Ella McCutcheon

Conservation Evidence Placement

About me

The natural world has been an immense source of inspiration and comfort to me for as long as I can remember, leading me to aspire to help protect and safeguard the future of our ecosystems in whatever way I can. Recently, I completed a ten-week summer placement studying pollinator-plant interactions with specific flower cultivars at RHS Wisley gardens, which was a great first step into the conservation research industry. Currently I am in my placement sandwich year from studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Reading and am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to spend this time amongst like-minded people at the WWT.

My role

During my placement, my role will primarily involve analysing water samples from WWT centres, as well as collecting these at Slimbridge, assisting with other lab-based tasks, undertaking and supporting literature reviews to aid or inform WWT’s conservation research, carrying out desk-based data entry and analysis, as well as working with spatial mapping technology such as QGIS, and assisting with practical research and monitoring activities in the field and the lab.

Experience and interests

• Report writing and literature research
• Ecological surveying including bats, pollinating insects and pond species
• Wildlife photography and birdwatching