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Beaver trial field officer: Jenny

This Case Study belongs to Ecologist.

From an early age, Jenny knew she wanted to work in conservation and has always been actively involved in volunteering for organisations such as Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Whilst at University, Jenny continued her voluntary work, became president of the Conservation Society, was Science editor on the student magazine and had a part-time job in London Zoo. In addition to this, during her holidays Jenny successfully sought (through a phone call to the editor) commissions for writing work from the Times newspaper and sponsorship from Landrover to participate on expeditions and scientific research projects which varied widely and included field work with wolf populations in Ukraine.

Through the contacts Jenny had built up, she started her first position two days after graduation as a seasonal warden on a tern reserve with Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Since this post Jenny has worked for the World Owl Trust where she was running the UK conservation projects, contributing to scientific publications and was invited to chair an owl symposium at the first European Congress for Conservation Biology. After this, Jenny worked as the water vole officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust for three years and has recently started a very exciting post for the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland as beaver trial field officer. This will be the first ever reintroduction of a mammal to the UK and Jenny expects the job to be a huge challenge.

Jenny comments that working in ecology is hard and hours can be long in uncomfortable conditions. To be successful, in addition to gaining as much experience as possible, it is important to be committed, have good relationship management skills for dealing with members of the public and be prepared to listen to people.

Jenny works as a freelance journalist in addition to her full-time job. For the future, Jenny may do a PhD if the right one comes along and will also face the dilemma of considering more senior positions which though better paid will take her away from the field work that she loves.

Case Study sourced by Tracey Innes of University of Aberdeen, 15 April 2009.