Ocean and Earth students’ years of hard work celebrated at Graduation 2014
Graduating students from Ocean and Earth Science celebrated with friends and family at receptions at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) after their formal ceremonies at Highfield campus at the University of Southampton.
“Graduation is always a highlight of the year,” says Professor Rachel Mills, Head of Ocean and Earth Science Southampton. “This was my first year leading the event as Head of the department and I very much enjoyed marking the occasion with all of our hardworking students. Although we are saying goodbye to many, we hope they will stay in touch with us as part of our alumni community.”
Among the graduates receiving prizes for their achievements, Victoria Gravestock was consistently awarded high marks, in excess of 70 per cent, throughout her MSci in Marine Biology. In common with many students, the 10 day field trip to Bermuda exploring environments such as coral reefs and mangrove swamps was a highlight of her course. “During my time at Southampton, I undertook a seven week placement at the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority which definitely helped me secure a job in marine consultancy,” she says.
Fellow marine biologist Sally Stewart-Moore was awarded the Tyler Prize for her dissertation on a lobster fishery near her home in Northern Ireland. “I’ll be sorry to leave Southampton as it has been the best place to study my subject,” she explains. Also receiving her degree was Dr Catherine Cole who completed her Oceanography PhD in hydrothermal vent biogeochemistry at NOCS in 2013, following two research cruises. She is now a research fellow at the University of St Andrews.
Geologist Jennifer Saxby jointly won the mapping prize for working on an area of the Isle of Skye in Scotland. “Field trips were definitely the most memorable parts of my BSc degree, particularly the visit to Tenerife this year, investigating lava flows in a lovely place,” she says. “I must add NOCS is such a friendly place, everyone knows everyone.” Jennifer also spent a month in her first year at the University of Oregon preparing a scientific paper on Paleontology for publication and hopes to build a career in academic research.