We are two passionate naturalists in the north east of Scotland who are lucky enough to also be working in ecology/environmental jobs! When we finished our BSc (Hons) degrees we realised that a formal degree is fine, but without practical skills and field experience, it means little for getting that job! After years of being able to build skills through volunteering and professional opportunities (learning from some of the best in their fields) we are passionate about giving back and this blog is a starting point for that.
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| Alistair Watson and Lina-Elvira Bäck |
Alistair Watson is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM) and Lina-Elvira Bäck is currently a Qualifying member. Lina is also an Associate member of the Arboricultural Association.
We are both Level One Registered Badger Workers with Scottish Badgers.
Lina was the winner of the inaugural North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NESBiP) 2017 Biodiversity Achievement Award 'Individual Champion' for involvement in volunteering efforts, training and raising awareness of biodiversity issues!
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| Receiving the Individual Champion award for 2017 from Stewart Stevenson MSP |
Alistair followed as a NESBiP Biodiversity Champion Award Winner in 2020:
"As an Environmental Project Manager with Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), Alistair has showcased the creation of biodiversity features for amphibians and invertebrates as part of a wider CIRIA Award winning project. He is providing input on habitat classification and recording for the SSEN Biodiversity Toolkit which will enable the Biodiversity Net Gain of projects to be quantified.
Alistair has organised and led numerous volunteering activities sharing knowledge and mentoring others across a variety of taxa and recording schemes, notably field survey and recording of spiders, badgers, water voles, bats and amphibians."
| North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership Awards 2020 |
