Meet our students

This space is for students to share their experience of getting involved in one of our sustainability linked projects or working with us as an intern. Students undertake valuable research and offer an essential perspective on our activities and we place huge value on their work. So if you are a student and want to find out first hand what working with us looks like read on!

Juliette Grammer

Juliette is a Masters student having just graduated with a BA in geography. She loves the Body Society at the Uni and doing Pilates and running. Juliette was a full time intern in August 2023.

'Coming from an academic background in geography, the opportunity to see the practical side of what I was learning about making the world more sustainable and applying it to a higher education workplace setting was so fun and interesting for me. I enjoyed working with academics and seeing the great effort they were making to get their students involved with sustainability.

Knowing I was working on a project that was making a difference was also very fulfilling, as everyone should have the opportunity to learn about sustainability and how it is affecting the world around us. I would recommend fellow students to go for roles that you feel passionate about making a difference with.'

Mustafa Adamjee

Mustafa is in his 2^nd Year of BSc Accounting and Finance With Industrial Experience. His interests include: exercising, football, trying out new restaurants and cooking. Mustafa was a full time intern in August 2023.

'During my internship with the Exeter Sustainability Team, I was immersed in a dynamic and collaborative environment that deeply enriched my understanding of sustainability in education. Working alongside a supportive staff, the interns and I took on the challenging task of auditing university modules against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Exeter’s Transformative Education Framework. This involved interviewing lecturers at the Penryn campus, an experience that provided valuable insight into the practical application of sustainability principles within curriculums.

The internship was highly interactive, with constant feedback that made me feel truly engaged in the project. My contributions were not only heard but also implemented, which reinforced the importance of collaboration and active participation. The staff's consistent support and guidance were instrumental in helping me navigate the difficulties of the project. By the end of the internship, I felt a strong sense of accomplishment, having contributed meaningfully to a project that aligns with global sustainability goals.'

Berit Harwood

Berit is an International 2nd year BA Geography student. Her academic interests include food security, sustainable education, and grassroots community organisation. In her free time, she enjoys trying new NYTimes recipes, petting any outdoor cat she can find, and crochet. Berit is a part time intern. She started in March 2024 and finishes in December 2024.

'Working with Responsible Futures allowed for me to gain hands on experience with sustainability in education, as well as a nuanced perspective of the inner workings of the university. It’s been such a wonderful experience to get to know and connect with so many passionate and intelligent academics who care just as much about the climate crisis as I do – definitely a highlight!

This internship has also allowed for me to make tangible change in the Exeter community and offered a space where my opinions and thoughts were not only heard but valued and put into action. RF and the sustainability team as a whole have opened my eyes to new and engaging ways I can get involved with sustainability both professionally and in my day-to-day life."

Rebecca Rowe

Becky is a part time master's student in Social and Organisational Psychology. She has been an active committee member of Be the Change society throughout her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, being president for 3 academic years and worked on various sustainability projects and internships across the University! She enjoys connecting with nature and reading! Beck is a part time intern. She started in June 2023 and will finish in December 2024.

'Having the opportunity to be involved with Responsible Futures has been the best experience of my university career! It has enabled opportunities to communicate and work alongside a plethora of stakeholders within the university and further afield. As well as this, it has facilitated conversations and collaboration between staff and students, ensuring that their perspectives are acknowledged and reflected upon in the work we do.

It has been wonderful to be involved in such a holistic approach to sustainable education, with staff and students at the center of what we do. This has been incredibly empowering to see. I have felt as though my voice has been heard, my opinions acknowledged, and more importantly, actively reflected on. It gives me great hope that there are many individuals in these spaces that are also striving for long-lasting sustainable changes, in whatever form they may take.'

Emily Pink

Emily is a Masters student studying Publishing, who also completed her undergraduate in English at Exeter. Her academic interests include climate justice, radical optimism and intersectional publishing. Her hobbies include baking, charity shopping and crocheting!

'Working in the Sustainability Team as Engagement Intern has so far been fascinating. I’ve loved being able to delve into Exeter’s plans to continually work towards a more sustainable future, as well as encouraging students to engage with issues of climate. Each staff member is evidently so passionate about their respective field, and it’s incredibly motivating to witness how change is happening before my very eyes.

It’s also exciting to insert my personal interests into my job. I could speak about sustainability for hours, and it’s great that so many of my colleagues share that curiosity. I can’t wait to see what else I get up to this year.'

Sophie Nash

Sophie Nash is a third-year MSci Zoology student with academic interests in animal behaviour and cognition. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, volunteering with local environmental charities, and exploring the Cornish coastline! Sophie is a part-time intern who started in April 2025 and will finish in June 2025.

“Completing an internship with the sustainability team has allowed me to develop my skills and experience in a working environment, while still having the incredible close support provided by both the Internship team and the Sustainability team. Interning part-time, I have had to balance completing the internship with preparing for my third-year exams and other commitments, such as volunteer work. There was a lot of flexibility to facilitate this balance, which was very useful and definitely helped to improve my time-management skills!

The content of the internship itself was also so engaging and fulfilling. I surveyed student views on sustainability education before analysing and reporting the results to guide change at the University. Knowing the work you are doing will have a positive impact for years to come is such an incredible feeling, and gave the internship so much more personal value, in addition to the value it will no doubt provide for my future career in conservation.”

Lan Anh

Lan Anh is a Master's student in Accounting and Finance with the Sustainable Finance Pathway. Her hobbies include volunteering, nature walks and travelling. She had a part-time internship as Responsible Futures Research and Communications Associate.

“Working with the Responsible Futures Team has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey at Exeter. As an international student, this internship offered a unique opportunity to experience the UK work culture while gaining practical, hands-on experience. It helped me develop key professional skills, including communication, teamwork, and analytical thinking, all within a supportive and purpose-driven environment. The flexibility of the role also allowed me to effectively balance my academic commitments while contributing meaningfully to the team’s work.

My highlight of the experience has been engaging with students across campus, listening to their views on sustainability, and gathering their ideas on how the University can better incorporate sustainable practices into teaching and learning. At a time when the world is facing serious environmental challenges, it’s encouraging to see how aware and passionate young people are about driving positive change. Being part of a team that supports and amplifies these voices has been both inspiring and empowering, making me feel connected to the university community.”

Sophie Foster

Sophie Foster is a third-year BA Geography student with a strong interest in sustainability and climate change. Her hobbies include playing tennis and going for early morning swims at Dawlish. Sophie joined the Sustainability Team as a Responsible Futures and Communications Intern from April to June 2025.

"Interning with the Sustainability team has been a really valuable and enjoyable experience. As a Responsible Futures and Communications Intern, I had the opportunity to work with students from a range of degrees and year groups, including some from Penryn. It was a great way to meet new people and learn from each other while contributing to something meaningful.

Before starting, I’d only heard of Responsible Futures in passing, so it was exciting to learn more and gain insight into how the University is progressing with the accreditation. One highlight was writing a report at the end of the internship, where I presented student feedback using clear, accessible graphs. This helped me build confidence in handling large datasets and improved my visual communication skills.

I’m particularly proud of stepping out of my comfort zone by speaking to students on campus and encouraging them to take part in the survey. Although challenging at times, it really boosted my confidence and strengthened my communication skills.

I was also encouraged by how engaged and enthusiastic students were about sustainability. Their interest made me feel hopeful and proud to have played a part in this work. The experience has helped me grow personally and professionally, and it will definitely support me in my sustainability journey going forward."

Bella Smart

Bella Smart, recent BSc Geography graduate. Has a strong interest in sustainability with an incoming MSc in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh. She enjoys running, hiking and water sports in her spare time.

'During my internship in transport data analytics, I had the opportunity to apply the analytical and technical skills I developed throughout my Geography degree to a real-world setting. I worked extensively with Excel to organise, analyse and present both quantitative and qualitative data, and used GIS to map postcode data from survey respondents bringing spatial data to life in a meaningful way.

This experience allowed me to see how the skills and methods I had studied could directly contribute to shaping decisions in transport planning and sustainability. It was both exciting and rewarding to transform raw data into clear insights that could inform real outcomes.

The team I worked with was incredibly supportive, always willing to answer questions and provide guidance when needed. Their encouragement and collaborative approach made me feel valued and confident in my contributions. I especially appreciated how open they were to new ideas, which made the internship both educational and enjoyable. Yet again, I would like to say thank you much for this opportunity!'

Bella’s project was funded from the University of Exeter’s Civic University Agreement (CUA) allocation of Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF). The Exeter CUA sets out how the University works in partnership with other anchor institutions in the region to help find solutions for society’s most pressing problems.