Bristol

 bristol@sas.org.uk

• Name – Giles Watson
• Profession – Science teacher (secondary school)
• Region – Bristol
• Key beaches covered – N.Devon, Bude, Porthcawl/Rest Bay
• SAS background –  Hosted screening of surf movies, helped with beach cleans, helped at tradeshow, recruited via Bristol Surf Club.
• Specific Environmental interests – Overfishing, destructive fishing practices, marine pollution, renewable energy, sustainable/recyclable surfing equipment.
• Quiver – 5’10” twin keel fin fish, 6’0” bump wing quad, 6’2” shortboard, 6’4” and 6’6” step ups, 6’10” Indo semi-gun.
• Personal mission statement:  I am passionate about surfing and environmental issues so working with SAS is a natural fit. Anything that helps the worlds oceans, however small, is worth doing!

I am a scientist by background and training and am passionate about science and the environment – I have been from an early age and I always will be. I studied biology, then applied marine science at university, then pursued a career in marine pollution research at Plymouth University, where I worked as a research assistant and then completed a PhD in marine “ecotoxicology”, developing techniques and publishing papers on the use of marine organisms as indicators of pollution in the marine and estuarine environment.

I am committed to living in as “green” a way as I can, although I have to admit to travelling extensively (I have been lucky enough to surf all over the world) so I am as much to blame for the state we’re in as anyone else – probably more so. But I am trying not to fly as much and try wherever possible not to live a wasteful life. I hope I can try and persuade others to do the same.