Andrew Fisher

Andrew Fisher on Pyrenees fieldtrip

I am 24 years old and have recently completed a three year Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation.

When I was 21, I hadn't a clue where I was heading. After college, I spent a couple of years working mostly in supermarkets and at one point, I did a short stint as a door-to-door salesman. However, I wasn't ruthless enough when it came to making a sale and considering the job was commission based, I didn't earn much money. I had had enough and decided that in order to get a decent job, education was the key! After making the decision to enter the education system once again, I was faced with the decision of pinpointing my desired field of study, this didn't take long though. As a boy, I could always be found in the garden watching ants or collecting woodlice and spiders - something wildlife-based was where I wanted to be!

I searched a few Universities but BU really caught my eye. Bournemouth has so much to offer students, not just in terms of its University, but also in terms of its scenery, diverse flora and fauna, nightlife and its beautiful beach of course.

What I got out of the course

At first I thought that enrolling upon the course would lead me into a job as a park warden or ranger. However, as the course progressed, it became apparent that there were numerous avenues one could pursue within the environmental field that I was unaware of before. For example, environmental consultancy or agricultural and forestry work.

From the start, the BU staff were all very friendly and they made me feel part of the University community. In particular the academics have all been extremely helpful and competent, providing assistance when needed. Each has demonstrated lots of enthusiasm in passing on their knowledge to the students.

The course has provided me with a broad range of educational tools which I can apply in an environmental and/or conservation based career. From Habitat Management and Wildlife Behaviour to Environmental Law and Professional Practice.

One of my proudest achievements came in learning how to utilise Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which will enable me to create digital maps of, for example, environmentally sensitive areas using GIS software, a crucial part of environmental consultancy work.

Additionally, the course has been structured towards a more "hands-on" approach to environmental and conservation based issues. Throughout the three years there have been regular field trips allowing the students an opportunity to get in the field and apply some of the knowledge learned in lectures and seminars.

In my opinion the highlight of the course was the field trip to the Spanish and French sides of the Pyrenees mountain range at the end of the second year. The weather, the scenery, the wildlife was amazing, it was great fun. More importantly, it was a good opportunity for everyone on the course to put knowledge learned in lectures into action.

Ultimately, university has been a fantastic experience. It has provided me with a solid educational foundation and I now feel prepared to enter the ecology and conservation working world. A big part of the university experience has been the people that I met along the way and the friends I have made. The Bournemouth University experience has provided me with valuable life experience - educational and social aspects alike, and after completing the three years, I feel I have grown into a more responsible individual.

What I plan to do next

During my second year work experience placement, I found employment on a 120 hectare country farm park owned by Medway Council in Kent. Initially, I was reluctant to work for six weeks without pay during my summer holiday, however after my six weeks was completed, my boss offered me paid work for the rest of the summer and hinted at a possible job offer upon completion of my degree. I was over the moon and continued to work for the council for the remainder of the summer. The work was fantastic and it ranged from park wardening, to cutting back hedgerows and grassland, cutting down hazardous dead trees, fence maintenance, gardening, building bird feeders, teaching children on school visits, and co-ordinate pre-organised events such as family "survival challenge" camp-outs and kite flying events held within the park. More importantly, I was able to apply many of the skills learned upon the course, which impressed my placement employer. Just before my May examinations, I was contacted by my placement employer who offered me a position within the Medway Council team after university: I jumped at the opportunity and am due to start work at the end of June - fresh out of university and straight into a job!