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Why did you choose Leeds, was it something special about the course, department or place that attracted you?

I remember driving to Leeds for the first time on the open day and distinctly remember the breathtaking sight of Parkinson Building shining in the sun at the top of Woodhouse Lane. The building's grandeur is imposing and inspirational and I knew there and then that Leeds was the place I wanted to study. As the Open Day progressed I continued to be impressed by the buzz and beauty of the campus and the brand new facilities at the School of Earth and Environment.

I found the Environmental Science pathways to be a great fit for those that are a little indecisive like myself. The course offered unparalleled scope in comparison to others that I'd considered whilst still offering enough many subjects that I was interested in. Leeds is also a very well connected university on an international level which bode well with my plans for a year abroad.

There are not enough superlatives for Leeds as a city too - it had everything I was looking for and more. I was seeking somewhere big enough to attract the biggest names in music, but compact enough to be able to reach the countryside on my bike at the weekends easily. I haven't come across a city centre like Leeds' either; every corner has a great place for socialising, whether it be a cafe, restaurant or bar, and better yet, they're nearly always full. There's so much energy in Leeds and it's infectious.

Read more about Dominic's experience at Leeds

What has been the best aspect of studying on your course and at the University and why?

"The best element of studying Environmental Science has been learning about topics I had never encountered before, which has totally changed how I feel about my future and the career I want to progress into. There are so many areas of science for me to yet explore and I love the thought of that."

Tell us about some of the exciting things you have been a part of so far?

"Here at Leeds I am the Student Experience Ambassador for the School of Earth and Environment, which has involved organising lots of talks and presentations and socials for students and staff in the school. It’s really lovely to get to interact more with lecturers and staff, and find out more about the School."

Read more about Hazel's experience at Leeds

Why did you decide to do a Year in Industry?

I wanted to undertake a Year in Industry because it provides the knowledge and understanding that is not attainable from studying and lectures. While University is important from an academic perspective, an Industrial Placement gives you the communication and time management skills that are essential for being successful in the workplace. 

Can you give an insight into a typical day?

The typical day varies depending on the project that I am working on, with multiple projects being delivered simultaneously.

My main project has been collating a set of guidance documents across all four areas for those working in Design, Maintenance and Construction to enforce compliance with the Environment and Social Requirements Standard. Smaller projects include weather reporting on a periodic and quarterly basis to display the severity of weather-related delays and their financial cost to the company. In addition, I have developed a Community Engagement Form for those working in the Routes to complete after undertaking volunteer and community work to be able to monitor and quantify social performance. 

Read more about Zoe's experience at Leeds

Can you give an insight into what a typical day looks like for you during your year in industry?

"I’ve been meeting up with renowned global experts, multinational NGO’s, local communities and indigenous populations to better understand the realities of the crisis on the ground, as well as to learn about what conservation means and looks like to different communities. A big part of this is exploring what are the best possible solutions to protect our nature, ourselves and our planet.

So far I have travelled to 40 countries in 8 months, trying to cross as much by land as possible, so this took up a lot of my time. My year in industry has forced me to pick up new skills along the way. Through making video content, it has been necessary for me to learn: how to be comfortable on camera; how to edit video; how to take decent photos; how to fly a drone and how to write stories to best communicate a message and experience. Planning has been a large part of this trip – not only planning my route but also time contacting organisations and coordinating meetings and trips."

Read more about Billy's experience at Leeds