My first ever module at Cranfield: Environmental Risks
15/11/2018

After welcome week provided a safety net to settle in, make friends and get accustomed to structured days again it was time for the real work to start. I am studying the Environmental Engineering MSc and although day one covered background and foundational knowledge, the activities of the day enabled us to get to know our course mates better. I felt this was a crucial strategy, especially for activities later in the week, giving everyone a bit of confidence to be able to speak up, contribute to discussions, and challenge opinions. I feel that Friday’s group project, the creation of a group risk assessment, would not have been half as effective without this. In brief, the task was to evaluate the social and environmental risks of a new development brought to a hypothetical island, where conceptual models, risk magnitude and recommendations were created.
Teaching Style
Simon Jude and Tim Farewell were such charismatic lecturers – making the 9am to 5pm days not so gruelling. The assortment of lectures, group activities and class team work not only kept the brain stimulated but aided with understanding of concepts such as systems interactions and complex hazards. In addition to this, I always felt I could approach both lecturers with ease. One aspect I thought was particularly interesting was how risk was applied and involved in both Tim and Simon’s careers. Gaining an insight into what they’ve done, whether it be pipe failures for Tim or marine renewables for Simon – their experience applied context to the theory. Seeing its application is something my previous course lacked. I feel this enabled me to increasingly think outside the box.
Regarding Friday’s task, I really liked that we had the opportunity to be interviewed. Again, it’s not confining our learning to what’s directly put in front of us but looking at the whole system. The feedback given in a light hearted and entertaining manner was again just a reflection on the personalities of Tim and Simon. Although a very stressful day (even with the addition of Simon’s stress toys), it was great to gain an insight as to how people work – the reward of winning made it all worthwhile!

‘Press interviews’ conducted as a part of the group project.
Content
The probability and Monte Carlo Simulation lectures I feel were a really great addition to this course. Having exposure to such software and having experience of its application is not only a skill gained, but one I now have awareness of – particularly crucial when thinking about planning my thesis.
Friday’s task, and the assignment of creating a risk assessment was inevitable – but the way it was conducted made the most out of gaining new skills. The task of critically analysing previous risk assessments, such as the Manchester Airport Group, I feel was extremely beneficial to gain commercial awareness. Going through the whole process of a risk assessment together was great to challenge ideas, and the following week having to do one by myself tested my independent learning and how well I could listen to the feedback.
Summary
Overall, I feel this module gave me a wealth full of skills: risk knowledge, public speaking, interview techniques and communication in a diverse group. Applying for grad jobs as we speak, many jobs are asking for knowledge of risk assessments, and consequently, I am so pleased to have taken this module. This positive experience was just an extension of my feelings of my first few weeks at Cranfield.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Powering Progress: How Cranfield will bring the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to life
The keenly anticipated UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy is now published, outlining eight key areas for investment and growth. The Prime Minister writes that it’s a “golden opportunity” and the report foreword says that in ...
Leaving Cranfield soon? Have you heard about Alumni Library Online?
We are proud to offer one of the UK’s leading university library services for alumni. Alumni Library Online gives you instant access to thousands of top quality journal articles and the latest thinking to support ...
Zotero: a powerful free tool for managing your references
Are you working on an assignment, research paper, thesis, or group project and need a way to stay on top of your references? Maybe you have tried using Mendeley to manage your references, but it ...
Journal searching tips
Searching for journal articles can seem a little daunting at the beginning. Here are some of our top tips to get you started when searching for articles in any of our key business journal collections, ...
Sourcing company Betas in LSEG Workspace and Datastream
Following our introductory post on sourcing Betas, this post will go into a little more depth for those who may be seeking more complex data. Betas are accessible in LSEG's Workspace service, through Workspace itself, ...
You could save a life: The real impact of learning CPR
When writing this, my sister told me to tell you my age. I won't do that, but I will tell you that I was in my forties, with no previous heart problems when I ...