Joe
Donnerstag

Joe Donnerstag on placement with Delta-Simons Environmental Consultants Ltd

"I am studying Geography at Brackenhurst Campus and I am currently in my third year of a four year course. The highlight of first year has to be the trip to the south of Spain. The trip really brought the cohort together and encourages you to mix with your fellow course mates. Second year is an opportunity to pick your own modules and begin studying areas of your course you are passionate about."

"My personal interests lie within sustainability and the topic is very much interconnected with climate change. I really enjoyed my climate change assessment which involved producing a briefing report for my beloved Lincoln City FC to prepare them for the climate related challenges they will face in the future."

"GIS is becoming as common as Microsoft Office and its range of applications is almost endless. Learning how to use programmes such as ArcGIS, QGIS and Google Earth has given me skills that set me apart from other candidates. I chose Environmental Law and Policy to prepare myself for commercial work - all businesses must abide by certain laws and this module explains everything from policy making processes all the way through to current/relevant environmental legislation. Understanding government, law and policy really came in handy while on placement."

"I am interning at Delta-Simons Environmental Consultants Ltd, a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing environmental advice on areas including land contamination, air and water quality, environmental health and safety, ecology and sustainability. I have been working within the Environmental Transaction Services team providing environmental due diligence to clients in the form of Phase I Environmental Assessments. These desk-based studies assess the potential for on-site contamination from current and historical sources and the sensitivity of the surrounding environment."

"I have also spent time within the Geotechnical Operations team who are responsible for ground investigations on site (groundwater/ground gas testing/sampling; soil sampling; contamination remediation; foundation and floor slab design advice; scheduling of soil chemical analysis etc). I love the practical side to this work: everyday there seems to be a new challenge and each site is different meaning how you approach the works is constantly under review."

Joe Donnerstag on placement with the Geotechnical Operations team

"A few reasons I enjoy placement include understanding a different side of my subject/interest. Academic knowledge is one thing but commercial application is another ball game. I also enjoy collaboration with other passionate individuals and like how each project/site is different and requires a fresh outlook."

"Understand, early on, what you want to do with your life: do you want a desk job or something with more variation or practical work? It's all about identifying how you work best and what you do and don’t enjoy as work. From this you can work out how to get the most out of yourself and target those career opportunities in the future. I have discovered a wealth of information sources that will become useful during my final undergraduate year and my ability to write reports has improved loads."

"The most valuable thing I have learned in my course so far is the harder you work, the more you get out of your course. The planet is pretty messed up currently but there are things we can do to correct the mistakes we have made/are currently making."

"In the future I want to continue to impress my placement providers in the hope of future job opportunities. I also want to complete my final year to the best of my ability before beginning a masters course relating to sustainability or ESG. And finally, I want to have a perfect work/life balance and to enjoy the work I do."