Bethany
Wells

Why did you choose to study your course at NTU?

The course was known for being one of the best for getting into the zoo industry, and when I started my degree I wanted to be a zookeeper or work in field conservation. This course covered topics I was interested in and that would help me reach that goal.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

It covered a wide range of zoo and animal topics, from biology to social sciences. The variety allowed us to explore all areas of the zoo industry which gave me a great understanding of different areas.

How did you find your modules and what have you most enjoyed studying?

As someone who never enjoyed science at school, I thought I wouldn’t like the in-depth scientific modules, but I actually really enjoyed my Anatomy and Physiology and Health and Disease as they were really interesting.

My favourite modules were Biological Basis of Behaviour (lovingly known as b-bob) and Anthrozoology. For my b-bob assignment I looked at courtship rituals in jumping spiders, and I still force everyone I talk to to look at videos of them dancing now. Anthrozoology was great because we looked at the human-animal relationship and had a lot of guest lectures from people in fascinating careers, including a beekeeper that made a lot of us want to do that ourselves.

All of our lecturers were really knowledgeable and approachable, which made the more difficult topics easier to understand.

What did you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

Like a lot of students, the library became a second home to me. Being on a campus that focuses on animal sciences, so being able to dedicate a lot of the library to that meant you could almost always find what you were looking for.

Having an animal unit on campus was also great, both for learning and also for when you needed to look at a goat or a donkey to calm down.

What did you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

When the weather was nice, we’d sit on the lawn for a picnic or wander around the tracks around campus. Being in the countryside was nice for the peace and quiet and you could sometimes feel like you were in the middle of nowhere (not always a bad thing!).

Volpro was always a fun way to spend a free hour, where you got to help out with caring for the animals on the unit. We always loved ferret enrichment and donkey walking!

What is your top tip for someone considering studying/ living at Brackenhurst Campus?

A good pair of wellies and a waterproof coat. Being in the countryside means it can get muddy!

I didn’t drive and lived nearer the city but nowhere near the bus route, so finding people you can car-share with is handy (and good for the planet).

Did you get involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve?

In my first year I did work experience at Stonebridge City Farm as part of a professional development module. This was my first full-time experience with animal husbandry and was hard work – especially because it was over winter so a lot of freezing cold days!

For my placement year, I joined the Communications team at Durrell, based at Jersey Zoo for 6 months. It’s a small team so even as an intern I got to work on almost everything the comms team did, which was a lot! Social media, website, marketing, events. It was definitely the best part of my degree. At the end of my placement, they had a vacancy within the team which I successfully applied for and was able to work part-time and remotely during my final year. I wouldn’t have even known that sort of job existed without the opportunity of a placement year. Being able to go on placement and experience the world you want to work in properly is so valuable because there’s no way to know if you’re going to like doing something without doing it.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

You cover such a wide range of topics that it means whatever your special interest is, you’ll probably learn loads more about it. You might also find new specialist interests along the way like I did. The campus is a really relaxing place to be, but still has a lot going on so it’s the best of both worlds.

What have you been up to since graduating?

I am currently Digital Coordinator at Durrell, managing the website and app and also writing content for all channels. Whilst I’m not zookeeping, which was my original goal when I started studying, this is definitely my dream job. Having the scientific knowledge makes writing articles about conservation slightly easier, as I can understand the science and then make it understandable for a wider audience.

What are your plans for the future?

I’d like to study a masters in Science Communication at some point, which would help with my current career path. I’d also love to travel more and see some of Durrell’s conservation sites in real life.