Hi, I’m Bex Allen, the programme manager of the BSc in Applied Marine Zoology. I’ve lived in Newquay for most of my life and I have always been happiest in, on or next to the sea.

Since joining the college back in 2001 I’ve had many opportunities to get involved in exciting local projects and research. One of these was a photo ID project on a local grey seal haul out. This began a long standing collaboration with the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust and I am now the research advisor for the charity. I also volunteer for local groups such as Newquay Marine Group, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s strandings network and as a marine mammal medic for British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

I hope you are excited about joining us or re-joining us in September! This final, top-up year of your degree pathway is a rollercoaster of exhilaration and challenges. You will find the knowledge from the past two years of your foundation degree consolidating and skills falling into place, whilst facing the sometimes steep learning curve of the honours project and independent research. However the team are still here to help and advise you on this step of your academic journey and there is still time for some fun and fieldwork studying the best subject in this beautiful part of the world!