Alice Peillon

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology

Why did you choose to study Environmental Biology?
I enjoy nature and the idea of so many ecosystems being in danger of extinction really motivated me to study environmental biology so I could try and help preserve what’s left.

What is your favourite aspect of the course?
The practicals! By far! We’ve been on lots of field trips - out to Bear Island at La Perouse, observing and surveying marine molluscs, to Kuring-gai to study invertebrates, to CSIRO, to DECC, to the Sydney aquarium.

There are also long field trips available to places such as semi-arid Australia, (Broken Hill, Sturt National Park), Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, and others to the Snowy Mountains.

What types of careers can a graduate of this course consider?
A biology degree allows a broad knowledge of the environment which can lead to a huge variety of jobs - environmental consulting, within universities and as officers for national parks to name just a few.

You also work as a Lecturer's assistant. What does this involve?
I do lab work for a chemistry lecturer. He saw how interested I was and so he setup a project for me. It has opened so many doors, and I’ve made many valuable contacts in the scientific world. When it’s your own research you get so involved that you forget the time!