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LANDMARK 2016
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Research
and consultancy
The RAU continues to develop its research
activities; both academic research creating
new knowledge and applied research
which is more closely aligned to the
needs of our immediate constituency,
farmers, and land managers. This year
will see three PhD students graduate
from the School of Agriculture, Food and
Environment (SAFE), and continue the
trend of recruiting new PhD students,
especially within the School of Equine
Management and Science (SEMS). The
consultancy team has also managed a
wide range of projects for specific clients.
Dr John Conway
Director of Postgraduate Research Students
Thames Water
The RAU recently completed the first
stage of a three year pilot study with
Thames Water, to assess the mitigation
of pesticides in field runoff through
specially designed infield drainage
systems called swales. Two swale sites,
located at Harnhill Manor Farm, were
monitored by BSc (Hons) Countryside
Management student, Thomas
Edwards. The aim was to determine
whether natural processes of soil biota,
infiltration, and sedimentation can
reduce levels of pesticides (in particular
metaldehyde) at a catchment scale
before entering larger watercourses.
Although results have varied across the
two sites, early evidence suggests the
interaction between soil and vegetation
as a filtration system is key for reducing
the level of pesticides that can be
found in runoff from agricultural land.
Research development
and the corporate plan
The 2015-2020 RAU corporate plan
has refocused our strategic aims into
just three; the first two dealing with
taught students, the third focusing
on the importance of research to the
strategic development of the University.
Its key performance indicators include
increasing the number and quality of
research publications, increasing the
number of academic staff publishing, and
increasing the number of PhD graduates
– all underpinning our aim of acquiring
Research Degree Awarding Status.