News - Biosciences Student Gains Award
University of Exeter press release
An ambitious local student is celebrating a £1,000 payout to further her career. Kate Gaskell, a third year Biosciences student from the University of Exeter's Tremough campus, Penryn, will be taking the 'Wildlife and the Media' course at Cornwall College, and undertaking a placement with the Ecologist magazine. This will be funded by the University's career development awards, spearheaded by the University Chancellor Floella Benjamin OBE DL.
The annual awards, now in their third year, look to develop employability and give financial support for innovative career ideas. Five awards have been made to south west students.
21-year-old Kate Gaskell said: "During my time in Cornwall I have made a decision to work towards transforming the way ecologists discoveries are portrayed in the media. Whilst studying for my degree, it has frustrated me that material can become hugely skewed in transition from scientific journal to a destination in, for example, a newspaper. More scientifically minded individuals working within the media should help to present to the public, a clearer and honest picture of current ecological issues. Winning this award has further improved my enthusiasm to follow this course."
Dr Floella Benjamin, OBE DL Chancellor of the University of Exeter says: "This award has enabled Kate to turn a good idea into a plan of action. When judging we are looking for students who are driven, focused and willing to go the extra mile to ensure career success. I wish her all the best in her career in wildlife media."
Competition was intense for the five £1,000 awards, with 70 applications received. All applicants had to write and submit a costed proposal explaining what they needed and how it would help their future employability.
These proposals were judged by staff at the Careers and Employment Service and by Floella. The Floella Benjamin Career Development awards were devised by the University of Exeter's Careers and Employment Service as part of a range of opportunities available to students to develop their personal skills and employability. http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Professor Matthew Evans, Provost of the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus (Tremough) says: "We encourage all our students to focus on their future careers so it is very rewarding to see that Kate is already paving the way for a career in wildlife media. The fact that Kate has been able to pursue her ambitions in the county underlines the breadth of opportunities now available across the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership. I would like to congratulate Kate on winning this prestigious award and wish her the very best of luck in her chosen career."
The Tremough Campus is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council. Set in 70 acres of countryside, but close to the waterside towns of Penryn and Falmouth, the campus offers a lively student community. The University of Exeter now offers degrees in Biology, Modern Celtic and Cornish Studies, English, Geology, Geography, History, Law, Mining Engineering, Politics and Renewable Energy on the Tremough Campus, which has expanded rapidly as part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative.