Career pathway
Growing up in rural North Wales I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors and was a proper little nature nerd, always looking for slow worms, catching grasshoppers and pond dipping for tadpoles. My fascination for the natural world led me to study Biology and Chemistry at A-Level and then Applied Zoology at University. After graduating my career deviated into Higher Education, and I have spent the last 20 years working in research and impact management roles. Whilst I may not be a scientist, I have continued to pursue my passion for nature and conservation through volunteering, citizen science and nature writing in my spare time.
I am a regular writer for the Biological Sciences Review, a Hodder Education A-Level magazine. I have worked on various wildlife conservation and education projects in the local area, and write a nature blog to help educate and inspire others about wildlife and environmental issues.
Most interesting projects you’ve worked on
Being part of the team leading the University’s Hedgehog Friendly Campus has been incredibly rewarding. We gained Gold Accreditation in 2022 in recognition of our efforts to raise awareness and improve habitats on campus.
I also recently spent some time working on wildlife reserve in South Africa. I helped on a range of conservation projects focussed on protecting and conserving the Southern White Rhino. The data collected will help inform reserve management decisions and will feed into research projects and publications.
Any advice you would like to share?
You can be more than one thing. Even if you don’t end up working in science or conservation, if you are passionate about nature and the environment then you can still make a difference.
Find out more about Steph, and keep up to date with her work on LinkedIn
Instagram nature blog
University of Liverpool - Hedgehog Friendly Campus