The next cohort of GCSE and A-level scientists at Tewkesbury Academy had the privilege to attend an inspirational talk by Dr Lindsay Newbold, an environment molecular microbial ecologist from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, about her journey from an unconventional start in science to environmental biologist.
In an engaging and interactive talk, students were taken on a journey through microbes, their uses and extraction of their DNA – with links to KS4 and practicals in KS5. Combined with Mrs Foster’s cat stickers – students were naming as many pollinators as possible!
Dr Newbold has worked on Alpine projects, earthworms in Chernobyl, analysing water quality and work in environmental biology. She also talked about the UKCEH’s most recent work and research that made the news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/videos/cg4qgnlx026o
Dr Newbold is currently working on groundwater organisms – eukaryotes, fungi and stygobytes in a cave in Southmead, Bristol see news report here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkgqvzpse04
She is currently focused on stygobytes which are very sensitive to unique environments so will show when there has been chemical contamination. And its far easier to look for DNA in water rather than sampling inside claustrophobic caves.
Dr Alice Kennedy, Director of Science at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “It is fantastic that Dr Newbold was able to come back for a second year to talk to our year 10s and 12s about careers in environmental biology.
“One of our key foci at the moment is to build in careers links to our CLF curriculum, and Dr Newbold’s talk on experimental molecular biology careers link was an excellent example of careers outside of the norm and links to local sites.”
