Brendan Lang

I am a self-motivated, diligent, and enthusiastic physical geography graduate. I have experience and interests in methods to improve biodiversity, and I am passionate about sustainability, particularly regarding renewable energy as well as the environment. I want a career where I can make a difference, aiding both the environment and society, using knowledge from my undergraduate degree to promote others to become environmental citizens. 

My most recent job was as a Research Assistant at Keele University. In this role, I used a mixture of scientific wet-lab and field-based research techniques to carry out a baseline survey of soil health. I, therefore, have experience in a variety of sampling methods, including pH, electrical conductivity, soil moisture content, organic matter content via loss of ignition, bulk density, microbial biomass, and cation/anion concentrations.  

At the same time, I volunteered in the BioGain Project. This aimed to create a baseline survey for the solar park at Keele University for long-term monitoring and further development around the site’s best management practices. Here I have been making recommendations regarding what methods to use and assisting in surveying and data collection of flora and fauna.

Previously, I have held three customer-facing retail jobs at Card Factory, Clarks and Toys'R'Us.

BSc Physical Geography / Keele University First Class Hons

Dissertation title: Does the maturity and variation in management strategies affect biodiversity on solar farms? 

• During my dissertation, I selected my own research title, developed my own aims and hypothesis surrounding my research question, designed the methodology to be used and carried out the fieldwork. These methods included the use of quadrat and transect sampling. Analysis such as Simpsons Diversity Index and use of Minitab and Excel software. 
• I created a questionnaire to collect qualitative data regarding strategies to increase biodiversity, which I distributed to solar farms nationwide. I then collected and analysed the results of this questionnaire to go alongside my dissertation. 

Modules Studied:

• Physical geography covers many different disciplines and gave me the opportunity to select modules that I was interested in, thus tailoring my degree to suit the career path I wish to follow. 
• Studied modules including climate change, human impact on the environment, geographical information systems (ArcGIS), ecotoxicology and risk assessment, natural hazards, sustainability consultancy, water resources, weather and climate, hydrology and oceanography, concepts and debates in geography, geoscience and society, regional land systems and the science of soil.