Courses and resources to develop your foundational knowledge of ecological concepts and ideas
Bill Sutherland’s Conservation Concepts YouTube channel. From fundamental concepts in ecology to key conservation themes, this channel gives bite sized introductions that may stimulate you to explore further many of the topics.
Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation course on Coursera. Available for free and with some engaging video lectures, this course covers some fundamental issues in ecology and ecosystems while using Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique as a case study.
Introduction to Ecology ETUK course. This 20 study hour online course has a fee, but a former MSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation student who had come from a non-ecology background recommended it.
Courses and resources to develop your skills in data handling and analysis
Edinburgh Napier University run an Introduction to R: data handling, statistics and graphics short course which may be useful if you don’t have much prior experience with data, analysis or statistics, or need a refresh after some time away from studying.
Training to develop your species identification and survey skills
Edinburgh Napier University run an Introduction to Sedges short course which may be useful in gaining some botanical skill, and is suitable even for beginners.
Amphibian & Reptile Conservation training courses. Advertises training and events (in person or online) plus has some training materials with assessment for dentification of British amphibians and reptiles.
Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland field meetings and indoor events. National field meetings and indoor botanical events scheduled across Britain & Ireland
British Trust for ornithology training courses. Advertises training and events (in person or online) on various aspects of bird identification and survey skills.
Buglife events. Advertises training and events (in person or online) on various aspects of invertebrate ecology, identification and survey skills.
CIEEM Training and Events page. Includes details for national programme of online and in person training courses, conferences and webinars as well as regional events organized by Member Networks.
Field Studies Council run various short or longer natural history or surveying courses, online or in person (at a range of sites across the UK), which are generally quite economical compared to some other organizations.
Mammal Society events page. Includes details of mammal society events from training through to local group meetups, both online and in person.
Volunteering or work experience to develop your practical skills and experience
This Countryside Jobs Service article discusses some of the benefits of volunteering (gaining skills, creating a professional network, finding out what interests you), discusses how to get in touch with organisations, and outlines various types of volunteering opportunities (such as wildlife monitoring, habitat management or environmental education) that might be available to you to build your own experience.
NatureScot’s Environmental Volunteering – Useful organisations and contacts list is a very useful list of organisations who may have volunteering opportunities in Scotland or the rest of the UK.
Nature Volunteers’ Find a Project page allows you to find potential volunteering opportunities on projects that suit you, according to your particular interests and whether or not you are looking for opportunities that require existing skills, are social, are physically demanding, are suitable for families, or provide transport.
The Wildlife Trusts’ Find volunteering opportunities near you page allows you to enter your email address, postcode and region to receive details of potential volunteering opportunities near you with their 46 local Wildlife Trusts distributed throughout the UK.
The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) is a UK organization that facilitates volunteering in practical conservation and citizen science projects across the UK, you can find opportunties via their Volunteering with TCV page or you can search for them on Eventbrite to sign up to some events as well.
This CIEEM article discusses approaches to gaining work experience to develop your skills and experience, either in paid, volunteer or intern roles.
Pat White | Method(Ec)ology 