Iain Russon - Fisheries Scientist
Hello, I’m Iain Russon and I started working for APEM in August 2011 as a Fisheries Scientist, based at the new Cardiff office.
I have had an interest in science and the aquatic environment for as long as I can remember which is highlighted through my studies. In 2001 I attained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and in 2002 an M.Sc. in Applied Marine Science from Plymouth University. In July this year I received my PhD from Southampton University where my research focussed on the response of fish (with a focus on eel and lamprey) to barriers to movement. This mainly involved laboratory work with experiments being undertaken in large open channel flumes, within which various obstacles such as fish screens, and crump, flat-v and orifice weirs could be placed to determine the fish response to them. Between completing my M.Sc. and starting my PhD I worked as a Junior Researcher at the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, where I undertook research concerning the stress response of fish to crustacean ecto-parasites.
During my time as a PhD student I heard about APEM through my supervisor and met a few APEM employees at various conferences and workshops throughout the UK. I quickly realised that this was a company I would like to work for, particularly in the field of fisheries engineering (fish passes and screens), where the skills, theory and knowledge attained during my PhD research can be applied to real life situations.
During my spare time I enjoy SCUBA diving and rock climbing, although I am out of practice with both at the moment but hope to be able to get some practice in around the Welsh coast and the Brecon Beacons in the forthcoming months. I also enjoy swimming and have entered the occasional sprint triathlon (more to force myself to get fit than for the enjoyment!).
