With a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science under his belt, Taylor turned a passion for nature into a meaningful career.
From a young age I always liked the natural world. I was obsessed with the likes of Steve Irwin. I selected a wide range of courses from Marine Science to Geology, but the subjects I enjoyed most were Botany and Ecology. One of the things that guided me into studying Botany at Otago was the department and its people – it’s a really positive environment where everyone is welcome.
Taylor Davies-Colley
Bachelor of Science (Botany and Ecology), Master of Science (Botany)
Dunedin's living laboratory
"Dunedin has had a big effect on me – it has some of the most extraordinary wild spaces in the world within its city limits. Having this resource has been great in growing my passion for the outdoors and allowing me to apply some of the things I have learned at university."
Animals and life sciences
If you love animals, plants, and nature, are curious about life on our planet and how living organisms interact, this subject area is for you. Gain a deeper understanding of our natural world and be part of the new generation of caretakers of our planet.
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During his time at university, Taylor got involved with several community engagement activities, including the Wild Dunedin Festival and an outreach programme at Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
“As much I as love learning about our natural world, it’s so much fun to share knowledge with others. Perhaps the best outreach programme I’ve been part of is the Science Wānanga programme in which, on three occasions, I got to stay at a marae and help communicate science to local rangatahi/young people.”
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A meaningful career
Taylor now works as an educator at Orokonui Ecosantuary.
“My role centres around engaging ākonga from across Ōtepoti to educate them about the amazing flora and fauna of Aotearoa, as well as the threats they face and the actions we can take to help them. I really love sharing how cool our natural world is with people, telling stories and empowering people to make positive change in their areas to protect wildlife.”
“My time at university definitely cemented my appreciation for the natural world, and provided me with a lot of the knowledge and ability to research that I use in my job. The opportunities for outreach that I was involved in while studying also helped spark my interest in science communication and education as a career.”
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