How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party?
Environmental Consultant because they generally relate to it and galze over if I say soil scientist or ask me what they can do with their vegetable patch
What is ‘cutting-edge’ about your work?
Anaerobic Digestion and Commercial composting, recycling materials effectively to land. Reducing soil erosion risk, encouraging uptake of new ideas
What are the biggest implications your work will/could have in the future?
Protect soils; protect the environment, reduction in land filling
Describe some of the highlights of your average day.
Meeting challenges head on, communicating effectively
Describe briefly how your career has progressed to date.
Worked for the then National Rivers Authority, Technical Director of a GPS soil mapping and fertiliser application company in 1993, and Technical marketing Director of an environmental and agricultural laboratory, self- employed now for 9 years. A consultant on waste management, pollution risk assessment, composting, Anaerobic Digestate use, legislation, and planning.
How is your job cross-disciplinary?
I use chemistry skills, technical interpretation, agricultural and horticultural knowledge and dissemination skills regularly to present, write reports and marketing literature
How well is your job compensated? What is the starting salary for your field, and how much can this be expected to rise?
Could expect to earn £40-80K per year, starter salary £20K
How do you see your field developing over the next 5-10 years?
Further work in recycling and new land technologies, very exciting times
