Dr Barnaby SmithPress Officer After gaining a BSc Geography Degree and an MPhil in Glacial Geology from Southampton Barnaby embarked on a PhD studying Pyrenean Water Sources at the University of Birmingham. He joined the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology as a water quality scientist at our Wallingford Research Site within 10 days of submitting his PhD. He has worked for the organisation for since 1999 and in late 2005 changed his emphasis from science to communication by being appointed as the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s first Press Officer. “Whilst completing my PhD I knew I wanted to follow a research career in the environmental sciences and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology was the obvious choice. As the UK’s leading organisation for land and freshwater environmental research I knew I’d have the opportunity to learn new skills, both in the field and the laboratory, and also have a range of career options.” “I spent my first five years working on water quality issues across the UK. I’ve sampled rivers in Bradford, walked up mountains in Wales, discussed water quality with farmers in the South West, and presented my results to conferences across the world. During this time I’ve worked with a wide variety of organisations and many interesting and highly skilled people.”
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“Throughout my time at CEH I’ve been able to take advantage of a wide range of training opportunities. I’ve developed a set of transferable skills in fields as diverse as computing, project management and science communication. I’ve had the opportunity to input into UK Government Policy, and just as important, spent time speaking with a new generation of scientists during the events we run for schoolchildren as part of National Science Week.” “Recently I’ve switched roles to take on a new post as organisations first ever Press Officer. On a day to day basis I help to communicate the amazing diversity of environmental science that goes on across the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. With hundreds of staff spread across the country I get to travel and learn about new science on a day to day basis.” “As Press Officer, I’ve been able to keep in touch with my science background and still get to give input to a number of science projects. In addition I get to fulfil my passion for science communication by speaking to members of the media and the public about issues ranging from genes to climate change. Every day new topics hit my desk and part of the excitement is not knowing what will happen next!”
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