Earth Day 2026: Managing our Waste Legacy

You are invited to the Department of Geography and Environmental Science on Earth Day!

This talk is designed for students interested in or thinking to apply to study Geography at university. It will be of most interest to Year 12 and 13 students, though invitation is open to all.

Professor Kate Spencer will give a 45 talk which explores urgent and underexplored issues around the UK's waste legacy. Historically we have disposed of our domestic waste in landfill sites in the coastal/estuarine zone that are now at, or near, to high water. With climate change and associated predictions of sea level rise, increasing frequency of storm surges and changes to precipitation and river discharge there is now a risk that this contaminated material may re-worked and released to river, estuarine and coastal environments. Kate's work has been widely featured in UK media, including the Guardian, BBC and Radio 4. It is directly relevant and extended coastal topics studied as part of the A-Level Geography Curriculum.

We will also share information about QMUL degree programmes in Geography and Environmental Science. There will be a Q&A with student ambassadors about apply to, and studying at QMUL.

Schedule

3.00: Arrival and Welcome

3.15-4.15: Talk with Q&A

4.15-4.45: QMUL degree programmes and ambassador Q&A

Please contact Liz Storer, [email protected] with any questions

Read more about Queen Mary degree programmes here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/course-info/geography-environmental-science-and-global-development/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=pmax&utm_campaign=hybrid_sse_ug_apply_2026&utm_content=subject_ug_apply_geography&gad_source=1

Read more about Kate's work here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/geog/staff/academicstaff/profiles/spencerk.html

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