Jacob
Walton

Why did you choose to study your course at NTU?

I knew I wanted to continue studying at NTU after completing my BSc Geography degree. I loved my student experience on NTU’s Brackenhurst Campus and enjoyed the practical aspects. I gained the opportunity with one of my lecturers to learn drone surveying and GPS techniques. He informed me of this new course and his module, advanced remote sensing, which I knew would allow me to further understand these technologies and techniques. This course resonated with me as I had not seen similar degrees that focus on the practical applications of ecology, conservation and surveying.

What made your mind up about studying a PG course at Brackenhurst Campus?

I first saw the Brackenhurst Campus in 2019 when I started my undergraduate degree and knew that I wanted to continue studying at Brackenhurst. After moving onto campus accommodation, I immediately loved studying and living there. I preferred being on a campus outside of a city surrounded by countryside and had the opportunity to have practical lectures around campus learning different field work techniques. I now commute to campus and enjoy spending time studying in the campus library, grab hot food and drink from The Orangery or canteen or taking a walk around quiet woodlands, fields and ponds surrounding the campus.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

I really enjoy the practical application of the course and the mixture of in-class and outdoor sessions. We have opportunities to experiment with GPS technology, achieving location accuracies down to 2cm and learnt how to track animals using radio telemetry around campus. I am looking forward to our Advanced Remote Sensing field trip to the Peak District where we will conduct an aerial survey. This course introduced me to new software, one module is focused on statistics and coding to extract findings from data. I found the coding to be challenging but rewarding when you complete the statistics. As I am studying for an MRes part-time I have found that the lectures give me flexibility and enough time to complete my job role and keep up to speed with the module content.

How do you find your modules and what have you most enjoyed studying/ researching?

Coming from a geography background, I initially felt behind in the ecology sections, but after the first introductory lectures, I found myself more engaged with the content and enjoying what ecology has to offer.  I have found myself reading into/around ecology and gaining background information to better understand the topic. I am looking forward to starting my research project and exploring peatland environments using a range of remote sensing and GIS techniques.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

This course has allowed me to gain a practical understanding of animal tracking and aerial surveying. I have gained first-hand experience using the technology with practical sessions on campus, which are fun to do and very useful in understanding the equipments capabilities and how it can be used for research. I have found the NTU facilities to be great, with access to a wide range of equipment and software that cater to a vast range of research topics. I have used camera traps, radio telemetry, fixed-wing drones, and GPS consoles at NTU.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time? 

I love Brackenhurst and lived there during my undergraduate degree, but I now commute from home. I enjoy being able to use the library on days with lectures or to focus and write assignments. I find the library quiet and provides me with a great working environment. However, if I need time away it doesn’t take long to get away from the laptop and walk through woodland or to a pond and spend lunch breaks outside surrounded by excellent scenery. The local town, Southwell, is a short walk away from campus and provides local amenities. It is home to several charity shops, pubs, and cafés and has a stunning Minster, which is worth a visit.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying/ living at Brackenhurst Campus?

Brackenhurst is a great campus with good basic amenities, a small shop, bar and canteen. When living on campus, I would recommend exploring the different societies NTU offers and the campus grounds. The campus has many different footpaths to follow through woodlands, around farmland and ponds. Travelling to and from campus can be tricky without access to a car. However, there is a regular bus service from campus to Southwell or Nottingham City Centre. I found myself, however, taking weekly walks down into Southwell through the fields for my shopping. Otherwise, with access to a car, Newark is a short drive away and has numerous supermarkets and shops. I would also recommend keeping up to date on the events held on campus. These are very interesting and can introduce you to new people on campus. Finally, Brack Bar and The Orangery are great places to meet and socialise with others around lectures on campus.

Have you been involved in any research events or conferences during your time as a postgraduate student? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve?

We have been allowed to attend research seminars and presentations each week, presented by a guest or university lecturer. I have attended a couple and found them to be interesting and engaging ways to learn about recent research and studies in a wide range of areas, some of which you may be familiar with and others that can be completely new.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

I recommend NTU because the lecturers and staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. My experience at Brackenhurst has been amazing. The campus is so different from others and is worth exploring on an open day. I would recommend this course because it is very different from other courses, giving practical experience as well as theory. While some of the content is challenging, the knowledge and support of lecturers and student support services are great.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/ will help you to achieve that goal?

I know this course will help me improve my research techniques, skills, and experience. While I am not certain where I will end up, I could see myself either continuing education and research or building into aerial surveying and research. After taking a year in industry after my undergraduate degree, returning and completing a Masters degree identified my enjoyment for researching different topics and learning new things.

Any additional comments:

Brackenhurst appeals to me because of the community feeling on campus, and I have found that staff and students are willing to help when challenges arise.