Partnership supports the next generation of ocean guardians

Three Masters-level students from the University of Plymouth are pursuing their passions for the marine environment with support from UK law firm Ashfords LLP.

The firm provides financial backing to the students as they pursue programmes developed in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The funding has enabled three recent graduates, who completed their undergraduate studies in 2022, to stay in the South West and continue their education.

Caroline Millan and Janine Douglas have enrolled on the MSc Marine Conservation programme, and Maizie Edwards is working towards an MSc in Applied Marine Science.

The scholarships are the latest element of a long-running partnership between Ashfords and the University’s Marine Institute.

The firm has previously provided funding for undergraduate prizes, with around 20 students benefiting from the law firm’s support.

Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Director of the Marine Institute, said: “As a University, we have a global reputation for our marine research and teaching. But if we are to continue advancing our understanding of the marine environment, and finding ways to preserve it, it is vital that we educate and inspire our young people. Our partnership with Ashfords will directly help us to achieve that, encouraging and enabling our students into professions that are critical for the future health of our planet.”

James Hemsley, a Partner at Ashfords LLP, added: “We live and work in the South West, so the coast and marine environment is an integral part of who we are as people and as a business. The continued development of expertise and talent in the region is also critical and particularly in the marine area, where we have a strong practice and reputation. These elements make our partnership with the University of Plymouth a great fit. After hearing the students’ passion for their new programme, we are even more proud to support them, the local community and the global environment.”

The Ashfords’ Marine Scholarships for 2022/23 are:

• Caroline Millan: A BSc (Hons) Marine Biology graduate interested in the overall functions and roles of ecosystems (particularly seagrass and coral reef systems), but also the ways in which larger inhabitants can influence the ecosystem;
• Janine Douglas: A BSc Ocean Science graduate interested in studying marine megafauna, how and why their distributions vary both spatially and temporally, and people’s perceptions of the ocean and the life within it.
• Maizie Edwards: A BSc (Hons) Environmental Science graduate interested in the ecological aspect of coastal environments within the UK, such as kelp forests, and how algal communities can play a critical role in protecting our oceans and coasts.