We are looking back on some of our BSc graduates who have excelled in scientific research, ecology and conservation around the world since studying with us.
Today we meet Betty who graduated from BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology in 2019 and is now an Admin Assistant for BIAZA and volunteer at ZSL London Zoo.
Hi Betty, it has been a few years since you studied with us at the University of Exeter, why don’t you tell us a bit what you’re up to now?
After graduating I decided to spend the remaining months of my student visa enjoying the Cornish coast while continuing with my roles as an Exeter Student Ambassador and a waitress. When my visa expired in September, I returned to Hong Kong and applied for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa, allowing me to return to the UK for another 2 years. I decided to move to London as opportunities were more abundant than anywhere else, but also for a change of scenery and a new learning experience. Admittedly, progress began slow, and only in February of 2020 did I manage to get a customer service role that was vaguely related to sustainability. Not long after, the pandemic hit, and after being furloughed for months I was made redundant. A year after finishing my degree, I was unemployed in the middle of a recruitment freeze and pandemic. I wasn’t feeling so hopeful, and while I was happy for my coursemates that were doing well, I felt like a failure. I needed a sense of purpose, so I shifted my focus to volunteering at ZSL London Zoo. In October 2020, I landed an internship at the British Ecological Society. Even though this was my first degree-relevant role since graduating, my perseverance paid off as I achieved some amazing things including leading my own event at the Festival of Ecology: the largest ecological conference in Europe. A few months later, I joined BIAZA as their Admin Assistant doing everything from researching stats for government lobbying to designing the official agenda for the annual conference! I am now also preparing to start my master’s in Global Sustainability Solutions this September, back at the University of Exeter but this time at the Streatham campus.
We are so glad you have chosen to study with the University of Exeter again … what did you enjoy most about studying your BSc?
I loved the small campus atmosphere! Everything was in one place. Compact, but never lacking. Always new things to discover. A place I’ll always hold dear is the Multifaith Chaplaincy, a hidden gem. It was a place to study, to recharge, to celebrate. Every week we’d be visited by two golden retrievers Obie and Bailey, and their human, Chaplain Pete, who was always there for me. I enjoyed a lot about the Penryn Campus but the chaplaincy made it really special.
What I loved most about my course was being able to immerse in topics I was passionate about alongside some of the best scientists in the world, knowing that everything I was learning was based on the most cutting-edge research and decades of experience. Because of the small campus community setting, lecturers were so friendly and approachable. Often times we were told pieces of research that weren’t even published yet. It’s a really special feeling to be one of the few people in the world to hold a piece of knowledge, especially when you watch it blow up in the media months later.
Why don’t you give us a bit of background about what made you choose to study your BSc with us at the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus?
It was my course that made me choose to study at the University of Exeter. BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology was really unique. At the time there wasn’t much available outside of your standard generalist Biology and Environmental Science degrees and I didn’t feel like I fit into those boxes. My programme really spoke to me, and as with many of us, the field courses sealed the deal.
Up until I started my course I’d spent my entire life in Hong Kong and I knew nothing about UK geography. I assumed all campuses of an institution were just in different spots in one town or city (as is the case for many) so it caught me by surprise that I’d be hours away from Exeter, at the University of Exeter! It happened by accident and I’m so glad it did. I wholeheartedly believe there’s no better place in the UK to study a subject like mine and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
How did you find moving from a city overseas, to a small town on the Cornish coast?
It was one big shocker moving from bustling Hong Kong to countryside Cornwall but this change in scenery taught me so much and allowed me to do so much growing up in such a short space of time. It’s a really unique place, both the campus and Cornwall. You get to enjoy the benefits of a large, world-leading institution while still being in a tight-knit small campus community. Sharing the campus with Falmouth University was eye-opening too. As a bunch of science and humanities students, being alongside an arts university brought an amazing diversity to the community, allowing us to get involved in anything from attending exhibitions to modelling in someone’s photography project- things I never would have done if it weren’t for this unique setup. There was no lack of opportunities available, and I really found a sense of identity working with the students’ union. And to be in Cornwall! The coastline is stunning. The turquoise waters bring an inexplicable serenity and as a bioscience student it was the living laboratory of dreams.
How do you think the BSc helped to prepare you for your next steps?
Though I use my degree knowledge every day at work, it was my proactivity outside of my studies that stood out to my employers in the hiring process, especially going into a career outside of academia. I took advantage of as many of the university’s opportunities as I could. For example, in my third year I started the Zero Waste Society, which taught me skills in teamwork, event planning, admin, social media, and so much more. Being a Student Ambassador and running for student union president in addition to this, not only was I able to demonstrate to employers I was passionate, ambitious, and all-rounded, I was also able to learn what I liked and didn’t like allowing me to better understand what I wanted in a career. I liked that we had a “Preparing to Graduate” module towards the end of my third year too. It goes without saying that you couldn’t possibly fit everything you needed to know as an adult into one module, but to have had a go at a mock job application with guidance was really helpful and gave a lot of us the confidence to start putting ourselves out there.
Why did you choose your career path, is there anything in particular you most enjoy about it?
I’m working towards a career in conservation/sustainability education and events. I chose my career path as I wanted to continue to be engaged in science without necessarily being in academia. I also wanted my career to be about empowering others, whether it is sparking passion for the natural world in a child’s eyes or helping bioscience graduates make most of their careers. I’m especially keen on working with those who feel they have barriers, whether it is racial, financial, a disability, or something completely different as I understand how hard it can be. What I enjoy most is knowing I’m making a difference, to the world, and to other people’s lives. It’s incredibly rewarding.
Do you have any advice for those looking to pursue something similar?
I wonder if I’m qualified to give advice, as I’m not quite there yet. Thus far however, I think one piece of advice would be not to underestimate your steppingstones. It’s unlikely you’ll land your dream job right away but every learning experience is going to bring you closer. At worst, you’ll learn what you don’t want to do and there is so much value in that. Secondly, work on your application skills! Learn to hype up the experience you’ve got. Boast! It is both your experience and how well you can sell yourself that will set you apart from your competition. It is not just the former, sometimes completely down to the latter, and something I wish I knew so much sooner!
Finally, what are your plans for the future?
I’m starting my master’s- MSc Global Sustainability Solutions at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus with a scholarship. I hope to continue to gain work experience while expanding my knowledge in this field I’m passionate about, but from a completely different angle this time! After that, I hope to join another conservation charity, or maybe a sustainable start-up. I anticipate my MSc will open my eyes to things I’ve never even thought about and with that, I accept that my exact career direction will change too. I don’t know where that will take me, but if I’m able, I’d love to be back in Cornwall.
Thank you Betty!
If you want to read more profiles from BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology graduates follow this link or explore our Graduate in Focus homepage to learn more about the degree programmes we have on offer!