Heather Fortune is a final-year Ecology and Conservation student who was awarded the Employability Bursary during the summer of 2022.
Heather used the fund to carry out a research project in Honduras and reflects on the experience below:
My time in Honduras was an eye-opening experience which helped me to gain a better understanding of conducting research in the field. I travelled to the Cusuco National Park where I slept in a tent in the cloud forest surrounded by a vast array of different species. I witnessed venomous snakes such as the emerald palm viper, tiny bromeliad frogs, iridescent jewel scarab beetles, nine different species of hummingbird, and many other bird species endemic to the region.
Heather Fortune
The focus of my project in Cusuco was on birds specifically, so I spent most of my time observing them and identifying them by their calls. I found it difficult to recognize many bird calls at first, but my abilities greatly improved throughout the season. I also developed my skills in mist-netting, which allowed my team and I the chance to closely study and recognise different bird species, and by the end of the trip, I was given the opportunity to handle some of the birds myself. Additionally, I led a mist-netting session for a group of visiting secondary school students, which demonstrated the progress I had made during my time there.
I would say that the Employability Bursary made a massive difference to me, as it allowed me to afford to go on this life-changing trip. Firstly, I gained invaluable experience working in a difficult environment with only basic facilities and minimal access to the internet, all while working alongside new people. Secondly, I benefited from the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and language, which will enhance my future employability as it has inspired me to improve my Spanish skills and hopefully become fluent one day. And thirdly, I have become a more resilient and confident person since taking this trip, as I faced many challenges throughout my time in the forest, both physical and mental, which I had to overcome, none more so than the steep hikes we faced daily to carry out our work.
My advice to anyone thinking of applying for the bursary is to choose a project that you think will not only benefit humanity, but also one which you will truly enjoy. It does not feel like work when you love what you are doing every day, and for me, it was a pleasure to wake up in nature every morning, and the breathtaking sunrises that I saw made the 4am wake up calls much easier to bear. You never know which skills you might gain from a project which could have a positive impact on your professional or personal life in an unexpected way. It is crucial to throw yourself fully into whatever project you wish to carry out and take advantage of the time you have and the connections that you make. Try to speak to all of your colleagues, ask them questions about their work, and try to stay in touch afterwards, as you never know how they could help you in the future.
Overall, my time in Honduras has provided me with some clarity over what I might do once I graduate, as I am now considering specialising in this area of research. In conducting my own project, I realised how much I enjoy overseeing my own objectives, collecting data, and thinking critically when making observations. It was also incredibly rewarding to collaborate with others as part of a team project, as the data which we gathered will go on to be used for several future studies.
We are delighted to hear that Heather has had such a positive experience through this project, and that the Employability Bursary has helped her to make the most out of it. To find out more, including information on how to apply and eligibility, please visit ourEmployability Bursary page.
