Pauline Kneale

Reviewing the impact of metals and PAHs on macroinvertebrates in urban watercourses

Pollution-free stream water and sediments are crucial to support healthy stream flora and fauna, but urban surface runoff impairs water quality and leaves a legacy of pollution in the sediments. Pollution in sediments influences the development of macroinvertebrates, the lowest members of the food chain, leading to modification of the whole ecological structure. This review focuses on the sources and impacts of zinc, nickel, copper and oil derivative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants on macroinvertebrates in urban streams. Land use, and the connectivity of the runoff and sediment are seen to have an effect on the ecological integrity of the watercourse but case examples are sparse. The literature indicates that while reduced species diversity has been identified at a number of sites the dynamics are neither well understood nor well modelled. The literature evidence is compared with field evidence from a study of 62 source areas in headwater catchments with residential, urban, industrial and motorway land uses. From the review and field results it is evident that there is still an important need for process-based field measurements of urban water quality parameters. It is suggested that forecasting the ecological status of watercourses would benefit from data on sediment chemistry and the interaction effects of metals and PAHs.

Investigating the role of saliency analysis with a neural network rainfall-runoff model

Software tools are available which translate neural network solutions into standard computer languages and source code. This conversion process enables trained networks to be implemented as embedded functions within existing hydrological models or assembled into stand-alone computer programs. In addition to this primary use, embedded functions can also provide new opportunities for dynamic testing and for the internal investigation of the models function. Saliency analysis, the disaggregation of a neural network solution in terms of its forecasting inputs, is one approach which is explored here. Saliency analysis is used to investigate the performance of a neural network one-step-ahead hydrological forecasting model using different combinations of input data for testing and validation.

Organising student‐centred group fieldwork and presentations

Abstract A six‐week lecture and practical module gives second‐year students the opportunity for an integrated team project involving fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data analysis, group report writing, poster production and presentations. In preparation for their dissertations, as much decision making as possible is left with the students. Enthusiasm and effective group interaction are encouraged through two workshops explicitly directed to transferable skills, good practice in poster design and team roles and behaviour.

Variations in International Understandings of Employability for Geography

This research started from the premise that (a) employability is an internationally accepted concept with a confusion of interpretations and definitions; and (b) that an insight into the variation in understanding of employability and teaching employability would benefit geography curriculum development. Consequently, the views of the co-authors from Italy, the United Kingdom, United States, Chile, Estonia, Greece and Spain were sought to develop an international understanding of employability and its position in the geography higher education curriculum. Discussion shows that the definitions and implications are varied. There is common agreement that geography graduates are very employable, and that their degree work enhances their employability attributes. The extent to which employability can be enhanced within the curriculum is discussed.

Assessment of Heavy Metal and PAH Contamination of Urban Streambed Sediments on Macroinvertebrates

The results from measuring PAH and metal contamination together with macroinvertebrate communities at 62 headwater stream sites gives a significant insight into the range and scale of contamination. Monitoring streambed sediments at 62 sites from rural to inner city and in industrial locations presented a unique opportunity to distinguish the conditions that enhance pollution runoff at sites that are less obviously ‘at risk’ and to compare these results with sites of expected high contamination, for example in industrial areas and at motorway junctions. We used pCCA (partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis) to tease out the relationships between individual macroinvertebrate families and specific metal and PAH contaminants, and showed that it is not always the metals and PAHs with the greatest total concentrations that are doing the damage to the ecology. Ni and Zn are the critical metals, while benzo(b)fluoranthene, anthracene and fluoranthene are the most contaminating PAHs. The results identify previously unrecognized ‘high risk’ pollution sources, lay byes used for commercial parking, on-street residential parking areas, and the junctions at the bottom of hills with traffic lights, where surface runoff feeds rapidly to the streams. While this study looks at sites across Yorkshire, UK, it clearly has a broader significance for understanding contamination risks from diffuse runoff as a prerequisite for effective sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) agendas and the protection of urban stream ecology.

Developing and Embedding Reflective Portfolios in Geography

The School of Geography at the University of Leeds, UK, led the development of a faculty-wide Personal Reflective Portfolio as part of a university project--A Strategic Model for Developing Methods and Materials for Recording Achievement in Traditional Universities (Jackson et al., 2000). This paper describes the materials and their usage, the value of bottom-up design, and the issues of embedding this type of material within faculty programmes. The reflections of both students and tutors are considered. Overall the materials are viewed positively and considered to have long-term and workplace relevance. Whether they meet the original aim of helping students to become more reflective and evaluative learners is impossible to measure and not thought to be successful as yet. Reflection on action is more evident than action planning.

Statistical analysis of algal and water quality data

Data on cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are generallycollected on a reactive basis, frequently in responseto bloom events. Such data presents a biased andincomplete snapshot of water quality. This paper looksat two typical data sets for UK waters showing thatwhile statistics may be used to describe the data theyare of limited use in forecasting. Suggestions ofappropriate tests for small and sparse data sets aremade.

Higher Education Provision in a Crowded Marketplace.

Current changes to policy around higher education in the United Kingdom are leading to an increasingly marketised system. As funding is transferred from the United Kingdom government to the individual student, universities will be required to pay more attention to marketing. This paper draws on the literature relating to marketing of services to assess the extent to which higher education marketing addresses issues of covenant, quiddity and representation. Using a mixed sample of universities and associated further education colleges who provide higher education opportunities, this research investigates the marketing strategies of different types of higher education institution. Differences identified include the extent to which reputation, educational experience, research and student life are used in marketing. We conclude that newer universities and further education colleges appear to be more greatly influenced by contemporary government policy agenda than are the older more traditional institutions, which continue to trade largely on their established strong reputations.

Re-framing the Geography Dissertation: A Consideration of Alternative, Innovative and Creative Approaches

This paper reviews the opportunities and challenges for re-framing the purpose, process, product and assessment of final-year geography dissertations. It argues that the academic centralities of critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, effective communication and independence must be retained, but that the traditional format limits creativity and innovation. Re-imagining capstone projects has implications for students, faculty, departments and institutions, but greater diversity could enhance its relevance to students and employers, better aligning the student experience with the academic interests and future career demands of the 21st century graduate.

Strength in Diversity: Enhancing Learning in Vocationally-Orientated, Master's Level Courses.

Postgraduate education in geography, especially at the Masters level, is undergoing significant changes in the developed world. There is an expansion of vocationally oriented degree programmes, increasing recruitment of international students, integration of workplace skills, and the engagement of non-traditional postgraduate students as departments respond to policies for a more ‘inclusive’ higher education. This paper sets the context by outlining some programmatic changes in selected countries (Australia, the UK, and the USA). The authors briefly reflect on how postgraduate ‘bars’ or ‘levels’ are defined and explore in detail what ‘diversity’ or ‘heterogeneity’ means in these new postgraduate settings. They then explore some practice examples drawn from their own experiences, recognizing that relevance will vary in other contexts. Finally they consider how diversity can be harnessed as a strength that has potential to enhance taught elements of contemporary postgraduate education in and beyond the discipline.