REDDITCH-based Alcoa worker Freya Phillips has been selected for an Earthwatch Institute fellowship to work on critical environmental research in the French Pyrenees.
Freya, aged 20 and from Wythall, will be one of 25 employees of the worldwide aerospace giant selected for the task — and the only one from the UK.
“We’re a global company and we’re very conscious of the materials we extract from the earth,” said Freya.
“As a result, we care about the environment and how we can give something back.”
Freya, product management co-ordinator at the aerospace, space and defence giant, will spend one week collecting data to help solve some of the most critical environmental issues, including observing large animals in the wild and capturing, marking and releasing smaller mammals.
On her return, she will create a project to address an environmental issue at work or in the community.
“It was a tough selection process but I like to think they chose me because of my background – all my A-Levels were in the sciences, and I would definitely encourage girls to do sciences at school,” said Freya, who is now taking an Open University degree in business management.
Alcoa plant manager Todd Emerick said: “We are delighted that Freya has been chosen to represent Alcoa Aerospace Fastening Systems and Rings, Redditch at the Earthwatch Institute expedition to France.
“She has a keen interest in environmental matters and her participation and feedback will help us understand the impact of our processes on the environment.”
Alcoa are based on Park Farm and since 2003, more than 200 of its employees have contributed more than 15,000 research hours to solve current sustainability challenges.
