Classroom to coral reefs: How Ines gained hands-on experience in the Maldives

Finding the right path

From a young age, Ines Leal was fascinated by wildlife, ecosystems and human biology. Eager to explore these interests further, the University of Derby’s diverse BSc (Hons) Biology course offered the perfect opportunity to combine her passions. 

“This course allowed me to choose the biology topic in general and then use their varied range of module options to specialise in the area I am mostly interested in. The biggest factor in choosing to study here was the module in the third year called “Tropical Marine Biology” because this would give me the chance to try something I was really interested in.”

Hands-on learning

Biology students at the University of Derby benefit from expert teaching delivered by academics whose research is shaping debates in areas spanning coral reef disease, animal ecology, cell biology and insect reproduction. Crucially, learning isn’t confined to the laboratory, and students gain real-world experience on fieldwork trips in the UK and abroad.

This includes the opportunity to visit Asia’s smallest country, the Maldives, a chain of islands located in 370 miles southwest of India. With a tropical monsoon climate, extensive marine biodiversity and stunning scenery – it was an opportunity that Ines simply couldn’t miss.

“The trip lasted two weeks and gave us a taste of the real world. It provided an opportunity to connect both with lecturers and other students, while experiencing another culture. The aim was to conduct our own field project from start to finish and apply skills and techniques learned on our course. We had to design a study, implement, and present our results, and then write a scientific paper on the study.”

Becoming a marine researcher

With access to marine life that isn’t found in the UK, Ines chose to focus on corals and the starfish that feed on them. She observed the abundance of starfish found on, or near, bleached corals on two different islands, recording their depth and size of the corals. “The aim was to see their pattern, if they had preference for a specific coral and what, if anything, affected their presence between different depth, location within each island and different islands.”

Ines described how the trip helped her to develop unique skills that will set her apart as she prepares to launch her career:  “I had the privilege of learning the theory and then applying it immediately in a field setting, which helped me to gain skills such as making scientific observations, collecting data, critically analysing and presenting qualitative and quantitative data, and transferable skills such as time management, organisation, and management of our own project.”

"If I had to choose all over again whether to study at the University of Derby or somewhere else, I would 100% choose Derby. This course has opened my eyes to problems around the world, while I have been supported by lecturers that are top scientists in their field. I’ve experienced opportunities I wouldn’t have had if I had chosen another university, and I’ll take valuable skills and connections with me into the working world."

Soaking up the Culture

Aside from gaining valuable academic experience, Ines was also able to enjoy exciting activities and experience everyday life on the islands during her downtime: “I had the opportunity to swim alongside sharks, turtles and many other fish. I also got the chance to look at how locals live in the Maldives, as opposed to what people see on social media of influencers in the Maldives. It is a very different reality, but so worth it to explore.”

Ready to make a difference

For Ines, the opportunity to make a difference was what made the trip so rewarding. By providing insights into the abundance and spread of the sea stars, as well as their feeding patterns, she hopes to have provided a “good starting point for future scientists want to do future research in the Maldives involving the sea stars and corals”.

Ines is already looking ahead, and wherever her career takes her, she has one clear vision: “I want to raise awareness to everything that is going on out there with the world, that people have no idea about, even if they watch the news every day. There is so much that isn’t communicated out there, and that I think it’s really important and that it has a big impact in everyday life”. Armed with a strong skillset forged in real-world settings, Ines couldn’t be better positioned to make an impact in her field.