Richard

I am currently head of education for a charity, leading the development of new courses and training opportunities in conservation.

Before this, I was a lecturer and manager at an FE college, which allowed me to inspire the next generation of biologists and conservationists. I was responsible for around 200 students and 5 members of staff.
I have always been interested in nature and this curiosity lead me to complete a degree in conservation biology. This was then followed up with a masters degree in environmental biology and then a PhD in ecology. I undertook my PhD at the University of Southampton, working in conjunction with the Forestry Commission.

After completing my undergraduate degree in conservation biology, I worked in Tanzania for 5 months on a variety of conservation projects. I was based in a remote field camp and primarily surveyed a wildlife corridor between the Udzungwas and Selous game reserve and worked with local village councils to implement land management plans.

Tutoring Experience

I have been tutoring for about 10 years and formally teaching biology for six. I am a fully qualified teacher and hold a PGCE and QTLS. I have a range of teaching experience both in the UK and abroad. I enjoy teaching my subjects and cater for students of various abilities.

During my postgraduate degrees At the University of Manchester and University of Southampton, I worked as a postgraduate teaching assistant. Briefly, I taught and supervised modules for 1st and 2nd year students in Urban Biodiversity and Conservation, Ecology and Evolution. This involved both lab and field teaching as well as small group tutorials and marking essays and exams. I have also taught on a total of 4 overseas field courses in Spain and France.

In 2012, I worked as a research officer in Tanzania for 5 months. I was responsible for managing the BTEC in tropical habitat conservation, teaching western students the principles of habitat conservation and assessing their work. My students achieved a Distinction and Merit after verification by Edexcel. In addition to this work, I also taught biology to secondary school students in the local village. This was challenging as English was not widely spoken. This experience enabled me to develop my communication and explain biology concepts in different ways.

In 2011, I worked as a mentor for the University of Lincoln summer school. This was a two week residential summer school designed to help year 11 students experience university before making their UCAS choices. I gave lectures in Ecology and helped students design and carry out animal behaviour experiments.

Tutoring Approach

My approach to tutoring varies on the student and the level they are working to, but aim for students to be comfortable and learn in their own pace. People learn in different ways and I will adapt my tutoring to meet the demands of the student. Ultimately, I aim to improve confidence and enjoyment in biology.