Passion for primates presents new career opportunities

When Katherine first planned to go to University, it was to study English Literature - but she felt that her lifetime love of books might be compromised by overanalysing them. Instead, she took a foundation course to boost her scientific credentials, which had originally comprised just one A-level, and was then accepted by the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol to study biological sciences.

Roll on four years, and Katherine had achieved a first-class degree. The programme had also given her the opportunity to indulge her interests and study primate ecology and conservation in her final year, working with world-leading experts based at Bristol Zoo.

“I’ve always been wildly fascinated by primates,” she says, “so I really got into the module. Then when Dr Grainne McCabe, who heads up the conservation science and research team at the Bristol Zoological Society, asked for a study to be completed on the sexual behaviour of the Drills, I found myself in the right place at the right time.

“Drills are a large, endangered species, closely related to the Mandrill, and I had the chance to help Dr McCabe’s team with their vital work. The aim of the study was to gain greater insight into the reproductive strategies of these amazing animals, in the hope that at least one breeding pair would be established.”

During that final year, Katherine had also discovered a talent she had not previously recognised: an ability to communicate her enthusiasm to others. She volunteered to spend part of her time delivering hands-on science to schools – encouraging young children locally to see how studying science could be an exciting and rewarding choice.

In particular, she revelled in the opportunity to encourage young girls to believe that science was not just a “boys’ subject”.

Katherine’s work was all part of the ‘BoxED’ outreach work that UWE Bristol has been leading on in the region – teaming up with teachers to highlight the array of study and career opportunities that lie beyond GCSE and A-levels.

“The feedback has been excellent, with teachers telling us that students that would normally be disruptive or unengaged in class really taking an interest. I hadn’t realised just how rewarding that could be; BoxED is making such a positive impact.”

Katherine’s UWE Bristol tutors were so impressed with her work that they gave her a 12- month contract to be part of the 10-strong team co-ordinating the outreach work. Six months into that contract and she has found herself travelling to schools throughout the South West, and pursuing a PG Certificate in science communications along the way. She is now contemplating taking a further three modules in order to complete a Masters degree.

“It has certainly demonstrated how taking part in activities outside of your course can really enhance your employability following graduation,” says Katherine. “The voluntary work I did in my final year has opened up so many possible avenues.”

Once again she has choices going forward: whether to get back into academia and take a PhD or concentrate on further developing her skills set as a communicator.