My interest is in understanding and managing water quality and ecology of urban watercourses. Through the use of benthic macroinvertebrates, I investigate the interactions between these organisms and how they respond to changes in the aquatic environment. As co-investigator for the research with the NERC's Community for Engaging Environment, I am also interested in citizen science and public engagement.

Contact: cecilia.medupin@manchester.ac.uk

Self-funded PhD opportunities

Benthic macroinvertebrates as pollution indicators in urban freshwaters

Benthic macroinvertebrates are a diverse group of freshwater organisms widely studied with regard to their ecology. They are extensively used as river pollution indicators, although their abundance and distribution is also impacted by other anthropogenic stressors in urban environments which influence their ability to respond to pollution. This project will investigate the feeding functions and traits of organisms, how river flow impacts on the abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates through changes in hydrology and water chemistry, and the implications for their use as pollution indicators. The project will provide training in water quality assessment, field survey, the identification of benthic macroinvertebrates and various multivariate statistical techniques.  

Exploring the impact of carbon dioxide levels in running waters

Citizen Science and Engaging Environments

Enquires are welcomed from students looking to develop projects in these areas.

Cecilia Medupin MIEMA, FHEA, PGCE is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and, the Coordinator of the Student Ambassador Programme. She completed a BSc degree in Biochemistry at Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria and then worked for a Nigerian soft drinks company as a Process Control Officer. Following her MSc programme at the UK, Cecilia worked as an Environmental Auditor for a UK rubber recycling company, Environment Officer with the UK Environment Agency and Environmental Compliance Adviser with Sellafield Limited (Formerly BNFL), Cumbria. Upon returning to Nigeria she worked at the National Open University as a Lecturer/Course Coordinator. 

Cecilia is passionate about citizen science as a way of engaging with school students, women and minority communities and has received a number of awards for her role in public engagement. She is passionate about the involvement of research in knowledge-exchange and public engagement. She has contributed to Blastfest science project, Earthwatch https://youtu.be/Df4wwHGSlTI manchester science festival, member of the equality and diversity working group and in partnership with organisations such as the British Ecological Society, CIWEM and she is the Convener of Women in Environmental Sciences (https://www.meri.manchester.ac.uk/wies/about/). She is also a co-lead with the National Community for Engaging Environments https://archive.reading.ac.uk/news-events/2019/April/pr797348.html

Cecilia teaches in the areas of environmental biology, freshwater ecology and pollution studies contributing to first and second year practicals, 2nd and 3rd year lecture units and, postgraduate courses including MSc Pollution and Environmental Control. Cecilia also coordinates the 1st year Introduction to Ecology Unit and 2nd year UG Ecology and Conservation course. She has been involved in field courses in the UK, Greece, Tenerife, Costa Rica and Myanmar. Cecilia brings her experience from working in  Nigeria and the UK in industry, environmental regulation into her lecture deliveries.