How can I start a career in conservation technology?

Hi,

I am a 16 year old student in the UK currently in secondary school, I am interested in conservation technology and I would like to pursue it in the future. I have been looking online for advice on what uni courses could lead me to this and majority say a degree in ecology or environmental science would be beneficial however I don't see how these degrees can teach me the technology aspect, as I am most interested in developing new technology to help the planet. At the moment a degree in engineering looks to me the best option but any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm pretty lost.

Thanks!

Tom Knowles

@TomKnowles

Electronic engineer turned conservation scientist. Currently building acoustic buoys, satellite-linked marine tags and mussel monitoring systems at the University of Exeter (UK)

21 March 2025 9:20am

Hey!

It's great news that you are interested in conversation technology!

As an intersection between two sectors, conservation technology can be a tricky area to find a single university course straight into. Like you said, there might not be one course that is able to go into enough detail on the conservation side as well as the technology side, especially as undergraduate degrees are not always as specialised but maybe have some conservation technology modules.
Maybe someone knows of one?
There seems to be as many pathways into conservation technology as there are people, with no right or wrong way!

I originally came from an undergraduate degree in electronic engineering, spent some time in industry and then made the transfer across to a Masters by Research into a biologging/ecology conservation research group.
I know a lot of biologists and conservationists have come from the other direction, often self taught on the technology side.

If you are looking for advice, I'd say try to follow what you enjoy most, maybe that's engineering, conservation or something else. Pursuing a direction won't close off any pathways in the future, you'll always be welcome and a diverse skillset is great!

Alex Rood

@alexrood | she/her

WILDLABS

World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

I'm the WILDLABS Communications and Community Management Associate Specialist at WWF-US

21 March 2025 4:03pm

So great to hear that you're interested in this incredible sector! I echo Tom in that I don't know of too many specific "conservation tech" degrees as it's such an interdisciplinary field. Perhaps Intro to Conservation Tech Course would be helpful in learning about which direction is most interesting to you to pursue?

Frank van der Most

@Frank_van_der_Most | He, him

RubberBootsData

Field data app developer, with an interest in funding and finance

21 March 2025 10:13pm

About a year ago, @emmahiggins asked for feedback on a course design for a MsC on Conservation Technology at the University of South Wales. I don't know if that course has started in the meantime, but Emma's email is in her post.

See: https://wildlabs.net/discussion/thoughts-new-msc-conservation-technology

I hope you'll find what you're looking for, Max !

Emma Higgins

@emmahiggins | She/her

Lecturer/ researcher in Ecology interested in all things conservation technology.

2 April 2025 10:03am

Hi @ziggy_4 ,

I agree with those who commented before, there are a lot of ways to get into the field. I went down the Biology route and then learnt more via my PhD.

However, we have a Conservation Technology Module as Part of out Wildlife Biology BSc at the University of South Wales - BSc (Hons) International Wildlife Biology - University of South Wales . The course is being rewritten to be 'Ecology and Conservation' and will include this new Conservation Technology Module, where we also link with our engineering department.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me - emma.higgins@southwales.ac.uk

Good luck!

@Frank_van_der_Most - thanks for the tag!