Over-educated and Underfunded
Weird, wacky and wonderful stories and sketches from biologists in the field.
By Vincent DiringerBiology is a fairly broad section of science encompassing everything from the study of cells to cladistics as well as conservation and astronomy. Such a vast multitude of majors also entails a similarly large and varied array of pathways leading towards them. All Paths Lead to Biology is a series by the Broke Biologists delving into the stories of how biologists have arrived to where they are and what drives them. “When I was 4 I wrote down in less than legible writing that I wanted to be either a footballer or a zookeeper,” recalls Josh Porter, “Technically you could say I’m both.” The 27-year old Mancunian is a Conservation Officer for Cempedak Island in Indonesia and has been involved in environmental work in the region since 2017. Far from the United Kingdom where his biology path started, Josh is more than happy to explain his journey, “The first step was beetles in my grandparents’ house in Northern Ireland, I’d manically collect them in jam jars. It really was a manic obsession. I was hoarding bugs and hiding them from my family. The second was Chester Zoo. It was right on my doorstep and I have ADHD and my mum needed to tire me out, so she’d let me run around like a crazy toddler three times a week for years." "I had one of those typical London-breakdowns...I found a summer position working in Costa Rica as a community manager that was more about giving back and it really helped change my perspective.” He was hooked. As Josh got older, his fascination for the natural world grew and peaked when he discovered David Attenborough’s documentaries after which he decided that he’d do his best to emulate Sir David’s career. To start things off, the budding biologist went to Cardiff University to do a Bachelor’s in Zoology which unfortunately didn’t live up to Josh’s expectations, “Instead of being like David I was wearing a lab coat and surrounded by petri dishes.” It would be a short-term affair, with the Englishman deciding to switch universities and majors to give him an opportunity to do more outdoor work and an easier path to graduation. Eventually earning a BSc in Geography from Manchester University, Josh found it hard to integrate the workforce, bouncing around between odd jobs before becoming a sales executive for a major company. “I had a company car, a wage, an apartment in London…” he continues, “After two years I had one of those typical London-breakdowns. I wasn’t passionate about sales and it was affecting my life so I decided I needed a change. I found a summer position working in Costa Rica as a community manager that was more about giving back and it really helped change my perspective.” The complete 180 reignited Josh’s love for the outdoors and his desire to work within the natural world, and after his stint in Costa Rica he accepted a position as a geographer in Singapore. His new position enabled him to work all across South East Asia, developing his knowledge and forming a network, which eventually landed him an opportunity to join the Nikoi Island Resort Group as a Guest Relations Officer on Cempedak. Recognizing the potential the position held, Josh called it quits on his Singapore experience and packed his bags to move onto the idyllic Indonesian island. “The position gave me way more time to pursue my own interests, I spent my free time learning more about nature and the local environment, and I just worked my way into becoming the island’s Conservation Officer.” Now spending his free time playing football with staff and making informative science videos on YouTube, Josh reflects on his path, “ No chance I would have this job without being in the region or working on my interests. Sometimes you just need to move and take a chance, you can always work your way towards a better position within a company.” Have an interesting path into biology yourself? Give us a shout in the comments at the end of the page, we'd love to share your story! Also make sure to check out Josh's video below!
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About the AuthorsThese stories come from several biologists working in the field around the globe. Archives
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