Volunteer & Internships Careers Advice December 31, 2015 7 min read

How can conservation volunteering help you?

Following the advice from Sarashka King’s ‘How to become a Conservation Volunteer?‘ Conservation Careers Blogger Hannah De Frond explores the many positives that you can gain from a volunteering experience, and why she would recommend it to anyone, especially those aiming to pursue a career in conservation. Field Skills You can gain many field skills

Hannah De Frond
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The IUCN?

Julia Marton-Lefèvre: Making things happen Julia Marton-Lefèvre is the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation membership organization, which brings together states, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, scientists and experts in a unique worldwide partnership. She is the longest serving Director General, and has led the organization for over 7

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The University of Cambridge?

What’s it like to work at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre? Emily worked as Assistant Programme Officer at The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. UNEP-WCMC is the United Nations Environment Programme’s specialist biodiversity assessment arm. They provide authoritative information about biodiversity and ecosystem services in a manner that is useful to decision-makers who are driving

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Early Years December 31, 2015 1 min read

Ara Project Vlog – How to get involved?

Conservation Careers Blogger Marta Calix sends in her final report live from the Ara Project in Costa Rica where she is working as a volunteer. In this Vlog Marta tells us how you can get involved in the project. The Ara Project is dedicated to saving Costa Rica’s two native macaws: the endangered Great Green

Marta Cálix
Volunteer & Internships Careers Advice December 31, 2015 10 min read

The conservation job application process – 299 applicants to 1…

Save the Rhino have a rare paid, year long internship programme (Michael Hearn Intern) which proves to be very popular with conservation job seekers. Last year they had 299 applications, and published the results of their shortlisting process, and provide some practical advice which all conservation job seekers can learn from. We thank Save the Rhino for

Save The Rhino
Scientist Interviews December 31, 2015 5 min read

Nothing but the horizon, and plastic pollution

Conservation Careers Blogger Stella Diamant shares her recent work as a research scientist onboard one of The Ocean Cleanup’s ‘Mega Expedition’ vessels in the Pacific. She documents the plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean, and it’s impact on wildlife. After 3 months spent working 24/7 in Hawaii to coordinate the ‘largest ocean research expedition in

Stella Diamant
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 2 min read

Bhavik Patel – Conservation Scientist in Gujarat, India

I work as a Research Associate for the Sustainable Human and Environment Development Organization (SHEDO) – a very small organization working in Narmada district of Gujarat (India). In this region, the local population is coming into conflict with the interests of wildlife. I am carrying out research to better understand this conflict. Prior to this

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 5 min read

Zoë Randle: The Butterfly (and Moth) Effect

Butterfly Conservation Survey Officer Zoë Randle talks to Conservation Careers Blogger Charlotte Rixon about why moths and butterflies matter, meeting Sir David Attenborough and dispelling those jumper-munching myths. How did you get into conservation?  I got into conservation by lucky accident. I’d never wanted to go to university, because as far as I was concerned

Charlotte Rixon
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Marine Environment Research Association?

A career helping whales and dolphins with Catarina Fonseca Catarina Fonseca is the Researcher and Volunteer Coordinator for AIMM – Associação para Investigação do Meio Marinho / Marine Environment Research Association – in Portugal. Here she tells Conservation Careers her watery story… Why do you work in conservation? Since I was a child I’ve dreamed

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Government of Malawi?

Dr. Julian Bayliss: The Real Life Explorer After meeting Dr. Julian Bayliss at Cambridge University back in 2011, shortly after he discovered what is known as the Google Forest, he inspired me to study Zoology after telling me about some of his adventures. Now featuring in his own Google explorer advert he’s inspiring others by

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 3 min read

OpenChannels – Taking Marine Spatial Planning to the next level

Conservation Careers talks to Nick Wehner from OpenChannels – a website providing all the information ocean planners and marine conservationists need to do their jobs most effectively. Nick also talks about career opportunities within this expanding sector. What is marine spatial planning? Marine spatial planning is a process of talking to different users and finding out

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 6 min read

A wild career in Texas with Matt Wagner

Conservation Careers Blogger Naïma Montacer speaks with Matt Wagner, Deputy Director of the Wildlife Division at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, about his fascinating career… I sat in a small room overlooking the coast of Texas, listening to Matt Wagner speak about what’s new in wildlife conservation around the state. I was intrigued by Wagner’s enthusiasm, not

Naima Montacer
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 4 min read

From England to South Africa – The Stuff Dreams are Made of

Katie Rooke holds a BSc in Zoology and Marine Biology from Aberdeen University and an MRes from Bristol University in Brown Hyaena translocation. She currently works in South Africa, running the Askari Wilderness Volunteer Programme. She is an ideal advocate for anyone trying to pursue a career in conservation within Southern Africa. Here she gives an

Emma Ackerley
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 3 min read

How can the Field Studies Council help your conservation career?

Mel Cousins from the Field Studies Council talks to Conservation Careers about the Field Studies Council, and how they can help you along your chosen career path. What is the Field Studies Council? We’re an environmental education charity, offering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to discover and learn about the natural world

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 6 min read

Action for Trout Conservation with John Zablocki

John is the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Conservation Coordinator for Trout Unlimited.  Trout Unlimited is a USA based NGO with about 180 professional staff and 150,000 grassroots members whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Why do you work in conservation? As a young student in

Action for Conservation
Interviews Celebrating Diversity in Conservation December 31, 2015 8 min read

David Cottridge: The life of a wildlife photographer

Internationally renowned wildlife photographer David Cottridge  has travelled the world, photographed most of Europe’s bird species and worked with the likes of Bill Oddie, Nick Baker and Chris Packham. He tells Conservation Careers Blogger Charlotte Rixon why wildlife photography matters and how to follow in his footsteps. How did you get started as a wildlife photographer?

Charlotte Rixon
Interviews Communicator December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The BBC?

The Bare Bones of Conservation with Ben Garrod Ben Garrod is an evolutionary biologist with a huge interest in primatology and bones!  He has presented his first 6 part television series ‘Secret of Bones’ on BBC4, and has around 6 months left before he finishes his PhD in primate evolutionary biology at University College London. 

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for The Bat Conservation Trust?

What’s it like to work for the Bat Conservation Trust? Heather McFarlane is Director of Communications and Fundraising at the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and is responsible for growing the income and the number of supporters for the UK conservation charity. What are you most proud of achieving in your work? I’m really proud of

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

The Wildlife Trusts: An Interview with Ian Rickards

The 47 Wildlife Trusts are the UK’s largest people-powered environmental organisation, working for nature’s recovery on land and at sea. The organisation manages some 95,000ha of British land across the the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. They run over 11,000 events annually, helping more than 380,000 people connect with nature in their local

Rosie Hynard
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 10 min read

Wildcat Haven – Saving a Species on the Brink of Extinction

The Scottish Wildcat Felis Silvestris Grampia, once present across the whole of the United Kingdom, is now confined to a fraction of its former range. It features strongly in the culture of Scotland and its wild instincts have proven to be virtually untameable. However, it is critically endangered owing to several threats; recent estimates suggest

James Walker
Scientist Interviews December 31, 2015 2 min read

Monitoring Bird Diversity in Cusuco National Park with Sam Jones

I was recently in Honduras, working as a field ornithologist on an Operation Wallacea expedition. Operation Wallacea conducts field conservation research all over the world, and provides young people with the opportunity to experience this research first hand, by bringing school students and university research assistants along with the scientific staff. Sam Jones is the

Marta Cálix
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 2 min read

Nikita Shiel-Rolle – creating change one wave at a time!

Nikita Shiel-Rolle is the founder and Director of the Young Marine Explorers in The Bahamas. She completed her Undergraduate degree at University of Miami and is currently working on a Masters of Science at the University of Edinburgh. Here she tell us about her conservation career so far… Why do you work in conservation? I

Dr Nick Askew
Expeditions Careers Advice December 31, 2015 6 min read

How to Fund a Conservation Expedition

Expeditions are undoubtedly one of the most exciting facets of a career in conservation, and whether you’re going through a volunteer organisation or putting forward your own research proposal, the question of how to fund your project should be given due consideration from the outset. Finding your feet Volunteer organisations such as Frontier and Operation

Thom Starnes
Interviews Mid Career December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for Butterfly Conservation?

Zoë Randle: The Butterfly (and Moth) Effect Butterfly Conservation Survey Officer Zoë Randle talks to Conservation Careers Blogger Charlotte Rixon about why moths and butterflies matter, meeting Sir David Attenborough and dispelling those jumper-munching myths. How did you get into conservation?  I got into conservation by lucky accident. I’d never wanted to go to university,

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 1 min read

What’s it like to work for APEM Ltd.?

What’s it like to work as a environmental consultant? Mark is Head of Ornithology at APEM – Europe’s leading independent environmental consultancy specialising in freshwater and marine ecology and aerial surveys. We offer work of the highest quality and scientific integrity, together with excellent service. WHY DO YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION JOB? I think that the

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 6 min read

Getting your debate on: a career in conservation policy

With the power to protect local species, control national deforestation, or guide sustainable development globally, environmental policy is one of the most influential fields a conservationist can pursue. Conservation Careers talks with Nick Phillips of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) about what it takes to work in policy and why it’s

Kristi Foster
Interviews Scientist December 31, 2015 5 min read

Leading Research in Great Ape Locomotion – Dr Julia Myatt

Dr Julia Myatt, a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, UK, gives her story of how she became a leading researcher in the field of great ape locomotion and animal behaviour, along with some advice for aspiring researchers. Where did your career in wildlife research start, how did you get into it? I never had

Carolyn Dunford
Interviews Senior Level December 31, 2015 7 min read

Sharing indigenous knowledge for a more sustainable world

From edible wild fruits to traditional land management systems, ethnobotanist and ethnoecologist Dr Nancy Turner’s work centres on the relationships between people, plants and environment. Focusing on work with indigenous plant experts of northwestern North America, the Distinguished Professor studies traditional knowledge and resource management systems that can help inform modern sustainability. Her words remind us all to take

Kristi Foster