About Me
About Me
My path into conservation has been anything but straightforward. In fact, the odds of me ending up here were pretty slim. I hope that sharing my story can inspire someone out there not to give up, even when the whole world seems against you.
I grew up in a postcode where university wasn’t the norm. I didn't know anyone who had a family member or knew someone at a university; it was a very far-fetched concept. I'm what's known as a "first-generation student". I was the first in my family to go; whilst my parents gave me incredible support, they were just as uninformed about how higher education worked. I came through a state school in the UK that was far from top-ranked; in fact, when I would discuss my former school with my peers at university, they could not believe that students at the school just simply did not care for or respect the education system. From the start, financial barriers shaped my path. I didn’t have the option of private tutors, expensive extracurriculars, or well-funded schools. Nothing about my background suggested I’d end up with a first-class master’s degree in zoology, let alone chasing a career in conservation. Getting into university wasn’t something expected of me; it was something I had to fight for, but I was determined to make it happen.
By putting in the independent work, I became a top-achieving student in my secondary school and sixth form. I spent evenings on YouTube learning from teachers all around the world (shoutout to anyone who posts free educational content on YouTube, you are helping so many people). I knew I absolutely loved science and maths, so that's what I decided to pursue. Being completely transparent, my GCSEs consisted of the sciences, maths, and art; I had no care for English, it was a subject that never made sense to me, but still, I put in the work. For A-levels, I took maths, biology, chemistry, and art. Everyone told me it was too much; they couldn’t understand why I chose art. For me, it was essential for my mental health, a creative outlet alongside heavy academics.
When I did make it to the University of Exeter to study Zoology (MSci), the challenges didn’t end. I worked part-time throughout my degree to support myself financially, which meant I couldn’t just throw myself into unpaid internships or volunteer positions like many of my peers. Halfway through, I severely tore my ACL in a sporting injury and needed surgery and over a year of recovery; all while balancing coursework, a job, and exams. It was tough, but these experiences taught me resilience, time management, and how to keep going when things got hard.
Despite these setbacks, I proudly graduated with a first-class standard overall and in both my Master’s thesis and my third-year dissertation. My projects tackled big interdisciplinary questions at the intersection of behavioural ecology, stress responses, and conservation applications, combining empirical data and modelling. My fieldwork has taken me to Scotland, Hong Kong, and Kenya, where I’ve explored human-wildlife coexistence, conservation education, and predator conflict. Alongside this, I’ve developed strong technical skills in R, C++, and data analysis, and strengthened my communication skills through STEM outreach, public talks, and zoo education work.
But I’ve also had to face an uncomfortable truth: conservation remains one of the least accessible fields. Too often, this field has been gatekept, with the only way to gain work experience being to either work for free or the classic "pay-to-volunteer" schemes. That system disadvantages people from lower-income backgrounds, first-generation students, and anyone who can’t afford to subsidise their own career. It’s means we risk losing passionate and capable conservationists who simply don’t have the financial privilege to “buy” their way into a field that needs more perspectives.
Even without traditional volunteering routes, I’ve built up experience that I’m proud of. I have had to carve my own path, which I wish to share with others in the hopes of making conservation feel more accessible. My experience comes through my degree, paid work, and leadership in societies, sports, and outreach. In my free time, I also carried out free/low-cost online courses, independent research, and kept up-to-date with the latest papers published and news from inspiring researchers and conservationists. I’ve completed free and low-cost online courses, kept up to date with new research, and even replicated published figures and models to practice my skills. I carried out independent research on Felidae, following global conservation reports and analysing case studies, which deepened my expertise in felid ecology and human–wildlife coexistence. This is my aim for my blog: to showcase all of my skills, even without employment or volunteering opportunities. To show what I can bring to the real-world conservation projects.
Starting a blog is part of my journey. It’s my way of documenting what it’s really like to break into conservation from a background where the odds were stacked against me; the setbacks, the small wins, the skills I’m building, and the vision I have for the future. I want this space to show that there isn’t just one “acceptable” path into conservation, and that passion and persistence matter just as much as privilege.
I may not have had the same opportunities as some, but I’ve learned to create my own. I will share my journey openly through writing and social media, and I’m actively seeking out labs, NGOs, and mentors who can help me grow. My ultimate goal is to become a researcher and conservationist specialising in carnivores. I don't just want to contribute to science; I want to communicate it, making it accessible and helping to build a conservation sector that is open to everyone. I believe anyone with the drive and commitment to make a difference should get the chance to. That’s the career I’m building for myself, and that’s the message I want to share.
All the best of luck,
Sydney Hayden