This blog was originally created for an assignment, where I had to write blogs on 5 specialist lectures relating to my degree (Zoology with Herpetology); 5 lectures on compulsory talks I attended throughout my year, and one blog post as a summary.
This is my last (compulsory) post.
What I thought
The seminars gave me a lot to think about. At the start of the year I was hoping that they’d introduce me to some magical part of science that I’d somehow managed to miss in the last 20 years. They didn’t do that, and honestly I’m not surprised.
What the seminars did show me, was that I love a lot of different aspects of science, and yes I’m not a massive fan of genetics, but I think I’d really enjoy phylogenetics.
I’ve never considered anything other than field herpetology, however I’ve now realised how valuable museum specimens are as a source of data and I would definitely consider working in a museum in the future.
Herpetology has also always been my future career. I was lucky to grow up knowing what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be, and even luckier to be a dealt a hand in life that let me follow my dreams.
The seminars have made me realise (or perhaps reaffirm) that life isn’t a straight shot, and it’s okay (and encouraged) to deviate from the course.
Yes, I am a herpetologist, but maybe I won’t always be.
I actually really enjoyed the lecture on tree genetics, specifically how it was linked to palaeoclimatology and niche partitioning and that’s definitely an aspect that I want to highlight in my dissertation and perhaps study more in the future.
I also really loved the talk on Hope, the blue whale. Conservation is certainly an aspect of science that I have to ‘get in to’ if I want to study herps, but there’s no reason why I can’t enjoy it in the process.
Likewise, someone having the idea to look at baleen to study the route the whale took through oceans, and to determine the age of it, completely blows my mind. I really hope to be that smart one day.
Another thing that really interests me is the socioeconomic impact of science, specifically in the case of snakebite. As someone who has never been particularly involved in activism, but has avidly followed it, I would love to be involved in some of the front line work in combating neglected tropical diseases.
Teaching? That sounds particularly attractive however, and it never did before.
Listening to other people’s experiences really broadened my mindset on career paths I had otherwise ‘written-off’.
Have I decided against anything?
I can, without a doubt, say that soil is not something that interests me. If I was The Martian and the only way to survive was to become a botanist, I think I’d rather take my helmet off and step out of the air-lock.
That’s not to say soil isn’t interesting, but it’s just not interesting to me.
Pathogens in soil though? That’s something I can get behind.
Did the blogs help with any other assignments?
I’d love to say yes, but the two assessments felt so separate I completely forgot they were part of the same module.
I wish I had looked at the seminars more closely, or noted down interesting questions which could only be answered with further research… perhaps that way I may have come up with a business idea that taught me more. I did however enjoy doing my business plan, and looking back in hindsight I’m proud of the work I did.
Do I understand employability and enterprise better?
Yes and no.
I now know a lot more about business plans than I ever wanted to or thought possible. This is both good and bad. If I ever want to start a company, I know exactly how to create a proposal to do so, however I’m not entirely sure I’d know how to run one.
Making the business plan didn’t rule out anything for me, if anything it made me more confused.
I’ve never been attracted to the idea of running a business, however creating the plan made it seem more like a fun and interesting future prospect, but that could just be me looking through rose-tinted glasses at an idealistic setting as opposed to an actual business.
The C.V. workshop taught me that everything I did was wrong, but somehow I was never refused a job with the C.V. I used to hand-in. Alternatively I did just get a job interview with the new and improved C.V. so who’s to say which is better? The only thing I disagreed with was not putting your D.O.B on the C.V., however I seem to have been proven wrong.
I also know how to present myself more confidently in an interview, and also feel a lot more confident about assessment workshops. I feel especially prepared for less traditional questions such as ‘if you were an animal/biscuit, what would you be and why?’
- A chameleon, because I’m adaptable to my surroundings
- A chocolate digestive, as I’m reliable and unforgettable
Any new contacts?
Unfortunately no, however I have had a few people personally approach me and ask me about my blog, so although it’s not technically new contacts, it is getting my name out there more in the scientific community which is great!
Pros & Cons
- Helped prepare me for my future by giving me valuable and transferable skills.
- Great C.V.
- Bangor Employability Award (BEA) points
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- Takes up a fair amount of time, but spread throughout the year
- Long workshop on business plans (Dragon’s Den), the day before an assessment
Future
I feel like this module, although giving me more ideas about what to do in the future instead of narrowing it down, has successfully prepared me for the real world.
It’s given me skills needed to create a stand-out C.V., the confidence to give a great first impression at an interview, and the ins and outs of an assessment centre.
A lot of what I considered useless information about my life, is actually great stuff to put in a C.V., for example volunteering at Mary Arden’s Farm shows that I have experience both with members of the public and working with large animals.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a great module. Although my assessments are now officially over, I’ll continue to write blog posts and go to Friday afternoon seminars, as it’s something that I genuinely find interesting. There were no major downsides to this module, and it’s benefited me far more than it’s inconvenienced me.
Advice
Write a blog. Turn up to lectures which normally wouldn’t catch your eye- you might find something you like. Explore different workshops and attend lectures which aren’t your speciality. Talk to your friends about what interests them, find out why.
Read my blog posts and improve your employability!
Herpeton Travels 