Lewis
Aaron

Why did you choose to study at NTU?

The initial attraction I had towards studying at NTU was driven by how highly NTU ranked for my chosen course. This initial attraction was further solidified after attending an open day at Brackenhurst Campus. During my visit, I felt as though the campus was specialised for my chosen field of study. The ethos, facilities, and the environment on-site focused on sustainability. The amenities and accommodation onsite were also of good quality with good car parking, the local town of Southwell within walking distance and good accessibility to Nottingham city centre.

What did you enjoy about your course?

The BSc (Hons) Ecology & Conservation course provided a thorough learning package. The modules within the course were accurately targeted to provide a rich and diverse foundation of knowledge that will help to serve you beyond university, within the ecological and conservation sector. The location of Brackenhurst Campus made the natural world very accessible and allowed for the utilisation of course related activities, which provided an engaging and interactive learning experience that supports lecture material. The course tutors and staff in general at Brackenhurst are very warm, welcoming, and helpful. All members of staff are easily contactable and will accommodate your requests, queries or worries to the best of their ability. There is also plenty of supplementary educational resources for a range of topics provided by staff members, should you need them.”

From the course structure to the helpful staff, studying at Brackenhurst is an experience I would whole heartedly recommend for any student wanting to further their knowledge in ecological and environmental studies.

What did you learn - both inside and outside of lectures?

Throughout the course’s duration, I found the academic material to be very engaging, thorough, and informative. The course provided me with a holistic understanding of ecology and other closely related fields. I found all my lecturers to be deeply knowledgeable, supportive, and approachable. In addition to the standard lectures, there were also opportunities for residential trips, field trips and other days out, all of which were enjoyable and supported the academic material well. Further to this, studying on Brackenhurst also provided me with an opportunity to develop one of my biggest passions in life, ornithology. I was able to get involved with South Notts Ringing Group and attend a bird ringing session, where I was able to get involved with ornithological conservation first-hand. From that point I became a member of the group, and this began my journey to becoming the officially licensed bird ringer that I am today.

Did you complete a placement year, and if so, what did you do?

My third year consisted of a placement year where I spent time both in the UK and on the Island of Samos in Greece. My first placement was spent working for the Wildlife Trust in Northamptonshire. Here I shadowed the reserves warden and engaged in plenty of habitat management alongside other volunteers. Whilst working for the Wildlife Trust I also had the opportunity to carry out various surveys and even produce a research project of my own design, which is still used today as a data source by the reserves staff.  The second segment of my placement year was spent working for Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation. Here I was a member of the terrestrial team and led the bird surveys and research on the island of Samos. This work included the continuation of their Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) behavioural and population monitoring projects. I also created a weekly bird survey that aimed to monitor the abundance and diversity of bird species in the local area. Overall, I found the placement year experience invaluable, as not only did it make me a more independent and well-rounded individual but provided experiences I will never forget.”

What have you been up to since graduating?

I graduated top of class in 2021 with the academic achievement of the RJ Windsor Memorial Trophy. Directly after this I began work with the Environment Agency for 4 months as a Trainee Environmental Officer, where I attended permitted site inspections and worked to promote and legally uphold environmentally friendly practices. I left this role as I had the unmissable opportunity to work within ecological consultancy. I joined as a Graduate Assistant Ecological Consultant and further became an Assistant Ecological Consultant for the company Nicholsons. I worked here for just under 2 years, where I developed my written and field ecology skills, as well as my understanding of ecological law. This role involved undertaking protected species surveys such as bats, great crested newts, wintering birds, breeding birds, and reptile surveys, as well as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and other habitat surveys. Additionally, I continue to volunteer as an officially licensed bird ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) within my local county of Northamptonshire as part of the Northants Ringing Group.

What role are you doing now?

I now work for JKS UK Ltd as a Business Development and Operations Manager. JKS UK is an international retailer of construction and outdoor tools, consumables, and machinery. Although not directly related to ecology, I still apply my skills as within this role I’m also assisting in the development of revolutionary environmentally friendly practices such as dust and water free diamond drilling and promoting the conversion of petrol tools to emission-free battery tools. One such example of this is our collaboration with North Northamptonshire Council to replace all their petrol landscaping machinery with state-of-the-art battery tools. In addition to working with JKS UK, I also still undertake some ecology work as a field ecologist for Nicholsons, assisting with protected species surveys.

What have been the highlights and biggest challenges of your career so far?

The highlights of my career so far have been some of the amazing opportunities and experiences I was able to get involved with during my time as an ecological consultant. Also, being surrounded by very talented, knowledgeable, and likeminded professionals was a privilege, as I was able to gain so much knowledge from them and further develop my skillset. The biggest challenges I faced during this time was the working schedule of an ecological consultant, as long hours are worked, and they are often at unsociable hours. Also, upon starting your career after graduating it is easy to second guess your own ability and knowledge, which leads to uncertainty and a lack of confidence. However, this was only temporary and as time went on my confidence grew.

What are your plans for the future?

I will continue in my role at JKS UK Ltd, overseeing the growth and development of the company, whilst promoting environmentally friendly practices. I will also continue my part-time work as a field ecologist, assisting with a range of protected species surveys. My efforts as an active bird ringer will continue and I have many sites that I collect long standing data at, which assists in enhancing our knowledge of ornithological ecology.