Richard Boddington

Richard's Story

Returning to higher education, at the University of Stirling, has opened up a range of new career options for former renewable energy consultant Richard Boddington.

The astrophysics graduate, who also has a Masters in Environmental Science, has spent the last year studying for an MSc Environmental Management.

“The course was a good mix of conservation knowledge and practical skills, which complemented my skill set, and I was also aware that the course was well-regarded by the conservation industry,” the 44-year-old said.

While at Stirling, Richard was able to put his skills and knowledge to the test during a field trip to Gabon, in Central Africa – an experience he fondly recalls as “excellent”. And his hard work has paid off, with his dissertation – undertaken for the National Trust for Scotland, on the decline of mountain hares on Ben Lomond – awarded the Faculty Research Prize.

Richard praised his learning experience at Stirling. He said: “I found all the teaching staff very approachable. In general, the support that surrounded the lectures was excellent and the IT systems ensured that all the content was very accessible.”

The father-of-one is planning to carry out volunteer work before taking the next step in his career. He added: “I’m fortunate to have some breathing space, so I want to make sure I find a job that I really love.”