Bangor Fund supports cutting-edge field training in the natural sciences

The Bangor Fund has enabled the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences to purchase equipment for use in research-led teaching modules. The equipment is being used within the taught practical and field sessions or as part of dissertation research projects on BSc and MZool degrees.

The equipment purchased includes a radio transmitter, radio telemetry, song meter mini devices and photography kit, which students have benefited from their use on a variety of field trips.

The radio transmitters were used during the Arizona herpetology field course where students were able to track snakes in different habitats and terrains, and to find difficult-to-see snakes and snakes sheltering in burrows. The equipment was also used during a field course at the Gwaith Powdwr nature reserve in Penrhyndeudraeth, where students used telemetry to track down snakes. This work proved a very popular addition to the teaching of reptile-related field skills that form part of the module.

On the field course in Madagascar in September, students used Passive Acoustic Monitoring to study lemur vocalisations via the Song Meter Mini devices. This has a growing importance in field research and in conservation planning by capturing vast amounts of data with minimal researcher effort from multiple sites at the same time. This device will continue to be used on field courses and will also support undergraduate dissertation research.

Obtaining an ultraviolet (UV) adapted camera, a tripod and lighting rigs has been beneficial to the students when taking photographs of lizards in the UV spectrum. The high-quality digital UV images will be extremely advantageous for their research, as well as allowing research students to develop new image processing and analysis skills. The UV photography kit will also facilitate undergraduate student projects on wall lizard and other species’ colouration, with several collaborative projects planned with colleagues.

Dr Alexander Georgiev, the School’s Director of Teaching and Learning, said, “Thanks to the Bangor Fund, this year our School has been able to significantly expand the range of practical field skills we teach to our students on our flagship field courses. Having the ability to train our graduates in the field using cutting-edge research equipment is a real strength of the School and we look forward to using the purchased kit on many trips in the coming years.”

Persida Chung, Development Officer, added, “Thanks to our generous alumni, we can help students have an element of additionality and further explore their field of study.”