From time to time, often in partnership with member organisations, CIEEM is able to offer bursaries to help those looking for a career as an ecologist or environmental manager. These bursaries can help with the costs of, for example:
- attending relevant training courses, conferences and related events (e.g. Summer Schools, field trips)
- purchasing relevant equipment
- gaining relevant unpaid practical experience (e.g. volunteering)
- undertaking research projects.
We are pleased to introduce our two recent Bursary Award winners who each received £2000 to help them progress their careers. See their blog.
Leah Farquharson graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2014 with a BSc in Conservation and Ecological Management (Hons). Since that time, she applied herself through volunteer and working experience in both UK and tropical ecology. Leah has primarily worked in the engagement and education side of conservation in the last few years but is now trying to make the move to a practical, land-based employment role.
To achieve this, Leah left full-time employment and started a self-funded MSc in Environmental Protection (Conservation) at the University of Stirling last September whilst continuing to build on her volunteering experience. She intends to use the bursary to fund a number of additional training courses, including the Tropical Plant Identification course at Kew Gardens and environmental consultancy-related training.
Amy Basford is a recent graduate from the University of Swansea, having achieved a first-class honours degree in Zoology. She is now undertaking an MSc in Environmental Biology: Conservation and Resource Management at the same university. In addition to her studies she has been a volunteer for the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and is a member of the Birmingham and Black Country Bat Group, participating in the 2019 Batlas survey project.
Like Leah, Amy is planning to use her bursary to undertake further training to complement her postgraduate studies. These courses are likely to cover survey and identification of a range of protected species and habitats. Bats are, of course, a particular passion and Amy intends to buy her own bat detector as well as learning how to handle bats with a view to becoming a voluntary bat carer.
Can you help?
We would love to offer more bursaries so could your organisation help by sponsoring an award or making a donation towards future bursaries? If you are interested in helping ecologists and environmental managers of the future please do get in touch via enquiries@cieem.net.