RES supports local students with careers for the future

Local pupils from the Moffat and Lockerbie areas were among a group of young people from across Dumfries and Galloway who recently took part in a free, environmental science-based field course.

The newly launched “EnviroLab Summer Experience: Careers for the Future” was held at the University of Glasgow’s Crichton Campus in Dumfries. Developed through a partnership between renewable energy company RES and the University of Glasgow’s School of Social and Environmental Sustainability, the course gave students the opportunity to explore future careers in environmental science.

Running for the first time this year, and set to run again in 2027 and 2028, the programme has been designed to give pupils a practical introduction to professional environmental science, with a focus on inspiring future careers in renewable energy, ecology and sustainability. 

During the course, students learnt about marine flora and fauna during a visit to the Solway Coast at Rockcliffe and had a go at mapping coastal topography. The students also spent the day at Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland, investigating the pollution legacy of past industrial activities.

On the final day, students used the University of Glasgow's lab facilities to compare fossil fuels and renewable energy sources through a series of experiments. The day concluded with a live panel discussion on career opportunities in the renewables sector, featuring input from RES’ industry professionals.

Jim Cameron, Senior Development Project Manager at RES, said: “We’re delighted that students from communities close to two of our proposed wind farms benefited from this initiative. The renewable energy sector offers a wide range of exciting career opportunities, and we hope this experience showed our young people they can build rewarding careers close to home in Dumfries and Galloway.”

To ensure the programme was accessible to all, places and all course activities were fully funded.

Jim added: “By removing cost as a barrier, we wanted to give as many young people as possible the chance to take part. We hope it will open doors and encourage students to consider education and career paths they may not have previously explored.”

Pictured: Gavin Shirley from RES presents to the local students, during the live panel discussion

The Envirolab Summer Experience in 2027 and 2028 is expected to comprise a week-long residential field course taking place at the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE) in Loch Lomond. Enquiries can be made to: Dumfries-Admin@glasgow.ac.uk using the subject line: "EnviroLab 2027"