On 14 August 2026, the IGNITE DLA welcomed students, supervisors and guests to the Research Experience Placements scheme (REPS) Poster Showcase, where participants had the opportunity to discuss the research activities they had undertaken, share their findings and reflect on what they had learned during their placements.
Funded through the National Environment Research Council (NERC), REPS provide undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to undertake a paid summer placement and gain first-hand experience of working on a research project in the environmental sciences. Alongside the placement, participants are also guaranteed an interview for a PhD with the IGNITE DLA. It is hoped that through the scheme participants will be encouraged to pursue a career in environmental science
Over the course of their placements, our REP students have worked alongside academic staff, doctoral researchers and professional services colleagues to explore a wide range of environmental challenges. From collecting and analysing data to developing practical research skills and contributing to ongoing projects, they have experienced many of the rewards and realities of research life.
IGNITE supported three REPs this year:
- Ranithma Kularatne, who was the successful candidate for Dr Jorn Cheney‘s project: Understanding visual ecology using camera technology
- Alexia von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau, who was the successful candidate for Evelyn Workman‘s project: Investigating Long-Term Trends in Cloud-Forming Particles Over the Southern Ocean
- Lucy Fardell, who was the successful candidate for Professor Rachael James‘ project: Safety and Environmental Benefits of Enhanced Weathering as a Carbon Dioxide Removal Technique
This year’s REPs Poster Showcase was also hosted in conjunction with the FLOOD-CDT and the SoCoBio DTP, bringing the total number of REPS participants to eight.
Attendees at the Poster Showcase were able to admire the posters and engage in discussion with the students to explore the research projects that they were involved in. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to test their ability to communicate their projects to a diverse audience, from experienced academics to those with no background in environmental science.
The quality of the posters on display demonstrated not only the eagerness and dedication of the students, but also the support and guidance provided by their supervisors. We would like to thank all participants in the REPS for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm throughout the placement and at the Research Poster Showcase.
We wish all the talented participants in this year’s scheme a bright future, and hope they strongly consider a journey into the environmental sciences. We plan to run this scheme again next year.
Further information will be advertised in 2027!
