Leading Oceanographers produced for over 45 years
When Wales鈥� rugby team were at their zenith, there was a newly created 鈥榤yth鈥� of a 鈥榩roduction line鈥� producing star rugby players, hidden somewhere in the depths of the valleys. At the other end of Wales, there continues a lasting success which has been producing excellent oceanographers for a very real world for 45 years.
Current students Manon Francis and Iestyn WoolwayThe at 麻豆传媒高清版鈥檚 School of Ocean Sciences is plugging identified skills gaps in the UK environment sector, producing oceanographers who are, among other things, capable of computer modelling and are very numerate. (According to a Research Council review of the top 15 skills needed in the environment sector, computer modelling is at the top and numeracy fourth).
The MSc course is unique in having Natural Environment Research Council Funding for the whole of its 45 years.
鈥淭he course makes physical oceanographers of top physicists and mathematicians 鈥� introducing them to the physics of the ocean and climate systems. Thirty-five percent of our students find oceanography jobs in the public or private sectors and over half go on to study Doctorates,鈥� explains Dr Tom Rippeth, course director and Reader at the School of Ocean Sciences.
These graduates provide needed skills in the renewable energy industry, the oil industry and hazard planning. There are skills shortages and jobs available in all these sectors.
Graduates from the course hold key posts within industry and public organisations and work in the UK and around the globe. They include the current head of The National Oceanography Centre and a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Recent students on the course have produced research with very real impact, which have been covered in renowned scientific journals and national news media. These include a study showing that rising sea levels have increased the sea鈥檚 capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, work showing how tidal farms could affect the sediment on the seabed and work on the Menai Strait Mussel beds which contributed to the Marine Stewardship Council certification of the mussel fishery in the Menai Strait- which accounts for 50% of the UK Mussel fishery.
Sophie Ward, from Ruthin, who completed the MSc in 2010, said 鈥淢y MSc research project fed really well into my PhD in terms of skills learned.鈥� Both Sophie鈥檚 MSc project and PhD research relied on numerical modelling of sea level rise. She is now investigating marine renewables.
As well as numerical and oceanography skills, the course also focuses on transferable skills such as essay-writing, which are vital for a career in science. 鈥淭he MSc was incredibly intensive, but really thorough鈥� Sophie Ward added.
Current student, Manon Francis, from Llangefni says:
鈥� It鈥檚 fantastic to be able to study such a world leading course, just 15 minutes鈥� drive from my home. The course is really enjoyable if hard work at times! I鈥檓 hoping to do further research and interested in ocean circulation. This is an important area of science which could have massive implications for the planet and for humanity.鈥�
Current student Iestyn Woolway from Porthmadog hopes that his career will eventually take him to the Arctic, as he has a long-standing fascination with that part of the world. He hopes first to follow a PhD at one of two prestigious American universities that he鈥檚 applied to.
He says: 鈥渢here are so many career opportunities in this field- I could either follow a route looking at climate change in the Arctic and how that affects the globe. Climate change is affecting a great deal in the Arctic at the moment and there are many opportunities- such as working as a consultant to one of the big oil companies- there are so many oil reserves becoming available in the region.鈥�
麻豆传媒高清版 is holding a on Friday 18 February between 12.30 and 2.30pm to profile its provision of postgraduate taught and research degrees.
The event will be held in the University鈥檚 Prichard Jones Hall, with representation from each of our Academic Schools, the Postgraduate Admissions Office and Student Support Services. Booking to attend the Fair is online at http://www.bangor.ac.uk/pgfair/contactus.php.en
鈥淎ccess to Masters鈥� grants are available for students who wish to take the course.
Publication date: 14 February 2011