Meliora: a podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium at the University of Southampton, we are joined by Hannah Portman (BSc Geography) for an exploration of her dissertation research titled: “The Rice Industry in the Mekong River Delta in a Changing Climate”.

Rice is a vital commodity for ensuring food security as it is a staple food source for more than half of the world’s population and with a growing population the demand for rice is ever-increasing. Deltas are agriculturally rich, hosting some of the most important rice-growing regions in the world, such as the Mekong River Delta, which is known as the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’.

Climate change can adversely impact the rice yield, by changing precipitation and temperature regimes, more extreme events (e.g., drought and floods) and salinisation due to sea level rise, which creates a hostile environment for plant growth. In deltas, sea level rise and the resulting salinity intrusion poses the greatest ongoing risk to irrigated rice farming. Therefore, a rapid surge in diversifying farming systems or the complete transition to aquaculture has occurred in the Mekong River Delta. Although this transition is beneficial for farmers financial capital, their social capital diminishes. Rice cultivation has a long rich history with traditional culture and customs associated around the rice harvesting calendar, so if there continues to be this change in agricultural production there will inevitably be a shift in the social fabric of the community.

There was limited research focussing on the past, present and future state of rice production in the Mekong River Delta. Therefore, I looked at the loss and gain of land cover from 1990 to 2020 in 10-year intervals focussing particular on the spatial and temporal dynamics of rice paddy extent, as well as aquaculture, to be able to understand the past and present state. Then I modelled potential sea level rise scenarios to understand the extent of rice paddies impacted in the future if we continue to warm the planet.

Further reading:

Park, E., Loc, H.H., Van Binh, D. and Kantoush, S. (2021), ‘The worst 2020 saline water intrusion disaster of the past century in the Mekong Delta: Impacts, causes, and management implications’, Ambio, 51, pp.691–699 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8800995/pdf/13280_2021_Article_1577.pdf

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Guest: Hannah Portman (Third-Year BSc Geography Student)

Host: Prof Simon Kemp

Editor: Sophie Green

If you are interested in engaging with more sustainability-related material take a look at both Instagram and X: @meliorapodcast

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium at the University of Southampton, we are joined by Isabelle Horrocks (BA Geography) for an exploration of her dissertation research titled: ‘Exploring the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on sustainable consumption practices among students’. 

Over recent years, the combination of stagnant wage growth and a sharp rise in inflation has driven a significant increase in the cost of living across the UK. In accordance, consumption behaviours have altered, especially among university students who are often on lower incomes. This research aims to provide a critical insight into how student consumption behaviours have been impacted as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, while simultaneously offering tentative suggestions into whether these practices have become more or less sustainable.  

Throughout the episode we discuss the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on sustainable behaviours and consumption practices, highlighting the impact of economic pressures on making sustainable choices. The complexity of assessing sustainability is also examined, followed by a discussion of methodological considerations and key findings from the project. 

Further resources:
A useful tool from The Office For National Statistics to visualise how the average price of goods are changing: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/shoppingpricescomparisontool/2023-05-03 

The challenges associated with measuring sustainability:
Sikdar, S. (2020) ‘Measures for Sustainability’, Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 22(2), pp. 279–280. doi:10.1007/s10098-020-01817-y. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10098-020-01817-y) 

Sustainable consumption and behavioural change:
https://timjackson.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jackson.-2005.-Motivating-Sustainable-Consumption.pdf 

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students. 

Guest: Isabelle Horrocks (Third-Year BA Geography Student) 
Host: Prof Simon Kemp 
Editor: Lily Killner

Engage with us on Instagram and X: @meliorapodcast 

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by Holly Hoban (BSc Environmental Science) to discuss her Independent Research Project ‘Spotting Resilience: Measuring the Effect of Vegetation Turing Patterns in Dryland Ecosystems.’ 

Since the development of aerial photography, striking vegetation patterns such as spots, stripes and labyrinths have been identified and studied in drylands across the globe. They are examples of Turing patterns, self-organised features which emerge due to simple feedback processes. This dissertation project used satellite data to test whether these patterns make ecosystem productivity more stable over time, or more resilient to droughts. Results showed that patterned samples were more resilient than non-patterned samples and suggested that different types of patterns affect resilience differently, with the most efficient structures not always achieving the best outcome. If incorporated into management strategies, vegetation patterns could benefit conservation, restoration, and agriculture in regions threatened by desertification and climate change, as well as having implications for other areas of resilience research. This research relates to SDGs 2, 11, 13 and 15. 

Relevant articles for further reading: 

Evasion of tipping in complex systems through spatial pattern formation https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj0359 

Bridging ecology and physics: Australian fairy circles regenerate following model assumptions on ecohydrological feedbacks https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.13493 

The global biogeography and environmental drivers of fairy circles https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2304032120 

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students. 
 
Episode Guest: Holly Hoban  
Episode Host: Prof Simon Kemp 
Episode Editor: Sophie Green 
 
Engage with us on instagram and X: @meliorapodcast 

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by Debjyoti “Deb” Sengupta (MEng Mechanical Aerospace Engineering) to discuss his Group Design Project 'Venus Specialised Exploration Rover (VESPER)'.

As per the scientific community, there is a consensus that Venus, often referred to as Earth’s evil twin, may allow us to understand our planet in a way that could help us tackle climate change (SDG 13) whilst encouraging development of new technology. However, recent concerns with sustainability in space exploration (e.g., space debris and costs) and the political agendas of space powers such as the US, Russia, India, Europe, and Japan has introduced new dynamics and stakes to this scientific quest (or shall we say – new space race!) With NASA announcing two planned missions to explore Venus in 2031, a group of our students led by the speaker were chosen to deliver a functional proof-of-concept prototype for a rover to explore the Venusian surface, allowing everyone to research on topics ranging from geology to exoplanet identification to climate change mitigation. This group project caters to a variety of UN SDGs, with discussions on the innovative concept for a non-electronic mechanical spacecraft and its constituting systems (SDG 9), manufacturing requirements and reduction in silicon mining (SDG 12) and the opportunity for space to become a mainframe economic sector (SDG 8). 

Our host and our guest speaker also talk about the project serving as a platform for upskilling and inspiring upcoming generations (SDG 4) while emphasising on the need for international collaborations to ensure any form of space exploration is peaceful and does not become a front for conflicts in this new era of astropolitics (SDG 16 and 17). In the words of our guest – “The project serves as a platform for true change while serving as a reminder that mankind must learn from its past mistakes with technology. If space were to become unsustainable or a front for future wars, then the day will come when mankind would stop admiring the night sky and curse the work of the pioneers of space exploration, just like the nuclear community.” ”

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students. 

Guest: Debjyoti Sengupta
Host: Prof Simon Kemp
Editor: Jack Dinham

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium at the University of Southampton, we are joined by third-year BSc Environmental Science student Sarah Ait Mouhoub for an exploration of her dissertation research titled: "Exploring Algeria's Offshore Wind Potential for Sustainable Energy Development." 

Sarah's dissertation explores the potential for deploying offshore wind farms off the coast of Algeria by assessing a set of technical, environmental and socio-economic criteria. The use of MCDM allows for the criteria to be evaluated while accounting for their relative importance and GIS provides the tools and a visual aid in site selection. Algeria, along with many lower to middle income countries, must begin reducing their reliance on fossil fuels to not only contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions, but to also secure their energy sector in order to provide a reliable and sustainable supply. The project is directly linked to SDG 7 but during the episode, it is also highlighted how it can support the progression towards meeting targets of other SDGs.  

Further reading: 

Taoufik, M. and Fekri, A. (2021). GIS-based multi-criteria analysis of offshore wind farm development in Morocco. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2021.100103.
Uyan, M. (2013). GIS-based solar farms site selection using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in Karapinar region, Konya/Turkey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 28, pp.11–17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.07.042.
Díaz, H. and Guedes Soares, C. (2020). Review of the current status, technology and future trends of offshore wind farms. Ocean Engineering, [online] 209, p.107381. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.107381. 

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students. 

Guest: Sarah Ait Mahoub (Third-Year BSc Environmental Science Student) 
Host: Prof Simon Kemp 
Editor: Lily Killner 

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium at the University of Southampton we are joined by Tazmin Jeffreys to discuss her independent research project titled: “Rural vs Urban: Differences in consumer clothing habits and attitudes towards fast fashion”

In recent years fast fashion has become one of the main polluters in the world due to its major environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas contribution, waste water production and landfill. With the help of government policies, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, producers can limit their contribution to the fast fashion crisis. However, producers need to balance this with their understanding of consumer habits. Recent literature has looked into habits and attitudes of consumers towards fast fashion, however there is limited evidence about whether location impacts this. Therefore, this study looks into the comparison of rural and urban participants’ clothing habits and knowledge of fast fashion. 

Further Reading:
Harnett, D.S. (2011) Fashion and Shopping Orientation of Rural vs. Urban UW-Stout Students. Master’s Thesis. The Graduate School University of Wisconsin-Stout. Available at: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=48ac8de1c148032e040 70506ddf8f592b198243f

United Nations (2018) UN Helps Fashion Industry Shift to Low Carbon | UNFCCC, United Nations Climate Change. Available at: https://unfccc.int/news/un-helps-fashion-industry- shift-to-low-carbon (Accessed: 30 November 2023).

Zhang, B., Zhang, Y. and Zhou, P. (2021) ‘Consumer Attitude Towards Sustainability of Fast Fashion Products in the UK’, Sustainability, 13(4), pp. 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041646 

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students. 

Episode guest: Tazmin Jeffreys 
Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp
Episode editor: Lily Killner

Engage with us on instagram and X: @meliorapodcast

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by final-year MSci Biology and Marine Biology student Finola Kirrane who dives into her dissertation about the use of animal-borne devices to unravel the feeding habits of Chinstrap penguins in Antarctica.

Our discussion begins with Finola sharing her experience processing the mountains of data collected by colleagues at the British Antarctic Survey to paint a holistic picture of penguin foraging strategies. She then walks us through how she constructed a model which can predict the number of prey items caught by penguins based on their dive patterns, describing some new discoveries about the behaviour of peckish penguins. Finally, we consider the future applications of this approach through a conservation and sustainability lens, touching on the importance of Antarctic environments to human societies.

Finola's passion for penguins shines bright throughout the episode, so we hope you enjoy listening!

Episode guest: Finola Kirrane
Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp
Episode editor: Jack Dinham

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Engage with us on instagram and X: @meliorapodcast

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by Final year undergraduate Philosophy student Roux Davies to discuss his dissertation ‘Misrecognition, Repression & Detransition: An Account of Gender as Ideology’. 

Roux discusses Philosophy’s unique approach to sustainability issues with particular focus of SDG 5: Gender Equality. He outlines what ideology is and the way it functions in gender. He talks about the role his personal experience of detransition played in forming his dissertation. He talks about the responsibility he feels he shares with academics to produce work which is mindful of its effect on the world. We also hear the perspective of a humanities student on the need for humanities in sustainability. Finally, we discuss the way popular media discusses and often stands as an obstacle to achieving SDGs.

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Episode Guest: Roux Davies 
Episode Host: Prof Simon Kemp
Episode Editor: Libby Kale

Engage with us on instagram and X: @meliorapodcast

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton, we are joined by Joe Hattersley (BSc Environmental Geoscience) to explain why you should care about mine waste.  We discuss how strange fluids draining from huge mine waste piles in the mountains of Cyprus relate to Carbon Dioxide removal, circular thinking, and a variety of SDGs. Plus, the episode offers some advice and insights from Simon and the university experience.

Very good journal article on enhanced weathering and tailings: Frontiers | Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Potential of Waste Materials From Metal and Diamond Mining (frontiersin.org)

Article on the waters of the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus. A little geochemical and geology heavy but great context: Active near-surface mobilisation of slab-derived geochemical signatures by hyperalkaline waters in brecciated serpentinites - ScienceDirect

 Small and friendly article on the asbestos mine (less  complex geology): https://www.visitsolea.com/amiantos-asbestos-mine/?lang=en

The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2024 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Guest: Joe Hattersley (Third-Year BSc Environmental Geoscience Student)
Host: Prof Simon Kemp
Editor: Sophie Green

If you are interested in engaging with more sustainability-related material take a look at both Instagram and X: @meliorapodcast

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium at the University of Southampton, we are joined by BSc Geography student Sophie Prescott for an exploration of her dissertation research titled: “Examining Biodiversity Net Gain: A GIS-Based Investigation of Offsetting Opportunity and Site Selection in Thanet”. 

We discuss the importance of implementing biodiversity net gain in the UK whilst examining biodiversity offsetting and site selection in Thanet. Biodiversity net gain has been implemented in the UK and could aid progress towards sustainable development goal 11: sustainable cities and communities, and goal 15: life on land. Biodiversity offsetting can be used to reach goals of nature conservation whilst allowing urban development, however site selection of offsetting is extremely important to maximise the benefits to biodiversity. This episode discusses using methods including an analytic hierarchy process and a multi-criteria decision analysis to prioritise biodiversity offsetting sites in Thanet. This method could be applied across local planning authorities in the UK to develop a biodiversity offsetting site selection framework, identifying appropriate offsetting sites. Site selection is extremely important for successfully achieving nature recovery targets in the UK. 

Some further reading if you want to know more:  

• Jarvis, M., (2022) The Environment Act 2021: biodiversity net gain and its implementation, Environmental Law and Management, 32 
• Zu Ermgassen, S.O.S.E., Marsh, S., Ryland, K., Church, E., Marsh, R., Bull, J.W., (2021) Exploring the ecological outcomes of mandatory biodiversity net gain using evidence from early-adopter jurisdictions in England, Conservation Letters, 14(6), DOI 10.1111/conl.12820 
• Bateman, I., Balmford, A., (2023) Current conservation policies risk accelerating biodiversity loss, Nature, 618, pp.671–674, DOI 10.1038/d41586-023-01979-x 

Guest: Sophie Prescott (Third-Year BSc Geography Student) 

Host: Prof Simon Kemp 

Editor: Libby Kale 

If you are interested in engaging with more sustainability-related material take a look at both Instagram and X: @meliorapodcast