MANY young people are at loggerheads when it comes to their career, but one Worcester student is definitely in the swim and hoping to meet some of her own loggerheads head-on this summer

Twenty-one-year-old Sophie Devereux is planning a marine trip to Mexico this summer as part of her foundation degree course in animal science.

She is currently at Hartpury College, in Gloucester, and works part-time at Aquatics and Reptiles in St John's, Worcester.

"Marine life has always been a huge passion of mine and I wish to further my knowledge in marine biology during my last year of university.

"In June I am hoping to go away to Mexico’s Akumal Bay for six weeks, to gather information on how human interaction is affecting green and loggerhead turtles’ nesting behaviour, for my 3rd year dissertation.

"Akumal Bay is a popular nesting site for two of the seven species of sea turtle, the loggerhead and green turtles. Throughout the year these turtles can be seen feeding on the sea grasses in the bay. One of the major aims with this turtle conservation project is to ensure suitable nesting sites are provided on these beaches, but to achieve this, research must be carried out into the preferences of these turtles, and recreate those characteristics associated with successful incubation," she said.

These characteristics include the distance from the shore, habitat environment, size and temperature within the nests. These turtles have always been a popular tourist attraction, but it is not fully understood as to whether human interaction is affecting the nesting behaviour of this species."

Miss Devereux will be involved with the marine animals during the day both in the sea and on the beach and will be recording the number of tourists at regular intervals to determine the relationship between these animals and humans.

"Sometimes the turtles make their nests too close to the shoreline and they get washed away so some of the tasks will be moving the nests. Other tasks will be looking at the temperatures of theses nests because there is a link between temperature and the fact almost all the eggs hatch out as females, which isn't good for the future of the species," she added.

The trip is costing £2,000 for flights, accommodation and equipment.

She has already been sponsored £250 by Worcester Municipal Council and has applied to the national aquarium for support. In addition she is planning a bag pack at Tesco, Warndon Villages, soon, where she used to work, along with other future fundraising events including a cake sale at her university.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Sophie can do so through her page: http://www.gofundme.com/iqe9u8