In July 2024 Cormac Harte, a local Malin lad, was employed by the Inishowen Rivers Trust (IRT) in a part time summer student position to assist the Trust in its summer work programme. This role was funded by LAWPRO under the 2024 Catchment Support Fund. Four candidates in total were interviewed and Cormac was selected based on his enthusiasm, knowledge, potential as a PhD chemistry student and strong references. Prior to interviewing taking place, potential candidates attended an IRT field day in June involving the placement of a brash revetment on the Culdaff river in Inishowen.
The idea behind a student gaining work experience with IRT for three months would mean that they would experience professional benefits while contributing to the conservation work of the team. IRT felt that they could contribute to a student’s early professional experience in a tangible way so that they could benefit in the future job market, and gain work experience away from university.
The student role involved a wide variety of tasks, including developing a water testing chemistry kit, assisting with fieldwork related to leaky dams, conducting site visits, and public engagement events. These responsibilities would provide the student with practical hands-on experience in an environmental science role.
One of Cormac’s duties was developing a water testing chemistry kit for citizen science purposes, which would be made available in local libraries to borrow free of charge. This task involved ensuring that the kit could be easily used by both professionals and the general public. This project showcased the student’s skills in problem-solving and product development, all while contributing to the Trust’s goal of promoting citizen science and environmental awareness.
Developing and designing a water testing chemistry foldout sheet was another responsibility he undertook. This information sheet will serve as a guide for individuals and community groups on how to test river water quality using the water testing chemistry kit. By creating this educational resource, Cormac contributed to the Trusts goal of empowering local communities to monitor their water systems while gaining experience in technical writing and education.
In addition to the water chemistry foldout, Cormac worked on producing an educational online video, which focused on how to make brash bundles to be used for river revetments and bankside protection. This video was created to assist other river trusts in understanding how to create brash bundles to assist their river conservation efforts. Creating and editing these videos allowed Cormac to engage with multimedia communication, a valuable skill in modern conservation efforts.
Cormac’s enthusiasm, self-direction and teamwork was evident when he assisted in fieldwork associated with the yearly inspections of leaky dam infrastructure. This work involved visiting 70 sites in the Clonmany area alongside his colleague and working as a team to complete the work effectively and quickly. Leaky dams are a nature-based solution to flood management, and the Cormac learned about their effectiveness and potential impacts on the river ecosystem. Participating in this fieldwork not only increased his understanding of hydrology but also improved his field observation and data collection and analysis skills.
Cormac took part in educational site visits focused on addressing fish passage issues in rivers around Carndonagh, Clonmany, Culdaff and Moville. Gareth Pedley of the Wild Trout Trust UK travelled to Inishowen to impart his knowledge on fish passage barriers to the team at IRT. Fish migration is a critical factor in maintaining healthy river ecosystems, and Cormac learned to assess barriers to fish movement, such as culverts, and explore solutions to improve passage for fish. This experience would provide training in fish passage techniques, boosting his knowledge in river management.
Engaging with the public at events like the Clonmany Agricultural Shows would be another part of the student’s role. This helped the student further develop his communication and interpersonal skills, as they would be explaining technical concepts to a lay audience and answering questions about the Trust’s work. Public engagement is vital for raising awareness about river conservation, and the student’s involvement would contribute to strengthening community ties with the IRT.
The part time summer position provided Cormac with a great learning experience, offering opportunities to develop technical skills, scientific knowledge, and communication abilities. In return, the Inishowen Rivers Trust benefitted from the student’s contributions to projects, helping to further the organization’s goals of protecting and restoring local streams and rivers.
