Lizzie Bushby
Subject: BA Geography
Graduated: 2011
Place of work: AECOM, Chesterfield
Position: Landscape Architecture Graduate
What made you choose to study geography at the University?
Geography was my favourite subject at school. I love travel and visiting new places. I wanted to learn more about the world and contribute towards making a positive difference.
Alongside the School of Geography's strong reputation, I chose Nottingham because I really liked the green campus which felt really different to the city centre campuses at other universities.
What skills did you acquire during this time?
I learnt a huge amount, from basic GIS skills, to how to write essays and reference properly and how to use an archive to carry out research for my dissertation. More generally I learnt teamwork, time management and resilience skills.
I also learnt to be sceptical, asking questions to check the validity of research and arguments and not accepting facts at face value.
What are your fondest memories from your time at the school?
I have so many fond memories! Field trips to Varese Ligure and the Lake District stand out, but my outstanding memories are of Cultural Geographies of English Landscape in my third year. I learnt so much with Dave Matless and Susanne Seymour about how the landscapes I had previously taken for granted have been shaped over time, and I met some wonderful people. This module led me to my career in landscape architecture.
Where are you working now and what does the role involve?
After a recently completing an MA in landscape architecture at Leeds Beckett University, I am working as a landscape architecture graduate at AECOM, a multinational engineering firm.
The role is really varied and involves working with a wide range of clients on diverse projects including flood alleviation, heritage and community assessments and both assessment and design for new infrastructure.
I use AutoCAD, GIS and Adobe software to produce drawings, as well as report writing, carrying out surveys on site and contributing to multidisciplinary design meetings. It's really varied work and means that each week is different.
What advice would you give to someone considering following a similar career path?
Do it! I had never heard of landscape architecture until 2014 and I wish I had known about it sooner. Research the Landscape Institute, check out their #chooselandscape campaign on social media to learn more about the profession, look up and approach local practices to ask for work experience, ask lots of questions and enjoy every second.