Sophie Morris
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Environmental Improvement Officer for Air Pollution & Climate Change
BSc (Hons) Physical Earth Science Graduate
MSc Environmental Dynamics and Climate Change Postgraduate
Master of Public Health (MPH) student at University of Birmingham
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Sophie Morris
Who am I?>>
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I'm an Environmental Improvement Officer for Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sandwell Council.
I have a passion for the environment and I love gardening, crafting and conservation! I am currently studying part-time for my MPH at the University of Birmingham alongside my work.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Project | 01
Master's Dissertation
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A scientific paper exploring the role of artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning in environmental science.
Undergraduate Dissertation
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This dissertation looks at sediments in regions of southwest Wales and southwest Cornwall. Similarities are held between sediments at Hunts Bay, Wales, and sediments found in situ at an exposed section of cliff face in Porth Nanven, Cornwall, which could be indicative of glacial process occurring in southwest Cornwall. Recent research suggested that glaciers may have extended much further south than previously thought in the Last Glacial Maximum, due to a niche-glacier system from the Last Glacial Maximum being identified at Rosemergy, Cornwall (Harrison, et al., 2015). Clast fabric analysis and stereonet projections of Rotherslade, Hunts Bay and Porth Nanven were carried out and compared to identify whether the conclusion could be drawn that glacial processes occurred in Porth Nanven and Hunts Bay and that Rotherslade remained unglaciated in the Last Glacial Maximum, and the implications of this conclusion. Results suggest that Porth Nanven and Hunts Bay experienced glaciation and Rotherslade did not, which calls for a revision of British and Irish Ice Sheet limits.
Project | 03
QGIS for Windfarm Placement
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A report based on QGIS skills that identify regions in Wales suitable for wind farms, based on parameters such as distances from waterways, roads, wind speed and more.
Click me to read!
Some current work projects...
Air Quality Annual Status Report 2020 & 2021
Co-author of the ASR for Air Quality for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, in fulfillment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management, for both 2020 and 2021.
My responsibilities include data analysis of diffusion tube network, including bias adjustment and annualisation of raw data, composition of public facing measures, graphs, mapping of sensors and research. I am a co-author for the report, helping to write in addition to the data analysis.
Working with Faith Groups to Improve Air Quality via Behavioural Change
Successful funding awarded from DEFRA to work with Faith Groups in Sandwell to improve air quality.
My responsibilities include creating a bespoke toolkit for the faith centres to use to improve awareness of air pollution and methods to improve it locally, writing the press release, assisting with the development of a questionnaire to measure change, involvement with procurement of low cost air quality monitors and liasing with key stakeholders.
Wood Burning Stove Air Quality Awareness Campaign and Smoke Control Area
A public-facing campaign designed to induce behavioural change surrounding the use of wood-burning stoves, due to the negative health implications of particulate matter in an Air Quality Management Area. Due to the popularity of stoves, we are working to designate the whole of Sandwell as a Smoke Control Area, as it is currently only covered by a patchwork of 51 orders.
My responsibilities include bringing the Smoke Control Area order to Council for deliberation, creating information for public leaflets, working with the graphics team to develop artwork and banners, and working with the communications team to develop a dissemination strategy to maximise engagement.
Planning Application Air Quality Consultations
Air quality consultations on planning applications and pre-planning advice, in line with the Black Country Supplementary Planning Document for Air Quality 2016 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Based on submitted planning applications, assess the need for conditions on approval, such as a Travel Plan or Assessment, electric vehicle charging points, low NOx boilers, Air Quality Assessment or dust management plan or CEMP.
