Category Archives: Geography

Research Assistant – Coldhabour Mill Trust Ltd

Access to Internships (A2I), Biosciences, Education, Teaching and Research, Environmental Work, Geography, Science, Science

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My responsibilities were to research the mill pond on the site to support a 1.8M renovation project and grant bids. The main details they wanted to know about the pond was, when it was built, how it was built and how it was used. To conduct this research I worked both at Coldharbour and visited local archives.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I was able to conduct research outside of a university classroom, and had the opportunity to go to archives and see the source material myself.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to find out when the pond was roughly built, and also provide a list of areas of future research so the next researcher would have a starting point. Despite the fact I found little evidence, what I did find was actually rather fundamental to the grant bids.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Problem solving, ability to work under pressure, focus on goals and outcomes

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Motivation, cultural awareness, independence

Research Support Intern – University of Exeter CLES

Business and Management, Education, Teaching and Research, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Science, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

My main role was recruiting and meeting with participants to take some data from them, and showing them how to use an app, as well getting feedback from them in a follow-up meeting a month later. I also collated this data, and helped to contribute to a research paper by analysing some qualitative responses and adding the introduction section. Moreover, I promoted the research at various events including the Staff Wellbeing Day.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I think my biggest achievement was being able run a small research collection study quite independently – I was daunted before starting it about the task at hand so have proved to myself it is possible.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I think it lightened the load of other members of the department who are more senior, as they had numerous projects, teaching etc. going on.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Ability to work under pressure, organisation, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Initiative, motivation, logical thinking

Cognitive Abilities of Grey Squirrels Intern – University of Exeter

Animal Care, Biosciences, Education, Teaching and Research, Geography, Science, Science, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Coding videos and preparing the different nuts for the experiment and placing the cameras and replenishing the nuts in the apparatus.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I learned a lot in terms of analysis of data collected from animals and in particular using a Behaviour Observation software which has made me more confident in my ability to analyse different types of data in different circumstances.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I managed to help with creating a buffer of chopped nuts so that more time could be spent for marking the squirrels and analysing the information, I completed a third of the video analysis of the project which alleviated the workload of the other team members by leaving them to do only two thirds of the analysis.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Teamwork and collaboration, ability to work under pressure, IT

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence, initiative, motivation

Student Engagement and Employability – University of Exeter CLES

Administration, Biosciences, Business and Management, Geography, Geology, Mining and Minerals Engineering, Psychology, Science, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Completing tasks delegated by my line manager, assisting in activities regarding student engagement and employability within CLES. This included updating displays, compiling a database of placement opportunities and creating a mock-up of a website to showcase success stories of societies and groups associated with CLES.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I developed skills in efficient research techniques, as well as contacting an array of different people for informational purposes. I feel more confident in contacting businesses and organisations, alongside using the people around me to gain knowledge from their advice and experiences.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to complete tasks that have been otherwise neglected throughout the year, giving my full time and attention where this may not have otherwise been the case.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Problem solving, organisation, focus on goals and outcomes

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Commercial awareness, creative thinking, independence

Student Researcher – University of Exeter Education Incubator

Art History and Visual Culture, Classics and Ancient History, Education, Teaching and Research, Geography, History, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training, Modern Languages, Politics and International Relations, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

  • Offering administrative support to three Chinese fellows on MOOC course on contemporary Chinese culture
  • Planning and drafting a social media campaign
  • Proofreading and editing of English texts written by non-native speakers, and adapting these to an online context
  • Recruiting student and non-student volunteers for the trial version of the course

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

The independent nature of the role meant that I was able to really strengthen my skills in taking the initiative and working autonomously and independently.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

Administrative support, lightening my colleagues’ workload, and ensuring that all course content and materials were adapting and appropriate for an English-language audience.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Communication, leadership, decision making

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Initiative, perseverance, independence

ESI Research Assistant – University of Exeter, Penryn

Access to Internships (A2I), Accounting and Finance, Administration, Business and Management, Economics, Education, Teaching and Research, Geography, Politics and Government, Politics and International Relations

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

During my time as a research assistant I had one main role – this was to research Circular Economy in both theory and practice across several different nations. Nations and areas researched included Costa Rica, Kenya and the European Union which was to be used during presentations and a very brief start to a research paper. I was given a new nation to research each time I finished my work making this was my main role in ESI.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

My ability to research effectively and put it into writing vastly improved.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to lighten the workload for my professor who is currently researching a project.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Communication, problem solving, time and workload management

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Initiative, logical thinking, professionalism

Social Innovation Consultants Intern – University of Exeter

Administration, Business and Management, Environmental Work, Geography, Geology, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Approach and communicate with a variety of companies, via email, to secure student work experience placements for the Easter to summer period of the next academic year. Initial research of the company was needed to ensure they were suitable for Geography and Environmental Science Students and then an email was drafted and sent. I was responsible for any communications between the company and the university through answering questions, queries or any ideas they may have for the placements.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I created loads of new networking links and provided my fellow students with exciting work experience prospects that could lead onto further employment.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

Completed a project that lightened the workload of other colleagues.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Persuasion, customer service, focus on goals and outcomes

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Perseverance, logical thinking, independence

Research Assistant – University of Exeter College of Humanities

Education, Teaching and Research, Environmental Work, Geography, Geology, Mining, Environment and Natural Resources, Science, Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

What were your main roles and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

I assisted with the geophysical survey in the Bishop’s Palace gardens. This involved laying out grids, carrying out both Resistivity and Magnetometry surveys. I was then responsible for sorting out the visual results for the written report.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I gained confidence in carrying out 2 types of geophysical surveys, both key for professional archaeological work.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I was able to assist Professor Creighton in one of his research projects, helping him save time as he transitions to head of the department.

What skills were you able to develop through the internship?

Strategic planning, teamwork and collaboration, degree specific skills

What attributes were you able to develop through the internship?

Confidence and independence

Catherine, Higher Education Project Officer

Geography, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

Degree: BA Geography with European Study 2017

Job Role: A Higher Education Project Officer provides support for projects in the Exeter Education Incubator, supporting academics who are working on projects to reimagine how university education can be delivered.

Catherine’s Experience: I decided to apply for a GBP internship to help me further my skills. I have really enjoyed my placement and it has helped me to increase my self-awareness of the type of career I would like to pursue. I learnt I would enjoy working in a community, people facing role in both an in/outdoor setting. Although I am still not entirely sure what I would like to do, completing a GBP has been a fantastic stepping stone into the working environment.

 

Administration Intern – Royal Geographical Society

Access to Internships (A2I), Administration, Environmental Work, Geography, Mining, Environment and Natural Resources,

globe

What were your main duties and responsibilities during the course of your internship?

Helping sort the RGS records and archives, with 5 other interns. We also shadowed members of staff in different divisions to grasp the various aspects of what the RGS does, and worked in the fundraising, education, research & higher education departments. We were responsible for handling confidential membership material and for organising important archives for their journals.

What would you say was your biggest achievement over the course of your internship?

I lost my fear of not fitting in, as I was nervous that I wouldn’t. Within a few hours I felt very confident and at home there, the staff made us feel very welcome and I picked up some professional vocabulary that I feel comfortable using now.

What benefits did your internship bring to your employer?

I helped them sort out some of their many paper archives to aid them transition to becoming a more digitised organisation, and helped the education department by planning school visit sessions for them.