Donation gives students an inspirational behind the scenes trip

Students from the University of Suffolk had the opportunity to explore behind the scenes at some top London museums thanks to funding from a Suffolk business.

The group of 18 first-year students from the BSc (Hons) Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science programme visited the Angela Marmont Centre at the Natural History Museum, the Linnean Society collections and the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.  

The two-day trip, which was part of the course’s Diversity of Life module, was made possible thanks to a donation from Ipswich-based company, Debach Ltd. 

Catia Marques, Senior Lecturer in Life Sciences at the University of Suffolk, said: “The trip provided students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with internationally important biological collections, meet professionals working in conservation and taxonomy, and gain first-hand insight into career pathways within the environmental and biological sciences sector. 

“Students particularly valued the chance to see unique specimens and research collections that they would otherwise only encounter in textbooks, helping to bring their studies to life and deepen their understanding of biodiversity, ecology and conservation.” 

The trip included tailored tours and talks from researchers and offered behind the scenes experiences to broaden students’ horizons and inspire careers. 

She added: “The visit to Kew’s fungarium was especially meaningful, demonstrating the lasting impact these opportunities can have on students’ futures. One of our former students first discovered her passion for fungi during the same visit to the fungarium while she was studying with us and is now undertaking a MSc at Kew Gardens. 

“We’d like to thank Debach Ltd for their generous support in funding this trip. It has played a vital role in ensuring students can access enriching educational experiences that have the potential to shape their studies and future careers.” 

Natalie Fraser, Resources Manager at Debach, said: “Supporting our Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science students is essential if we want to equip the next generation of environmental stewards with the skills and confidence they need.  

“Opportunities like the London field trip give students an insight into the challenges facing our natural world and helps to inspire them to play an active role in protecting it.” 

For further information on the BSc (Hons) Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science course, visit the website here.