Welcome

Abstract

Welcome to the ninth issue of the PHI journal. Our guest editorial comes from Graeme Mitchell who is the programme lead on the BSc Environmental Health. This year, Graeme was awarded the outstanding teacher award at the annual JMSU Student Experience Awards, voted for by LJMU students.

The submission of your dissertation often signals the end of your time at LJMU, the culmination of three years hard work and commitment. I’m sure that the last three years have flown by, perhaps you recall someone telling you on your first day, that it will all be over in the blink of an eye? I’m sure you also recall thinking how impossible a dissertation sounded when you first came across it. How could you think of an idea, let alone undertake and write up an original piece of research? How could you write something that was 10,000 words long, when you doubted you even knew 10,000 words? But you did it, and you should be proud that you did.

Whilst I hope that your dissertation was all plain sailing, I suspect that for most of you there were a few bumps in the road along the way. In all fairness, no one promised that your dissertation was going to be a smooth ride but you navigated your way through it to the end. Your dissertation was three years in the making and the fact that your dissertation is included in this journal is a recognition of your success – trust me, I know that sometimes it takes a while to be recognised (I’ll just say JMSU Outstanding Teacher award and leave that there). It may be hard to believe, but as academics success to us is not just measured in terms of the marks achieved. It’s also measured is seeing you as a student develop and grow as a person over the last three years, and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be able to be part of your journey.

The dissertations contained within this years’ journal cover a wide range of topics, which highlights the diversity of subjects, which formed part of your programmes, and how they have the potential to touch every aspect of our daily lives. I think this shows how important the subjects you have studied are and how you now, genuinely, have the opportunity to go out and
make the world a better place.

It is easy to see your dissertation as an end point, as you transition from a student to a graduate, but in other ways it is also a beginning. As this is a beginning, it is worthwhile to consider for a moment what the future will hold – for some of you your dissertation will form the foundation of your new career, for others you’ll take a different path, but regardless, always
remember the skills, dedication and commitment you applied to your dissertation and be proud at what you have achieved.

So, congratulations and good luck for the start of your new journey, wherever that may take you.