Jamie Agombar - the inspirational visionary leader who has transformed sustainability across the HE sector

Jessica Morgan: To what extent does recreational scuba diving accelerate the degradation of Coral Reefs?

Jessica Morgan (BSc Geography) joins us to discuss her research project "To what extent does recreational scuba diving accelerate the degradation of Coral Reefs?" Coral reefs are experiencing unprecedented rates of decline under climate change yet the extent to which local recreational pressures compound climate stress remains contested. This study examined the extent to which recreational scuba diving accelerates coral reef degradation within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where the effects of climate change exist. To integrate social and ecological dimensions, a structured online survey was carried out to capture self-reported diver behaviours, perceptions, and attitudes, whilst a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis quantified and compared spatial patterns of reef condition and recreational diving intensity between study sites in Cairns and the Far North of the Great Barrier Reef. Reef condition and diving pressure were found to be unevenly distributed, with comparatively poorer reef conditions observed where recreational scuba diving density was prominent. Survey findings revealed a 'knowledge–practice gap', as environmentally aware and experienced divers with training still reported routine behaviours that induce minor contact, capable of generating cumulative disturbance. Together, the results contribute to a growing body of research, indicating that concentrated recreational scuba diving activity can reduce local resilience and recovery capacity of coral reefs, resultantly accelerating climate related deterioration in high-use recreational scuba diving areas. Reef vulnerability is shaped not only by climate change but considerably by how local recreational pressure is organised, distributed, and regulated. This highlights the importance of structural management alongside improved diver education in a warming climate. Studies conclude between 19-45% of reefs have already been lost, and even if global warming is maintained at 1.5ºC, up to 90% of coral reefs may disappear by 2050. Episode guest: Jessica Morgan, BSc Geography Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp Episode producer and editor: Ellie Howell  The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Lili-Mei Judd: Nitrogen cycling in a crab-polychaete-macroalgae IMTA system: implications for waste recycling and water quality

Lili-Mei Judd (MSci Marine Biology) joins us to discuss whether a simplified crab–polychaete–macroalgae integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system could reduce nitrogen accumulation to biologically safer levels than crab monoculture through internal waste recycling.  Within fed aquaculture, including crustacean culture, crabs excrete nitrogenous waste as a direct result of protein catabolism, this accumulates within the water system with direct welfare consequences for the cultured species and if discharged to local water bodies can exceed the assimilative capacity and drive algal proliferation and eutrophication.  In this system I designed, fed crab species were co-cultured with extractive organisms from complementary trophic levels so that organic and inorganic nitrogen waste from crab component became feed inputs for the polychaete worms and macroalgae compartments, being recycled within the system rather than discharged as pollution.  This project addressed SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production and SDG 14: Life below water to ensure that we sustainably use marine resources in aquaculture to ensure resilient and nature-based food systems. Three sequential 10-day tank experiments were conducted using native UK species of triplicate crab monoculture tanks and triplicate integrated systems containing European shore crab (Carcinus maenas), common ragworm (Hediste diversicolor), and serrated wrack seaweed (Fucus serratus) and daily water-column dissolved inorganic nitrogen and nitrogen speciation were measured. Here IMTA was shown to reduce waste release and its associated environmental impacts compared to crab monoculture.  This project has given me hope that when you observe natures processes and interactions within an ecosystem and then manipulate through science into our food systems, you will get a most productive system- it is a time to bring more circularity to how we produce our food. If you would like to learn more about this project, please follow the link here to the PDF: Nitrogen cycling in a crab-polychaete-macroalgae IMTA system implications for waste recycling and water quality [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/b-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2F1drv.ms%2Fb%2Fc%2Fd3e69993c58f65b5%2FIQAwFXml5ZPNQqbvLoFhIhjSAYoqIBG3GgLKDmRROvvNHHY%3Fe%3DdSLRjt&data=05%7C02%7CS.Kemp%40soton.ac.uk%7C6da19a98f9f04c1498ce08ded1167370%7C4a5378f929f44d3ebe89669d03ada9d8%7C0%7C0%7C639178091683857397%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6VnM7jXN6JfnYPGEOfScNI9M5UCN%2FraK0uaKeXytL%2Fk%3D&reserved=0] Episode guest: Lili-Mei Judd, MSci Marine Biology Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp Episode producer and editor: Ellie Howell The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Barnaby Williams: Transport infrastructure in Southampton - is mobility accessible?

Barnaby Williams (BA Geography) joins us to discuss his research project "To what extent does the transport infrastructure in Southampton, UK, promote accessible mobility?". A huge part of living in society today is movement – flows of people across space are everywhere. Transport infrastructures are vital in supporting mobility. This project, focusing on the UK city of Southampton, uses a triangulated research design to scrutinise the impacts of transport infrastructure on accessibility.  The results from the online questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews and auto-ethnography show that the perceptions and experiences of the research participants paint an incredibly mixed picture of mobility in Southampton. Factors including other members of society, the quality of transport infrastructure itself and accessibility-motivated measures in the public sphere were all shown to have an influence on mobility, however not always in a positive way. There is a definite need for further research – this study has uncovered a wide range of areas that influence accessible mobility, but with the ever-increasing urban population, such results as this may change as time passes. This research relates to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), also touching on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), demonstrating in part the complexity of mobility as a process, and its multi-disciplinary nature. Episode Guest: Barnaby Williams, BA Geography Episode Host: Prof Simon Kemp Producer and Editor: Mya Harvey The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Luke Farhall: What constitutes effective SDG integration in Higher Education? A comparative analysis of SDG integration methodologies in core curricula across UK universities

Luke Farhall (BSc Environmental Science) joins us to discuss his research project "What constitutes effective SDG integration in Higher Education? A comparative analysis of SDG integration methodologies in core curricula across UK universities". One way a shared blueprint of peace and prosperity provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be achieved is by recognising HEIs as change agents, as they have a unique ability to foster sustainability mindsets via curriculum design and teaching. Despite a growing policy emphasis on sustainability, previous studies suggest that UK universities exhibit wide variation in how, and how deeply, SDGs are embedded within core curricula along with wider sustainability embedding practices. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with curriculum and sustainability leads then thematically coded in NVivo to reveal trends in frequency of methodology type, key barriers and enablers to implementation and finally connectivity between methods such as whole-institution and mixed-method approaches. These both demonstrated greater curricular coherence, particularly when supported by cross-institutional communities of practice. In contrast, reliance on extracurricular or symbolic approaches presented weaker student reach. However, few institutions exhibit systematic, long-term impact monitoring. Amid escalating resource and staff capacity constraints in higher education, ensuring the value and strategic focus of sustainability integration has become an institutional imperative. By identifying key barriers and enablers, and drawing on insights from curriculum professionals, this study aims to inform strategically coherent and evidence-based approaches to SDG integration.   Interesting further reading:  Leal, S. (2016). Conceptualizations of sustainability in Portuguese higher education:roles, barriers and challenges toward sustainability. [online] Academia.edu. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/82963733/Conceptualizations_of_sustainability_in_Portuguese_higher_education_roles_barriers_and_challenges_toward_sustainability [https://www.academia.edu/82963733/Conceptualizations_of_sustainability_in_Portuguese_higher_education_roles_barriers_and_challenges_toward_sustainability] [Accessed 5 Feb. 2026]. Price, E., Dawn Theresa Nicholson, Dunk, R., Lawler, C., Carney, M., Valeria Ruiz Vargas, Veitch, S., Leigh, S., Singleton, M. and Mottram, S. (2024). Enabling change agents for sustainable development: a whole-institution approach to embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 25(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-02-2024-0112 [https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-02-2024-0112]. Weiss, M., Barth, M., Wiek, A. and von Wehrden, H. (2021). Drivers and Barriers of Implementing Sustainability Curricula in Higher Education - Assumptions and Evidence. Higher Education Studies, 11(2), p.42. Doi:https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v11n2p42 [https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v11n2p42]. If you are interested further about my work or want to see parts of my dissertation: please contact me at luke.farhall@gmail.com [luke.farhall@gmail.com] or message me on LinkedIn here:  www.linkedin.com/in/luke-farhall [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fluke-farhall&data=05%7C02%7CS.Kemp%40soton.ac.uk%7C03138e72d7d748a5d74708decc73cf80%7C4a5378f929f44d3ebe89669d03ada9d8%7C0%7C0%7C639172995037139878%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VHOVOxXHY%2FgHCUVDArYJUZYXzeiqFbxBX3FP%2Bm9LnVk%3D&reserved=0] Episode guest: Luke Farhall, BSc Environmental Science Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp Episode producer and editor: Mya Harvey The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.

Samuel Inkster: 'A knowledge, attitude and practices (K-A-P) study assessing social perceptions to plastic pollution in Can Tho, Vietnam'.

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium we are joined by Samuel Inkster (MSci Environmental Science) to discuss his Independent Research Project 'A knowledge, attitude and practices (K-A-P) study assessing social perceptions to plastic pollution in Can Tho, Vietnam', which is part of the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (University of Southampton) and Mekong Institute (Can Tho University) research collaboration. Humankind has become so attached to plastic, that it is now impossible to live a life without it. Plastic is everywhere, causing a multitude of health, environmental, and visual problems. However, few studies look at why we are continuing to and increasingly use plastic. This episode explores our perception of plastic disposal, in the most heavily impacted region, southeast Asia. It adopts the Knowledge, Attitude, Practices (KAP) study framework to comprehensively assess the perception of plastic pollution in Can Tho, Vietnam. Different perspectives were incorporated through a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, using both surveys and interviews. Results show that the residents in Can Tho have a strong knowledge of, and attitude to preventing plastic pollution, and that more knowledge leads to significantly higher attitude. Male respondents had significantly higher attitudes. The novelty of this study is that it is the first to apply the KAP method on the public in Can Tho, and amongst the minority of studies to look at people and plastic as interlinked. This study provides valuable insight, highlighting the gap between attitude and practice, suggesting solutions such as government soft power e.g. through incentives to give ease in adopting sustainable behaviour and behaviour centred education. It is through these suggestions that the capability, motivation and opportunity to adopt pro-environmental behaviour arise, and this will be critical in helping Vietnam transition away from plastic. Episode guest: Samuel Inkster, MSci Environmental Science Episode host: Prof Simon Kemp Episode producer and editor: Mya Harvey The Meliora Podcast Student Research Symposium is part of the 2026 Student Takeover Season where we celebrate the fantastic sustainability research work of our Undergraduate Students.