What reading can you do before starting your degree?

What reading can you do before starting your degree?

Número de respuestas: 23

students on the coast in Cornwall

There is no compulsory reading for you to complete before you start your undergraduate or postgraduate degree. What we recommend is for you to read (and watch or listen to!) things around the subject that you’re passionate about. Whether that’s David Attenborough, Rachel Carson, Jared Diamond or your favourite field guide, spend time being inspired to get excited about joining us here!

Our postgraduate students all take a statistical modelling module. This module does start with the basics; however, it is a steep learning curve and so if you want to get ahead a little you could do some prior reading. Once you have an Exeter IT account you could access our library to have a look at Whitlock and Schluter The Analysis of Biological Data.

What is your favourite thing to listen to, watch or read that has helped inspire you to do this degree? Why do you enjoy it? To post, simply click 'REPLY.'

Please be aware that any comments and contributions in this forum are open to the general public and NOT just other students in the cohort.


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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Amber Aylott -
'Our Planet' (narrated by David Attenborough) made me feel certain that I had made the correct choice about what I wanted to do with my life. The diversity of life on Earth is incredible, and I want to do all that I can to contribute to its conservation.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Rhea Somani -
I used to watch Wild Kratts as a kid however later on I’d say that David Attenborough did inspire me a lot as i love how nature and art are incorporated into one, allowing more people to appreciate and learn more about it.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Mia Rose Uzupris -
I lived abroad when I was young, and the only English channel we had on the TV was Animal Planet. I think I watched about 3 hours a day for 4 years so that's probably why I love nature 🤣

Agree with all the David Attenborough posts! Also recent reads have been 'Finding the Mother Tree' - Suzanne Simard (life changing) and 'The Invention of Nature' - Andrea Wulf.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Jacob Phillips -
David Attenborough is the obvious answer. But seeing Robert Irwin grow because of his love for animals made me realise that I have definitely chosen the right degree.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Hollie Butcher -
I recently read “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate” by Naomi Klein, and I thought she brilliantly explained the links between environmental and social issues around the world in conjunction with economic greed. It is very statistics heavy at first, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down!
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Charlotte Carr -
There is one specific video of an expedition team in Papua New Guinea managing to capture videos of the thought-to-be extinct Auwo bird, the emotion and passion in that video was the main reason I started looking into rewilding and conservation. But of course I am also a huge David Attenborough fan!
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Ollie Whittaker -
Definitely anything to do with David Attenborough! But I'm also currently reading 'An Immense World' by Ed Yong which is about animal senses and how they perceive the world. I also keep up with Robert Irwin and his activities.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Alishia Hossunnally -
Someone recently gave me a copy of 'Your Inner Fish' by Neil Shubin, which was honestly one of the best books I've ever read and really helped me with writing my EPQ on shark evolution! I loved watching 'Life on Our Planet' on Netflix, spent two 13-hour flights binge-watching the whole series! Also a massive Robert Irwin and David Attenborough fan (who isn't)
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Grace Huxley -
I finished a book called “Elephant in my Kitchen” by Francoise Malby-Anthony, really eye opening to the world of game conservation in South Africa. Also love Lucy Cooke and Steve Backshall (my absolute hero)
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Shona McElhinney -
Growing up on ‘Blue planet’ and David Attenborough have really shaped my interest in this subject, but I’ve recently started reading ‘The unnatural history of the sea’ by Callum Robert’s which follows the theme of commercial fishing throughout history!
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Kayla Jennings -
Like everyone else is saying anything David Attenborough, I've always loved watching any of his programmes and I really enjoyed reading 'Life on Earth'. I used to watch 'Deadly 60' with Steve Backshall exclusively growing up 😂 heard rumours of a new series which I'm very excited about. I also did lots of research into coral bleaching and reef restoration for my EPQ which was what made me confident that I wanted to do marine biology and conservation.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Hannah Sherrod -
I recently watched the documentary 'Chasing Coral' on Netflix. This documentary was really informative on coral bleaching and how marine ecosystems are being impacted by this.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Hannah Turner -
David Attenborough really inspires me, and did when I was a kid. I am also currently reading 'The Biology of Sharks and Rays by A. Peter Klimley' which is really interesting, going into depth about their evolution, behaviours, anatomy etc.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Tess Whomsley-Walker -
David Attenborough is my idol! He began to inspire me at a very young age and has done so to present day. He brought about my interests in ecology and also the growing importance of conservation and protection of the environment. I would love to follow in his footsteps, and thus have watched, listened and read many of his works! Blue planet is one of the classic documentaries, as well as his book, the Trials of Life.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Hugo Clément -
I resonate with many of your examples, I also grew up watching countless nature documentaries and reading nature encyclopedias. Recently, I discovered The Rainforester on Instagram, I love the short and informative content they make, would definitely recommend!
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Antonio Danzi -
I always loved the ocean, always. I was further introduced to its conservation and beauty through a more artistic and activist lens (Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Captain Paul Watson, Rob Stewart and the like). Then, books and articles, perhaps one of my favourites being "Whales as Marine Ecosystem Engineers" https://doi-org.uoelibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1890/130220 but what ultimately convinced me to come here was a marine mammals field course taken at my previous institution.
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Amy Kelly -
Reading Shin Kubota’s research on “The immortal jellyfish” really inspired me to pursue marine biology and learn more about fascinating sea creatures! Of course David Attenborough also played a part in this interest
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Re: What reading can you do before starting your degree?

de Josh Weaver -
I just finished 'The Unexpected Truth about Animals: A Menagerie of the Misunderstood' written by zoologist Lucy Cooke. Very entertaining and educational, and provides insight into how people understood animal biology before the golden age of zoology (some early theories were just pure insanity). For instance, it was once believed eels were spawned from mud or birds migrated to the Moon in winter!