Berglind Karlsdottir – Social Scientist at Forest Research

I grew up in a small place in Denmark, but always had a passion for all things nature, wildlife and travel. When I was 19, I decided I wanted to study wildlife conservation. They don’t really teach that in Denmark, so I moved to Bristol to study at the University of the West of England. I spent a couple of amazing years after that travelling and volunteering. In particular, I got an unpaid position with Frontier and lived in a tent in Costa Rica for six month. I then did a Master’s in Conservation Science at Imperial College London. During my course I realised that people are the key to solving the challenges of our natural world. After this, I knew I wanted to do something social science related. When I started looking for permanent jobs, it took me five months which I found quite difficult.

In the end, I got a position with Forest Research as a Social Scientist and have been there since. I feel like my work is meaningful both to nature but also to people, and I work with excellent and very kind colleagues. Some of these colleagues helped me get a part-time PhD, so I’m again doing something new. Recently I’ve been really excited about the opportunities this gives me for learning new skills – I now have basic GIS skills and have taught myself how to do statistical analysis in a programming software called R. It also gives me more flexibility to attend conferences, and this year I got to go to Krakow. I have a two-year-old son, and I am so grateful and proud that I am still able to do meaningful work and make the most of new opportunities after returning from maternity leave.

Although it was never clear to me where I’d end up, I’m very happy with how it all turned out, and I love what I do. So, if you haven’t got it all figured out yet, if you do something which is meaningful to you at the time, there will always be time to change and adapt further down the line. And if you have to pick up the odd waitressing job on the way while you’re waiting for someone to give you a job, then embrace it all as part of your journey – most of us have been there!

Dr Claire Bratley – Research Technician in the Silviculture and Wood Properties Team at Forest Research

I work in the Silviculture and Wood Properties team and am interested in how the way we grow trees affects their timber properties. My previous experience in neuroscience might seem unusual, but my new career at Forest Research allows me to combine my background in science with my love of trees and being outdoors.

I’m currently involved in two CFP projects. The first looks at wind risk in continuous cover forestry where we have been using sound waves to investigate stem stiffness in different stand structures. The second explores risk factors associated with oak shake and whether sound waves can be used to detect the internal cracks before the trees are felled.  It’s fascinating to use the same technique in both projects but for different outcomes.

I think I’ve always been a scientist at heart, driven by curiosity since a young age. I only wish I’d made the move into forest science a little earlier. If you’re thinking about it, just do it, you won’t be disappointed! I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to follow my dream — it hasn’t always been easy, but I don’t regret it.

Dr Cally Ham – Senior Scientist in Mammal Ecology at Forest Research

I am currently a Senior Scientist in Mammal Ecology at Forest Research, where I’m fortunate to work within an interdisciplinary team exploring the behaviour, population change and ecological impacts of mammals across Great Britain. Our work spans a remarkable range of species—from invasive, non-native grey squirrels to native mammals protected under international law, such as the pine marten.

Before joining Forest Research, I spent a decade studying the transmission and management of Mycobacterium bovis in badgers and cattle on farmland in Cornwall. That work involved deploying GPS collars, setting up camera traps to understand contact rates between badgers and cattle, and monitoring infection patterns following the rollout of badger vaccination. It was a formative period that shaped both my scientific interests and my appreciation for applied field based research.

My earliest passion was for natural history and wildlife, long before I realised that “scientist” was a career option, let alone one that involved being outdoors and working directly with animals. I was curious about the natural world and always wanted to understand how things work. My favourite questions have always been about animals: what they do, why they do it, and how they behave when they think no one is watching.

Science is absolutely a space for everyone, and research is only improved by including a variety of people with different perspectives, backgrounds and skill sets. There’s no single way to “be” a scientist. Not all scientific careers involve lab coats or endless coding—many involve days spent in woodlands searching for badger setts, flying drones, or fitting GPS collars to track animal movements.

It’s also important to know that a career in science can be a normal job. It doesn’t have to consume your entire life, and it shouldn’t demand an unhealthy work–life balance to be successful. Science should fit alongside your other commitments, not compete with them. If you’re curious, motivated, and willing to learn, there’s a place for you in this field.