Sky the limit for two Wildlife Conservation graduates

Three years ago in a college group chat, Alexandra Copeland and Elle Scott sent their first choices to their friends. Unbeknownst to each other, they had picked the exact same course at the University of Salford and thus ensued an academic journey that would lead them to grow as best friends across the UK and the USA to obtain firsts by the end of the course.

The first two years in Salford encompassed topics on the background and construction of zoos, plant and tree species, and behavioural studies to name a few, all of which were taught by ‘amazing’ lecturers as described by the two graduates.

 ‘Dr Sean O’Hara, he’s amazing. His passion for primates has made me have an equal passion for them now.’ said Elle. The influence from lecturers’ passions paved the way for the graduates, where Elle’s third year dissertation focused on primates.

Following this path even further, she is now going to do a Masters at Oxford Brooks University that focuses on primates entirely.

Alexandra’s final dissertation took a more modern approach as she looked at how the World Wildlife Fund uses social media to promote conservation, and to delve into this technology focused angle Professor Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication and Future Media in the SEE School, helped her steady the reigns, all while designing their own zoos in 3D software as a part of their final year.

The course contains a year abroad in America, which between them was unanimously the main attractions to the course.

Alexandra said: “I couldn’t find any other degree that did that so Salford for me just had the best of both worlds. It really had everything that I was looking for.”

The integrated placement year abroad saw them spend 9 months in Otterbein, Ohio, where long-lasting international friendships were made.

In America, the pair studied animal behaviours at Columbus Zoo, a close connection to the university out in Ohio, as well the evolution of animals and their bone structures.

The passion from lecturers at Salford was matched in the USA, with Elle recalling: “In America there was this teacher called Dr. Bushard and you could tell that she was so passionate about what she was teaching. I was in her biology class which I enjoyed, and her questions about it all just made me so passionate about it as well.”

Alexandra added that “it was a big change to what we’re used to over here because the way that the education system works is just completely different. The way the classes are run, the way they get assessed on things; it was a lot to get used to in a short time but it was worth it.”

After graduating with two exceptional results, their journeys after university are planned out already. Elle is going on to continue here education with a Masters, and Alexandra plans to travel for a period of time after graduation, a trip that will see her back in America soon to visit friends from their time abroad on the course.