Melissa Spiers
Researcher
Biography
Melissa Spiers works as an Environmental Researcher for CREST at the University of Chester. She has a first-class BSc in Zoology, from the University of Exeter, and 11 years of experience working in the third sector for both conservation and sustainability charities. She most enjoys working on the interface between environmental conservation and people, working on stakeholder engagement projects, ensuring sustainability is delivered comprehensively and effectively for all partners, approaching solutions from a place-based perspective (SMART), and modelling or monitoring environmental improvements.
Teaching and Supervision
Melissa operates as a Visiting lecturer on the SE7226 - Sustainability (Industrial Projects) module for MSc students and has lectured on other Business School Masters programmes. She delivers sessions on the Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainability within Business, and LCA.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Melissa utilises her experience working with communities to investigate the social prerequisites of climate action, she studies the alignment of social and environmental goals within both individual and community action, as we journey towards Net Zero. She also conducts Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) working with stakeholders to develop systems and model changes to encourage sustainable innovation and development, incorporating feedback and concerns into this. Melissa's methods involve using the established ISO14040 framework and environmental sociological relevant techniques like action-research and thematic analysis. Overall, this work aims to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 'local' and 'people' levels. Melissa has secured over £60k in funding for research projects for Chester during her time employed.