Student Resources
Developing Useful Skills
Many important skills are developed outside the classroom, particularly through research and work experiences. Some skills essential to science are learned in a rather passive manner, but these skills can also be more specifically and actively cultivated, especially those that relate to communication. Reading and writing scientific papers, leading discussions, and giving oral presentations in class and in academic conferences are all endeavors that require considerable skill to do well. In many cases, these skills will offer benefits in daily life, too. Below are several good resources for developing them. Practice makes perfect, but some instruction beforehand can go a long way...
"How To" Guides for Essential Skills
How to Read a Scientific Paper - One of several UFIs (Useful Flyers of Information) developed by Mark Davis of Macalester College, this one describing the process of efficiently but conscientiously reading scientific papers.
How to Write a Scientific Paper - Another UFI from Mark Davis that describes the basics of writing for the purpose of publication in a peer reviewed journal.
How to Give an Oral Presentation - Another UFI from Mark Davis that focuses on essential oral presentation skills.
How to Lead a Discussion - Another UFI from Mark Davis, with pointers on leading lively discussions, which is often more difficult than it seems.
How to Take Notes in Class - This isn't a guide, so much as a brief commentary with sources... Many students prefer to take notes on their laptop, and for some, that may improve their ability to record and organize their learning. However, for the majority of students, taking notes by hand (pen/pencil on paper) results in improved learning outcomes, and improved grades. This is partly because hand note-taking promotes the processing and reframing of lecture content (rather than transcribing lectures verbatim), and partly because it frees students (and their surrounding peers) from laptop distractions and multitasking. There are many scientific articles on this topic; here are two good ones: Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) describe why students perform better when taking handwritten notes, and Sana et al. (2013) highlight the consequences of laptop distraction for comprehension.
Books on Writing and Visual Communication
The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. This little book, popular enough to be known simply as "Strunk and White," offers unparalleled advice on how to write better. Want to improve your writing? Read this.
The Non-Designer's Design Book, by Robin Williams. Good design is essential for presentations, posters, handouts, and beyond, but we rarely have any clue how to achieve it. This is a great introduction to the topic, and a more useful resource than you might realize. The downside of reading it is that you'll start to notice bad design elements everywhere you go.
Many important skills are developed outside the classroom, particularly through research and work experiences. Some skills essential to science are learned in a rather passive manner, but these skills can also be more specifically and actively cultivated, especially those that relate to communication. Reading and writing scientific papers, leading discussions, and giving oral presentations in class and in academic conferences are all endeavors that require considerable skill to do well. In many cases, these skills will offer benefits in daily life, too. Below are several good resources for developing them. Practice makes perfect, but some instruction beforehand can go a long way...
"How To" Guides for Essential Skills
How to Read a Scientific Paper - One of several UFIs (Useful Flyers of Information) developed by Mark Davis of Macalester College, this one describing the process of efficiently but conscientiously reading scientific papers.
How to Write a Scientific Paper - Another UFI from Mark Davis that describes the basics of writing for the purpose of publication in a peer reviewed journal.
How to Give an Oral Presentation - Another UFI from Mark Davis that focuses on essential oral presentation skills.
How to Lead a Discussion - Another UFI from Mark Davis, with pointers on leading lively discussions, which is often more difficult than it seems.
How to Take Notes in Class - This isn't a guide, so much as a brief commentary with sources... Many students prefer to take notes on their laptop, and for some, that may improve their ability to record and organize their learning. However, for the majority of students, taking notes by hand (pen/pencil on paper) results in improved learning outcomes, and improved grades. This is partly because hand note-taking promotes the processing and reframing of lecture content (rather than transcribing lectures verbatim), and partly because it frees students (and their surrounding peers) from laptop distractions and multitasking. There are many scientific articles on this topic; here are two good ones: Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) describe why students perform better when taking handwritten notes, and Sana et al. (2013) highlight the consequences of laptop distraction for comprehension.
Books on Writing and Visual Communication
The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. This little book, popular enough to be known simply as "Strunk and White," offers unparalleled advice on how to write better. Want to improve your writing? Read this.
The Non-Designer's Design Book, by Robin Williams. Good design is essential for presentations, posters, handouts, and beyond, but we rarely have any clue how to achieve it. This is a great introduction to the topic, and a more useful resource than you might realize. The downside of reading it is that you'll start to notice bad design elements everywhere you go.
Post-College Advice, Graduate School Questions, and Career Guidance
Navigating potential career paths and life in general after college can be a major source of uncertainty and anxiety. It needn't be! In addition to in-person advising, I've curated a collection of resources to help get you on the right track.
Not sure what you want to do right after college?
That's fine - most people aren't. In the UK, it's typical for students to take a "gap year" between high school and post-secondary education. That's not very common here, but a similar gap year (or years!) can offer a lot of benefits after college, and before whatever comes next. Whether you're interested in working abroad or staying local, the following opportunities are nearly always beneficial for your personal and professional development, regardless of career interests. They can also give you a much-needed break from studenthood, and help you figure out what you want to do next. Here is a sampling of the many good opportunities out there:
Peace Corps - This is the "Gold Standard" of international service opportunities for a reason - volunteers are well-supported and come away from the experience as better people, hopefully having also made some positive difference in the place they worked. Terms are 2-years, with choice of country and area of interest.
WorldTeach - This is an international teaching-focused opportunity, similar in many ways to Peace Corps, but with shorter terms. Unmarried couples can be placed together, unlike with Peace Corps, which may be a deciding factor for some. My wife and I (not yet married at the time) spent 8 months in Guyana with this program, teaching reading and science (respectively) to middle and high school students at a school in the small forested town of Kwakwani. It was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend this program to others.
Teach for America - Another great teaching-focused program that places recent college graduates in under-resourced public schools in the United States. Teachers serve for 2 years or more.
AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, with a huge variety of opportunities all over the country. Terms are from 3 months to a year, with a few added perks like student loan deferment and future job opportunities.
Interested in graduate school?
Many mentors (myself included) will encourage their students to consider pursuing a graduate education, knowing how rewarding it can be. But this is your life, and there are a lot of good reasons to consider other options. So, read through the resources below to get a better understanding of whether graduate school is right for you, and if so, how to take the first steps. These links are oriented toward academic degrees (master's and doctoral) rather than professional ones (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.), which usually follow an application process more akin to applying for college. However, there is a category of environmental degree called a "professional master's", which tend to be less focused on research and more focused on developing professional skills. These programs cater to students who want to pursue environmental careers after graduation, rather than more academic tracks. A good description of the differences between an academic master's and a professional master's can be found on the Nelson Institute webpage here: What is a Professional MS Degree and How Does it Differ from a Research-Focused MS? There are many great environmentally-focused professional master's programs out there (including the Environmental Conservation program at UW-Madison!), so do consider these options if this graduate school path appeals to you.
A Survey of Doctoral Students in Ecology - This survey offers honest perspectives from doctoral students in the field of ecology, some of whom offer advice and others highlight the many valid reasons to pursue a different career path. Read through all of the comments, and think carefully about whether this is the right career path for you.
Advice on Applying to Graduate School in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: How to Prepare and a Step-By-Step Guide - This comprehensive article by Walter Carson et al. has great advice and clear direction on how to go about applying to graduate school in ecology / evolutionary biology. This process is very different from applying to college, so it is worth some consideration of how to navigate it all. Again, this focuses more on the academic or research-based master's and doctoral programs, rather than the professional ones.
Want to get more field / research experience?
Having some research experience (whether in the field or lab or elsewhere) goes a long way toward the likelihood of gaining admission to a good graduate program or finding a suitable job. Potential advisors and employers want to know that you can do the work, and you want to make sure you enjoy it. In general: the more experience, the better. There are many great ways to get this research experience off-campus, whether as a current student or recent graduate. Here are a few places to look for opportunities elsewhere:
Society for Conservation Biology Jobs Board - This is a very active jobs board with professional positions, fieldwork jobs, and other opportunities related to conservation in the US and around the world. Scan through the list or use the keyword search with terms such as "technician" or "field assistant", or with the type of research you are interested in ("plants", "turtles", etc.) or with the geographic region you'd like to work. Many opportunities for fieldwork are unpaid but supported, meaning you won't make a salary but will likely have your costs covered, including lodging, food, and sometimes travel. The type and duration of work varies considerably.
Texas A&M University Wildlife and Fisheries Jobs Board - This jobs board is similar to SCB's, but more generally focused on wildlife research, and a bit more focused on the US.
ECOLOG - This is a popular jobs board focused on ecology, but unlike the others, you can also subscribe to the listserv and receive e-mails notifying you of opportunities that you may be interested in.
Navigating potential career paths and life in general after college can be a major source of uncertainty and anxiety. It needn't be! In addition to in-person advising, I've curated a collection of resources to help get you on the right track.
Not sure what you want to do right after college?
That's fine - most people aren't. In the UK, it's typical for students to take a "gap year" between high school and post-secondary education. That's not very common here, but a similar gap year (or years!) can offer a lot of benefits after college, and before whatever comes next. Whether you're interested in working abroad or staying local, the following opportunities are nearly always beneficial for your personal and professional development, regardless of career interests. They can also give you a much-needed break from studenthood, and help you figure out what you want to do next. Here is a sampling of the many good opportunities out there:
Peace Corps - This is the "Gold Standard" of international service opportunities for a reason - volunteers are well-supported and come away from the experience as better people, hopefully having also made some positive difference in the place they worked. Terms are 2-years, with choice of country and area of interest.
WorldTeach - This is an international teaching-focused opportunity, similar in many ways to Peace Corps, but with shorter terms. Unmarried couples can be placed together, unlike with Peace Corps, which may be a deciding factor for some. My wife and I (not yet married at the time) spent 8 months in Guyana with this program, teaching reading and science (respectively) to middle and high school students at a school in the small forested town of Kwakwani. It was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend this program to others.
Teach for America - Another great teaching-focused program that places recent college graduates in under-resourced public schools in the United States. Teachers serve for 2 years or more.
AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, with a huge variety of opportunities all over the country. Terms are from 3 months to a year, with a few added perks like student loan deferment and future job opportunities.
Interested in graduate school?
Many mentors (myself included) will encourage their students to consider pursuing a graduate education, knowing how rewarding it can be. But this is your life, and there are a lot of good reasons to consider other options. So, read through the resources below to get a better understanding of whether graduate school is right for you, and if so, how to take the first steps. These links are oriented toward academic degrees (master's and doctoral) rather than professional ones (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.), which usually follow an application process more akin to applying for college. However, there is a category of environmental degree called a "professional master's", which tend to be less focused on research and more focused on developing professional skills. These programs cater to students who want to pursue environmental careers after graduation, rather than more academic tracks. A good description of the differences between an academic master's and a professional master's can be found on the Nelson Institute webpage here: What is a Professional MS Degree and How Does it Differ from a Research-Focused MS? There are many great environmentally-focused professional master's programs out there (including the Environmental Conservation program at UW-Madison!), so do consider these options if this graduate school path appeals to you.
A Survey of Doctoral Students in Ecology - This survey offers honest perspectives from doctoral students in the field of ecology, some of whom offer advice and others highlight the many valid reasons to pursue a different career path. Read through all of the comments, and think carefully about whether this is the right career path for you.
Advice on Applying to Graduate School in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: How to Prepare and a Step-By-Step Guide - This comprehensive article by Walter Carson et al. has great advice and clear direction on how to go about applying to graduate school in ecology / evolutionary biology. This process is very different from applying to college, so it is worth some consideration of how to navigate it all. Again, this focuses more on the academic or research-based master's and doctoral programs, rather than the professional ones.
Want to get more field / research experience?
Having some research experience (whether in the field or lab or elsewhere) goes a long way toward the likelihood of gaining admission to a good graduate program or finding a suitable job. Potential advisors and employers want to know that you can do the work, and you want to make sure you enjoy it. In general: the more experience, the better. There are many great ways to get this research experience off-campus, whether as a current student or recent graduate. Here are a few places to look for opportunities elsewhere:
Society for Conservation Biology Jobs Board - This is a very active jobs board with professional positions, fieldwork jobs, and other opportunities related to conservation in the US and around the world. Scan through the list or use the keyword search with terms such as "technician" or "field assistant", or with the type of research you are interested in ("plants", "turtles", etc.) or with the geographic region you'd like to work. Many opportunities for fieldwork are unpaid but supported, meaning you won't make a salary but will likely have your costs covered, including lodging, food, and sometimes travel. The type and duration of work varies considerably.
Texas A&M University Wildlife and Fisheries Jobs Board - This jobs board is similar to SCB's, but more generally focused on wildlife research, and a bit more focused on the US.
ECOLOG - This is a popular jobs board focused on ecology, but unlike the others, you can also subscribe to the listserv and receive e-mails notifying you of opportunities that you may be interested in.
