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