Environmental Sciences Careers Fair Connects Students with Leading Employers
A diverse range of employers and professionals from across Wales and beyond came together at the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences for an afternoon of networking and career exploration. The event provided students with a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with organisations working at the cutting edge of conservation practice, environmental management, and ecological research.
From marine conservation charities and forestry enterprises to ecological consultancies and wildlife trusts, the breadth of organisations attending reflected the exciting diversity of career pathways available to graduates in Forestry, Conservation, Environmental Science, Biology, Zoology, and related disciplines.
Dr Rebecca Jones, Lecturer in Geography at the School of Environment and Natural Sciences commented:
We were delighted to welcome such a strong line-up of employers and practitioners to campus. This event gave our students direct access to the people making decisions about recruitment and shaping conservation work on the ground. The connections made at events like these can be transformative for launching careers in the environmental sector.
The event featured both informal networking opportunities and dedicated speaker sessions, where employers and professionals shared their career journeys, discussed the challenges and rewards of working in the sector, and offered insights into what they look for in potential employees. Whether seeking placement opportunities or preparing to enter the job market, students gained crucial exposure to the organisations shaping environmental conservation and management across the UK.
Student Leadership and Impact
The event showcased the impressive commitment of student organisers who played a central role in bringing the fair to life. Danny Lipatovs, one of the key student organisers, reflected on the significance of student-led initiatives:
It's absolutely brilliant being able to participate in a student-led event on such a scale! I think it shows the ability and passion of our students for their subjects and the wider field, as well as highlights the role that proactive and engaged individuals can have on Bangor University as a whole. These types of events reap benefits for the participating stallholders too, as they're able to network with each other and promote available opportunities within their companies to current students such as volunteering opportunities, internships, placements and even jobs. I'm very proud to have been a part of planning this event for the second year now, and hope that our example will highlight the need for further work to be done in increasing the collaboration between students and staff at our university.
Diverse Range of Organisations
Organisations working across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems attended and included: National Trust, RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Forestry and Woodland (F&W Forestry UK), Field Studies Council, National Landscapes Association, Morlais: Anglesey Marine Energy, Menter Mon, Snowdonia Donkeys, SEP Hydrographic, Eco-Scope, Freshfields, Morgan Sindall Group, Scottish Woodlands, Sea Watch Foundation, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Heneb, Anglesey Sea Zoo, Food Technology Centre, and Tilhill Forestry.
The event represented a unique opportunity for students to explore how their studies in environmental and natural sciences can translate into meaningful careers, gain insider perspectives on the sector, and take important steps in their career journeys. The connections made and insights shared during this event will undoubtedly help shape the next generation of environmental professionals working to address the nature and climate emergencies we face.