I am Annabel Digweed, and am an environmental management and sustainability student at the University of Plymouth. I am interested in the relationship between climate and agricultural systems that people can impact indirectly via altering natural processes. However, I want to find balance between the importance of environmental protection as well as maintaining sustainability in a way that will benefit people.

Throughout my degree so far, I have developed my skills both practically and analytically through fieldwork, species identification, water and soil sampling and the use of GIS mapping software. I enjoy the mix between practical skills and critical analysis to identify reasons and causes for data collection.

Currently, I am strengthening my skills in QGIS software, fieldwork and research skills (specifically water sampling and lab analysis) and effective science communication to a range of people e.g. children, professionals, policymakers and citizens. Lab practicals test my precision and ability to follow methods when carrying out tests such as nitrate levels. These results need outliers identifying and explaining, improving my ability to critically analyse data and results.

Effective research and report writing is required to support all the above skills, improving my critical thinking, academic writing skills, time management and balance and being able to identify gaps in information.