CUROP students

Over the summer, Sustainable Places Research Institute are delighted to have 4 Cardiff University undergraduate students spending 8 weeks supporting the work of our Research Associates and Research Fellows as part of the Cardiff University CUROP (Cardiff University Research Opportunities Placement) scheme. The CUROP programme provides summer placements for Cardiff University undergraduates in the University research environment, working with supervision on staff-defined research projects. 

Here in Sustainable Places Claire Astin is a Bioscience undergraduate student who is working with the Research Associate, Dr Ria Dunkley initiating a citizen science project that aims to get people engaging with their local environment. Claire will be getting involved in the RSPB TAPE project in Bute Park, Cardiff throughout August. Abbie Stark is from Blackwood, near Caerphilly and is studying Psychology.  Abbie is completing a Cardiff University Research Opportunities placement over the summer with Research Fellows Dr Brian MacGillivray and Dr Yi Gong. The research investigates how social cohesion can moderate the health impacts of extreme weather events and climate-related catastrophes. Jessica Antell, from Tredegar in the South Wales valleys and has recently finished studying BScEcon Sociology and Social policy and will also be working with Research Fellow Dr Yi Gong researching gender health and outdoor space and the relations between these concepts. Laura Pratt and is second year biology student and will be supporting Research Fellow Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth looking at the role of seagrass meadows on fish productivity in the Philippines.

CUROP projects provide unique opportunities for students to sample live research, enhance their academic skills and make a more informed decision on furthering their research at postgraduate level. For researchers, CUROP scholars can contribute significantly to the initiation and progression of research projects and provide valuable additional staffing during the summer. CUROP is now considered to be one of the largest undergraduate research schemes in the UK. At the end of the summer, all CUROP students across the University will come together for a day to exhibit posters of their research, sharing their experiences and disseminating their research findings to the university audience.