Biology students were given a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the world of primatology and wildlife research when Professor Russell Hill from Durham University visited to share his experiences from three decades of fieldwork and study.
During his talk, Professor Hill discussed his extensive career as a primatologist, his recent research on UK wildlife, and his widely recognised study on the impact of wearing red in competitive sports. His engaging presentation provided students with a deeper appreciation for the field of wildlife research and the various career paths it offers.
As part of the session, students also had the chance to participate in the MammalWeb Project, a citizen science initiative that allows individuals to contribute to the study of UK wildlife through wildlife identification.
Reflecting on the experience, student Ryan Laws commented: “Russell’s talk thoroughly interested me and inspired me to maybe look into wildlife for a possible future career choice. I engaging and interesting.”
Fellow student Inga Leonard added: “I really enjoyed Russell’s talk. I thought it was engaging, and his experience working on his PhD was fascinating. I also felt like I learned a lot in a short space of time about a topic I had no real understanding of beforehand.”
The visit left students with a greater appreciation for the importance of wildlife research and the potential to get involved in citizen science initiatives.
