National Careers Week: Water
This webinar was part of a series for National Careers Week, aiming to bring environmental careers to life through real stories and honest insights from professionals working across a wide range of roles and sectors. Within the "Water" theme, we explored careers linked to marine and coastal science, freshwater environments, and water resources and quality management.
We were joined for this webinar by three experienced professionals:
Patricia López-García, Sensor Science Delivery Lead at the National Oceanography Centre. Patricia is a marine scientist with a background in oceanography, marine chemistry, and sensor development. She holds a PhD and a degree in marine science, and a degree in industrial chemical engineering. With over two decades of experience across academia and applied marine research, her work has spanned laboratory research, project management, and the implementation of quality standards. Patricia is also a member of the IES Marine & Coastal Science Steering Group.
Tessa Wardley, Director for Communications and Advocacy at The Rivers Trust. Tessa leads a team of 11 communications professionals to deliver the strategic approach for communications that establish the Rivers Trust movement as the leading environmental NGO for rivers, and the preferred partner to help rivers and communities thrive.
Ian Davis, retired. Ian managed rivers and flood response from 1991 to 2014 and then spent 9 months tracing urban sewage pollution, all whilst also running a family farm. He's spoken regularly on farming's impact on water and the wider environment and, after retiring, joined the Nature Friendly Farming Network steering group, the board of the Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust and the Foundation for Water Research quantity and quality technical panel.
Our speakers shared insights into the following areas:
What it’s like to work in the sector and where your degree could take you after graduation
A realistic picture of the daily tasks, responsibilities, and skills required
The transition from university to career, including the steps, decisions, and experiences that helped them succeed.
Header image credit: © Maurizio De Mattei - Adobe Stock
