play put on by the degree students about the lives of celebrated naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

The day culminated in an explosive finale of different outdoor, large-scale science experiments to all of the school children as a group. The series of experiments looked at how to get the most bang for your buck - speeding up the rate of chemical reactions used in rocket propulsion. These included the effect of particle size, state of matter and availability of oxygen on combustion reactions, including demonstration reactions of powder flames, whoosh bottles, coke fountains and elephant’s toothpaste.

For more information on the range of Zoology, Surf and Marine courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330 123 2523.

Smiles and serious messages combine at Spring Fair

It was a weekend of exciting family activities and science-related fun at Cornwall College Newquay’s Spring Charity Fair. 

The College’s annual community event saw hundreds of people flocking to the campus behind Newquay Zoo, for a wide range of fun activities aimed at the whole family. Throughout the day, visitors got up close to animals, had a go on an indo board, had their faces painted, took part in raffles and bought lots of cakes, all in aid of a range of different environmental and conservation charities. 

Programme Manager at Cornwall College Newquay, Brender Willmott, said the students “never cease to amaze me with their creativity and the amount of effort they invest in the awareness raising event that they organise for their chosen charities”. 

“This event offers them a fantastic opportunity to engage with potential future employers and also to bring to the forefront of people’s minds some of the extremely important and difficult issues facing us in terms of conservation, safety, ethical trading and the environment,” she continued.

“I feel really proud to be part of a team of such a caring group of people.”

The event was organised and delivered by higher education students from Cornwall College Newquay as part of their Personal and Employability Skills Development (PESD) module and was designed to either raise funds for, or awareness of a chosen charity.

The students raised just over £1,019 for a range of animal, environmental and zoological conservation causes including Surfers Against Sewage, The Wave Project, Prickles and Paws, Newquay Marine Group, The Shark Trust, Plastic Free Newquay, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, One Wave, St Francis Home for Animals and others. 

In addition to fundraising, the aim of the day was to get the students working together as teams and to put on an event that would make a real difference to the charities they were supporting. As well as event management skills, the students also learnt more about leadership, organisation, marketing and general business.

Student Abigail Farrant, who is studying a foundation degree in Wildlife Education & Media, was one of a group of students performing an educational play during the event, about the lives of celebrated naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

Abigail said: “We all felt the day went really well as we put so much love and time into it. It became our baby and it was amazing to see it come together. We really hope that those who came along left impacted after a day that was fun and full of energy and maybe even learnt a few cool new bits of information that could change the way they think!”

For more information on the range of Zoology, Surf and Marine courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330 123 2523.

Educational Inspiration as a new wave of attention hits Cornwall

by Jason Birt, Programme Manager – FdSc Wildlife Education and Media

Waves are present throughout our natural world and the same can be said for media attention. Just in the way we visually perceive the world via the electromagnetic spectrum through light waves and hear the world around us through sound waves, we are currently experiencing a wave of media interest in our marine environment.

The sheer magnificence of its scale and the species contained within were the focus of the latest series of Blue Planet II, with clear messaging about the human influence on this environment, particularly the scourge of plastic pollution.

As an educator, it was positive to see the impact this series has had on people.The government has been prompted into action and recently issued its 25 year environmental plan where plastics feature prominently. But how does this relate to Cornwall and what can we do with this new wave of peaked interest in our waters?

With such diverse habitats on offer, Cornwall has numerous operators in ecotourism and establishments offering environmental education and entertainment.There are boat operators offering the chance to get closer to charismatic marine creatures; there are facilities that care for injured marine animals; there are those that offer walking tours of the coasts and moors; there are companies springing up that educate about foraging and even survival training.

Add those that combine our environment with hobbies such as photography, painting and film-making, and you have an amazing playground for self-improvement.

Then you have the Cornwall Wildlife Trust offering days on the rocky shore, amongst many other activities, where you can learn about the many species nestling in the crooks and crannies of the shore. Or Sunday lunchtime guided observations of the sea, looking out for whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and sunfish.

With these many opportunities for engagement with marine life comes a need for those who can educate. It requires individuals who can take often complicated scientific concepts and relate them in a way that everyone can understand, without patronising them.

It’s not only imparting knowledge, but inspiring a desire to learn more.

We can even aim to bring about behaviour change, getting everyone to look at their own lifestyles and alter them so that they are more sustainable.

The course I teach at Cornwall College Newquay produces graduates that have these skills and if you have received environmental education in Cornwall you may have already been taught by an alumnus.

Our educators are the guardians of our area of natural beauty and I hope this current wave of environmental interest produces a wealth of new students who want to continue this legacy – the future of our coastal waters depends on it.

For more information on the range of Zoology, Surf and Marine courses available at Cornwall College Newquay visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/newquay or call 0330 123 2523.

Alumni Q & A- Tyler Worth

An enterprising former surf degree student from Newquay has been making waves by forming his own tech-focused company.

Tyler Worth, who studied the Surf Science & Technology Foundation Degree at Cornwall College Newquay, has formed Stream Freedom Ltd, a pioneering mobile broadcasting company specialising in live-streaming events.

We sat down with Tyler for a chat:

Since studying on the Surf Science course, we understand that you have formed your own company. Could you tell us more about the company and what you have been involved in so far?

Tyler: Since my graduation from Cornwall College Newquay & the Surf Science & Technology Degree I was inspired by lecturers such as Dr Brian Mills and my fantastic course co-ordinator & the muse for my success, Brender Wilmott, to form my own broadcasting company in order to pioneer a mobile, live-streaming platform for the UK Pro Surf Association; developing my involvement within the UK’s only professional surfing tour, which grew directly from the events module within the course, as it’s Social Media Event specialist. Stream Freedom, a limited company was founded to fill this niche & to bring all the live action from the UK Pro Surf Tour to its audience.

Could you tell us more about your sponsorship you have received?

Tyler: I initially gained external interest in the project from a pre-emptive Crowd Funder project, which although unsuccessful in raising the start-up funds, did start a very large marketing campaign that attracted the interest, investment & mentorship from another previous Surf Science student, Mr John Cusick.

John Cusick with Surf Science Lecturer Brender Willmott

John Cusick, who since studying in Newquay has set up multiple successful businesses in the digital marketing industry as an entrepreneur, was impressed by Tyler’s potential. John explained that “it was 50% on the business plan and 50% in Tyler” when he invested in Stream Freedom.

John: “His ability to learn and implement is immense. When I was at Cornwall College, we launched the SEED surf conference, Tyler’s was the first ticket we sold before he was a student. When it became his year’s turn to take on The English National Surfing Championships, he absorbed every single piece of knowledge I could throw at him to help the event make an impact on the digital media side. That year the event broke my previous record for reach. Stream Freedom is an exciting chance to ride the wave of a new technology and make a massive impact to sports and the business I care about, it was too good an opportunity to turn down.”

During his degree, Tyler developed Stream Freedom based on a growing involvement with the UK Pro Surf Association. Following his graduation, he was then recruited as the Social Media Event Specialist for the UK Pro Surf Tour, streaming all the live surfing action from the tour to a large social media audience.

Tell us more about your involvement with the UK Pro Surf Tour? 

Tyler: Since its inception a year ago, Stream Freedom Ltd. has gained a huge digital audience for the UK Pro Surf Association. This was most notable at last year’s Surf Snowdonia Pro Surf Challenge, which achieved a colossal social media reach of over 601,000 people tuning in to watch the surfers compete in the artificial wave pool.

We also achieved the impossible by successfully broadcasting from even the most remote stops on the UK Pro Surf Tour, for its Scottish Highlands leg of the circuit, the Thurso Surf Festival. In addition we have just hit the great milestone of an entire year designing the event posters and production material for the UK Pro Surf Tour as part of our partnership with the UKPSA.

What did you enjoy about studying at Cornwall College? 

Tyler: Looking back on my time with Cornwall College, it still amazes me how far I have come since I first embarked on my journey of study 4 years ago at the St Austell campus to complete an Access to HE Science Diploma in order to gain entry onto the Surf Science & Technology program, due to not having completed my level of study at GCSE level.

After achieving highly on the Access diploma, I excitedly stepped on a degree that would change my career prospects forever. The Surf Science & Technology foundation degree covered aspects throughout the many-faceted industry that makes up surfing and marine sectors today, but my most valuable and treasured experiences on the course would have to be learning to hand-shape my very own surfboard from scratch (a dying skill in the surf industry today), a field-trip and surfing adventure from the world famous wave at Mundaka, through the Basque country to the surf history enriched beach breaks of Hossegor and most notably for kickstarting my career came the experience of planning & running your very own professional surfing competition, mentored by UKPSA director & tour manager, Dave Reed (a former ASP/WSL Head judge).

Tyler receiving the Cornwall College Student Award at the UK Pro Surf Awards 

I was exceptionally pleased with achieving well on the Surf Science Degree & count within my lifetime achievements, being a final nominee for the Cornwall College Star Awards and most recently being presented the Cornwall College Student Award 2017 at the prestigious UK Pro Surf Awards events by none other than Brender Wilmott and Kim O’Mara from Cornwall College, in front of UKPSA colleagues and the best surfers from the United Kingdom.

So what's next?

I’m looking forward to a very exciting future for myself, Stream Freedom & would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a fundamental part of this amazing journey. 

Up-coming plans for the business in its second year include developing the Surf tour live-production to include live scoring, interviews & a more dynamic viewer-experience. Stream Freedom will also be diversifying its client base even further to include all types of conferences, seminars, music events & even live-streaming from weddings and other social occasions.

Check out Stream Freedom online HERE