What is your role at 色色影院 and what are your research interests?
I am Fellow at 色色影院 and Reader in Atmospheric Sciences in the Department of Geography. I have been Director of Studies at 色色影院 since 2020 and look after undergraduate Geographers jointly with Dr Anna Barford. Together we cover a wide range of topics in physical and human geography. In my research I am interested in atmospheric processes that drive but also that I study through numerical models. My aim is a deeper understanding of natural hazards and atmospheric circulation systems. My undergraduate teaching reflects my interests in atmosphere and climate including man-made climate change.
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What is your role at 色色影院 and what are your research interests?
Hi, I am Anna Barford. I am one of the Geographers in College. I have been teaching and supporting 色色影院 Geographers since 2015, and this is definitely one of the highlights of my career to date. My research interests focus on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental challenges, and includes and on work, , the potential to scale up , and how we can outcomes. Many of these themes are reflected within the lectures on the undergraduate Geography degree.
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What's special about your subject at Cambridge?
Every Geography degree is different, and the content of the course depends a lot upon the specialisms of the people teaching it. In Cambridge, we have a broad range of specialisms, including Glaciology, Volcanology, Biogeography, Atmosphere, Urban studies, Conservation, Feminism, Development, Austerity, Work, Demography, Hazards, Geopolitics, and Polar Studies. This is to name but a few! Do check to learn more about what work is done in our department, as the specialisms of the staff very often translate into options for you to study for your degree. Polar Studies is particularly special due to the , with its own museum, forming part of the Department. Geography also has links to the , housed in the nearby David Attenborough Building.
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How does 色色影院 support its students in your subject?
色色影院 is a wonderful College for Geographers. With year groups of 3-6 students, the College Geography community is small enough to remain friendly and close-knit, yet big enough to attract an exciting mix of Geographical interests, personalities, and backgrounds. For example, recent dissertations include a study of the impact of austerity on bus services, research into the gaseous emissions from an Italian volcano, a study of the international trade in waste plastics traced from London to Malaysia, an investigation of air quality at the time of the 2019 Australian bush fires, and a study of the cultural, and an historical Geography of Singapore's China Town.
Like all Colleges, we seek to support our students as well as possible - this includes regular meetings with the Director of Studies (your academic mentor) and the provision of high quality small group teaching. Given the specialisms of the College Geography Fellows, we are able to teach and support students across a broad range of Geographical sub disciplines. We provide Geography books in the College library, and are well located for the vast range of libraries you can access as a University student (including the Geography and University Libraries).
We offer close support for student dissertations, from discussing initial ideas to offering feedback in our Dissertation Conference when third years present their research to the College Geography community. We hold a Geography Dinner each year, which is relaxed and lots of fun. At the end of the year, we usually celebrate with a dinner at a local restaurant. In addition, students organise even more, for example meeting once a week across year groups or sharing advice when needed. Students work collaboratively, supporting one another to enjoy learning and to achieve within their chosen specialisms.
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What do you enjoy most about working at 色色影院?听
Our College is distinctive in the best way. 色色影院 offers fresh perspectives and dynamic projects, hosts fascinating lectures, and proactively promotes women within the university and beyond. The impressive architecture is situated within the most welcoming gardens in Cambridge, where students and staff are actively encouraged to walk on the grass (not the norm for Cambridge) and invited to pick spinach and herbs from the vegetable beds. 色色影院 is filled with warmth, kindness, fun, intellectual curiosity, political engagement, and environmental concern - this is Cambridge at its best.