Dean
Fisher

Why did you choose to study your course at NTU?

I was studying another course at the time of my decision, at the time of applying it felt like a “practical” degree that would guarantee me employment but there was a factor I forgot about. I was about as miserable as I could be while studying a course I had no passion for.

On a whim one miserable morning I threw caution to the wind and decided if I didn’t swap courses now I'll be stuck in this rut for an unforeseeable amount of time, so I went for it and joined BSc (Hons) Zoology. This was probably one of the greatest and proudest achievements I have ever done for myself, and I have never looked back.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

Overall I get to express myself through my study. Zoology and especially entomology is where my passions lie, so being able to take steps to be a professional in a field I'm so passionate about is honestly a dream come true. To narrow it down, the thing I enjoy about zoology the most is the staff. Constantly wise-cracking and so down to earth, no matter who it is all staff supporting BSc Zoology are full of passion themselves and are always open and available to help students in any context. I feel so lucky to be taught by them.

How do you find your modules and what have you most enjoyed learning?

The modules for BSc Zoology are incredibly diverse. With a course with such a varying degree of subject content, it can be hard to summarise everything into a select number of modules but the staff at NTU have done an incredible job. The modules I enjoy most link to my favourite aspects of zoology including invertebrate zoology, taxonomy, and physiology of behaviour. I'm sure, however, that each zoology student would answer this question differently due to the quality of every module being unmatched by any others. With zoology, there is something for everyone.

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

There are facilities available for every application of zoology that’s needed for any student with any specialism. Even if the facilities don’t seem available, the course staff will always go above and beyond to ensure every student has what they need to succeed. I utilise the lab facilities the most to help with my invertebrate sciences, which is always upstanding because even if I get stuck the staff will always ensure that the issues become rectified in time.

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

When I'm not studying or wandering around the gorgeous 200 acres of land looking for insects, I'm often hanging out with my friends or setting up/helping with events for our variety of on-site societies. Brackenhurst Campus is amazing for connecting people with similar, quite often niche interests and the societies are a great place to facilitate this. I am part of the Entomology society and the Plant Parent society, both of which have helped me meet 90% of the wonderful people I call my friends today!

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

DO IT! There is so much opportunity out there and at Brackenhurst, you will be guaranteed to find it, no matter your passions or goals. Also, some waterproof walking boots wouldn’t go amiss!

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

I did a summer placement with Warwickshire County Council at Ryton Pools Country Park as an intern entomologist and grassland ranger. Through this role, I drastically improved my surveying techniques, my ecological assessment skills, and started to understand what it meant to work with UK wildlife. This helped me begin to understand how all the jobs behind the scenes (that they don’t show you on Spring Watch) work together to help improve and rewild crucial wild spaces in the UK.

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

By far one of the best courses you could study at NTU, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. BSc Zoology has moulded me into the person I am today, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. If anyone was even slightly considering zoology as a course that was right for them, I would urge them to read through the prospectus and simply judge for themselves. Judge the level of careful consideration that has gone into ensuring all the bases are covered through each module, making sure people leave NTU with the skill sets to call themselves zoologists, truly and confidently.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/ will help you achieve that goal?

My plans for after BSc Zoology is to get into Forest entomology, either through the Forestry Commission or any other outside organisation to study beetles in my specialist groups (leaf beetles, weevils and ladybugs). BSc Zoology has provided me with so many valuable industry links that the path ahead seems clearer than ever and I now know exactly who I need to speak to in order to make my dream career happen.

Any additional comments:

Again, I just need to add some more emphasis on how valuable the staff are in making this course happen. I’m continually grateful for their consistent and continual support! Exceptional thanks to:

• Kat Hamill: A truly outstanding course leader whose ongoing support and dry sense of humour always make for a fun and engaging lecture. As a leader and ensuring things are kept under control, Kat's got you covered.
• Jaime Martin: What can't be said about this one, sarcastic as they come and will do whatever it takes to ensure everyone has a smile on their face and is truly happy in all aspects of student life. A local treasure at NTU.
• Adele Lloyd: This encyclopaedia of a human being has been a consistent rock for everyone on BSc Zoology. As our personal tutor I don’t think we could be happier to attend a meeting and open up to such a wonderful person.
• Alex Dittrich: A reasonably late arrival to the Zoology team who has proven themselves to be an outstanding educator through their unbreakable passion and open personality. Alex’s genuine interest in the lives of students and passions shows and we are all unfathomably grateful.

These are the people who make the Brackenhurst experience so great!