Courses, Events and Training
If you wish to become a successful biologist, you will need to undergo the correct training. This training will help you to achieve your full potential, as well as helping to keep you up-to-date with the latest developments in the sector. The courses, training and events that you will need to attend may depend on your chosen specialism and your career choices.
Taster Sessions
Many universities and employers will run tasters sessions for those who are interested in doing biology as a subject or as a career. These sessions are aimed at giving people a feel for what they might end up doing if they were to pursue their interests in biology. Some of these events are specifically aimed at people under the age of 18 who may still be considering what they want to do in future.
University Courses
Biology courses are offered by a large number of universities across the country. Whilst some university courses offer straight “Biology” as a subject, other universities offer individual biology specialisms instead. If you are unsure of your intended career path before applying, it is best to apply for a board-reaching Biology or Biological Sciences course. Many of these courses will offer broader topics in the first year and then offer different options that allow specialisms as the student progresses through their course. Most university courses will offer a mixture of theoretical biology and practical time spent in labs. Specialist Biology courses include subjects like; marine biology, behavioural biology, evolutionary biology, human sciences and ecology. Getting a place on a biology course at university is normally dependant on achieving good A-Level (or equivalent) grades. Also visit. MBA.ac.uk.
Professional Development Courses
Professional development courses are designed for people who are already working in the industry. These courses are normally designed to help biologists to develop their own skills in a particular area. Rather than being about a particular subject area, professional development courses tend to focus on a skill, such as research methods or sample handling. Other examples can include Bid Writing and Exhibition Design, which can help biologists to secure more funding and display their research in a more appropriate way. Courses like these help to promote good practice within the industry and help to encourage further personal development. Training such as Health and Safety in the Laboratory is essential for anyone who is hoping to work in a laboratory-based role. These courses can reduce risk for lab workers.
Research Conferences
Biologists and biology researchers may be invited to attend research conferences that focus on their specialist subject area. Scientists will normally present papers about their ongoing research or use these conferences as forums to promote their scientific findings. The audience may also be given the opportunity to ask questions about the research. Research conferences create a form of peer-reviewing, meaning that research can be properly scrutinised. This kind of scrutiny helps to produce thorough work with real scientific value.
Specialist Courses
The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in the United Kingdom runs a number of specialist courses for people who are working in the industry. They may also be attended by people who have a personal interest in the subject matter area. These courses tend to focus on narrow areas of biology such as Conservation in Africa, or Reproductive Health and Fertility. If you want to find out more about the specialist courses that are offered by the Royal Society of Biology, you should visit the society website to view upcoming events. Booking details can also be found on the website. Some events may be members-only events, whereas other events may offer discounts to RSB members.