BSc Graduate in Focus: Meg Hayward-Smith

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 Meg who graduated from BSc Marine Biology in 2020 and is now a Marine Adviser for Natural England on the Wessex Seas team.    

 

Hi Meg, it has only been a year since you graduated … why don’t you tell us a bit what you’re up to now? 

I currently work for Natural England as a Marine Adviser for Natural England on the Wessex Seas team – I split my time working on marine projects and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) casework. At the moment I am working on a project looking at monitoring and surveying the population of black bream off the Dorset coast to help support their population in the marine conservation zones.

I also work for Research Development UK as a Marine Scientist where I crew a traditional sailing boat named Molly Oxford which we use as a research vessel. Currently, I’m working on a project setting up a network of marine F-PODS (hydrophones) around the southwest coast to better understand the population and distribution of cetaceans in these waters.

 

Congratulations Meg, can you tell us more about your pathway and career to date?  

I moved from Norfolk to Cornwall when I was 17, which was a big step, to study Marine Biology at Falmouth Marine School. I wanted to get involved with as many marine projects as possible so I started to contact different organisations including Cornwall Wildlife Trust and trained to become Seaquest, ShoreSearch and Marine Strandings volunteers, which led me to become one of the Marine Stranding’s hotline coordinators. Next, I founded Falmouth Marine Conservation which opened up the opportunity to volunteer and get involved with more projects and different organisations. I started being invited to a variety of different conferences and meetings.

I then began my degree in Marine Biology at The University of Exeter which allowed me to gain a variety of skills and knowledge about the marine environment. Whilst studying for my degree, I continued volunteering and undertook an internship with Natural England looking at Pacific Oysters, and conducting shellfish surveys with Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (CIFCA). As well as gaining marine qualifications such as Marine Mammal Medic as part of British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Marine Mammal Observer with SEICHE.

In the summer months, I worked as a senior sailing instructor for Mylor Sailing School which allowed me to meet a variety of people who worked in the marine industry. This led to me crewing on a sailing boat conducting marine acoustic work and a paid role as a Researcher immediately after finishing my studies. My course finished in May/June 2020 when I applied for an adviser role at Natural England which, after a long wait, was successful. I started working with them at the beginning of December 2020, and I now work in the Wessex Seas team.

 

We’re glad you had such great opportunities! How do you think the skills and opportunities gained during your BSc have helped you in your career?  

Setting up the Falmouth Marine Conservation Group really helped with my career progression. It allowed me to create a network and get to know people within organisations I wanted to work for. I gained vital skills in project management , event management and community engagement.

Through the marine group, I did a large amount of public speaking and running events. The knowledge I gained from lectures and practical sessions at the university was crucial for giving talks or even rockpool sessions.

 

In the summer months I worked as a senior sailing instructor at Mylor sailing school, gaining valuable experience with teaching clients, managing staff and even marine ID on the water from Birds to cetaceans. It also gave an insight into the marine industry which is vital for projects I work  on now. Including the life ReMEDIES project working with recreational boaters and the importance of seagrass habitat. Having practical experience working on boats and gaining the qualifications needed for boat work was vital for my role as a marine scientist. Volunteering for Cornwall Wildlife Trust helped me to run some of their projects in Falmouth including SeaQuest and Shoresearch. I still help with the marine strandings project and am one of the marine strandings hotline coordinators.

 

What attracted you to study your BSc at the University of Exeter, Penryn Campus?

The university has amazing field trips like the Galapagos which is just a once in a lifetime experience to go to a place like that. As well as this, the lecturers are leading academics in their fields and provide incredibly valuable and current insights and experiences in their teaching.  I also really like the pace and lifestyle in Falmouth, there’s a really good study/life balance. You can be studying in the library and then head to the beach and go surfing. I think that’s really important when studying to have that balance. Studying marine biology, there’s such amazing marine life in Cornwall. Other universities have their field trips to Falmouth but we’re lucky enough to study and live here.

 

What did you enjoy most about studying your BSc? 

My favourite part of the course was the practical side, such as lab experience and getting out on survey boats. In the first year, we went on the IFCA survey boat ‘Tiger Lily’ to collect plankton samples around Falmouth. In second year, we were lucky enough to spend some time on the Plymouth Marine Laboratory survey boat where we got hands-on experience identifying benthic marine species.

The University of Exeter has great relationships with external organisations allowing volunteering opportunities and discounts on courses such as SEICHE where I gained my Marine Mammal Observer certification. There were many guest lectures which gave a really valuable insight into the industry. Being surrounded by the academic community of Masters and PhD students, and research staff was hugely valuable as an undergraduate, and hearing first hand about ground-breaking research was incredibly inspiring.

The Galápagos Islands field trip in third year is without a doubt my most treasured experience from my time at Exeter. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip that got up close and personal with Darwin’s finches, iguanas, sea lions, penguins and giant tortoises.

 

Why did you choose a career in marine research? 

I’ve always been next to the sea and I do a lot of sailing so I’m often enjoying the marine environment. When I was younger I used to spend my summers in the Hebrides and spent my time snorkelling and exploring the rocky shores and knew I wanted to go down the Marine Biology route.  I enjoy the hands-on practical side of being a marine scientist including boat work, surveys and collecting data out in the field. But I also love engaging with people and showing them what the oceans hold and how to empower them to better protect them.

When NE listed 200 vacancies in 2020, Kelly Moyes put on a careers session with an alumni who worked for Natural England, Amber Nichols, who gave some great advice and insight into working with NE. I now work in the same team as Amber so having the Exeter alumni network is really valuable.

 

Do you have any advice for those looking to pursue something similar? 

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! If you can’t find a volunteer organisation in your area or work that you want to go into, then create it, cultivate that community and the rest will follow. Whether it’s setting up your own volunteer group, society, business, or even creating your own brand via blogs, podcast and presenting on social media. These all could allow you to get vital skills in the area you want to work in and allow you to grow your network.

 

 

Finally, do you have any plans for the future? 

I’m really interested to see where my current roles take me, but there are many great organisations I’d like to work for such as the British Antarctic Survey and IFCA. I’m excited to see where the marine acoustic research leads and would perhaps be interested in pursuing a masters in that area.

 

Thank you Meg!  

 

If you want to read more profiles from BSc Marine Biology graduates follow this link or explore our Graduate in Focus homepage to learn more about the degree programmes we have on offer!