Profile
Rachel Meacock
My CV
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Education:
High School: The Gilberd Secondary School and the Sixth Form College, Colchester, Essex.
University: The University of Aberdeen (Bachelors degree in Marine Biology) and Heriot Watt University (Masters Degree in Marine Planning for Sustainable Development)
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Qualifications:
GCSE’s
A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology
BSc in Marine Biology
MSc in Marine Planning for Sustainable Development -
Work History:
Volunteer seabird and cetacean surveyor for MARINElife
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Current Job:
Graduate Environmental Consultant
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About Me:
Hi there, I’m Rachel, energy based environmental scientist who makes sure oil companies aren’t destroying our oceans, and part time pageant girl. I ensure oil companies don’t disrupt the environment whilst working within my community to promote science and charity work.
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I live in Aberdeen, Scotland, with my partner and our two cats. In my free time you’ll catch me hours deep in a very intense Sims 4 session, or cooking and baking. I also have a thing for makeup, so you’ll regularly catch me practising my skills in front of the mirror.
I’m also a pageant girl and use my platform to encourage more young people to get into science, particularly young girls. As a girl who loved fashion and beauty, but also science, I was often criticised and told I would be taken less seriously if I continued to focus on my appearance. This is a poor message to give to anyone! I want to prove to young people you can be whatever you want to be – just because you like to wear makeup doesn’t mean you’re scientific skill and ambitions should be taken less seriously!
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I’m an environmental consultant in the oil and gas industry. My primary role is supporting oil operators in their development and operational permitting and consenting. This involves analysing available data to see whether their planned operations will cause minimal environmental disturbance, and whether the operations can feasibly go ahead. I also analyse oil production data. This includes monitoring chemical usage, ensuring production rates are kept within their permitted limits, ensuring oil spills are not likely to occur, monitoring atmospheric emissions, and several other important things that are required by law to be reported.
The basic answer – if you want to go and drill a big hole in the seabed, you need to get through me first!
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My Typical Day:
I work a 9-5 in an office, so not quite as exciting as balancing animals and chemicals in a lab. I wake up, get coffee in me, get some smart clothes on and head to work. I usually start by checking my emails, and write out a series of reports based on the data I have available and the jobs I have which need to be completed that week.
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My work changes week to week, based on what our clients need us to do. I usually start by checking my emails to see if the clients I deal with personally have any new work, any data for our existing work, or if my team members need any assistance. What I do is very team based, so it’s important we all check in with each other regularly.
If I’m putting together a permit application, I usually start with a big document called the Environmental Impact Assessment and Justification. This introduces the type of operation that is being under taken by a client, a detailed description, a presentation of the environment in the area that the operation will take place, a detailed description of the impacts of the operation, and a conclusion which outlines whether the operation will have a minimal or larger effect on the surrounding environment. We also have to undertake analysis of any chemicals planned for use and risk assess each one to ensure it will not be dangerous for the surrounding environment. Other documents could involve a noise assessment to ensure whales and dolphins aren’t affected, or an assessment of a potential oil spill.
Once a permit application is ready, it’s sent off to the Government to review. They often send back a lift of comments and questions, and we liaise with our clients to assess anything of particular concern. The documents are then tidied up, incorporating any new data we now have, and sent back to the government. Once they’re happy, the permit is granted, and we hand everything over to the client to begin their operations.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Determined, detail-orientated, chatty
What did you want to be after you left school?
A marine biologist, working with dolphins (turns out that's a very boring subject though!)
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes! I never did my homework, and spent more time daydreaming than doing my work.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I have a few! Camilla Cabello, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Gabrielle Aplin and Nina Nesbitt are my most listened to though.
What's your favourite food?
I love burgers, but they need to be Quorn or meat-free because I'm a vegetarian.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
I'd wish for £1,000,000, a new car, and a boat so I could go out to sea whenever I wanted to
Tell us a joke.
Why are fish so smart? Because they live in schools!
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