Nature and Conservation Society: Events Secretary

Hello, fellow nature enthusiasts!
My name is Ari, and I am running for Events Secretary of our esteemed UCL Nature & Conservation Society. With a deep-seated passion for the natural world and a firm belief in the power of community, I aim to enrich our society with engaging, educational, and enjoyable events that bring us closer to nature and each other.

As a Maths and Computer Science student, I know very well how easy it is to get wrapped up in courseworks and jobs. This is exactly why I believe it’s important to “touch grass” and connect with nature. This practice has helped me maintain my mental and physical wellbeing during a stressful year, and it's a gift I am eager to share with you all.

Over the past years, I've organised various social and educational events. Last year, I spearheaded the university’s first-ever alumni event for my cohort, which was a fantastic networking and learning opportunity for all attendees. I enjoyed it a lot and am looking forward to applying those skills in our society.

As your Events Secretary, I will introduce the following initiatives:

• Trips to designated RSPB sites such as Rye Meads and London Wetland Centre for guaranteed sightings of fascinating wildlife.
• Multiple volunteering trips doing conservation at Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath, and Bushy Park.
• Fundraising events such as the Big Green Hike, donating to the Beaver Trust.
• Bird walks, socials, and regular nature trips to discover the natural beauty of the United Kingdom.

I'm Ilina, and I'm a first year BASc Arts and Sciences student. I am standing for the Events Secretary position since I am very passionate and about nature and conservation, as well as the environment in general. Therefore, I am very keen to be involved in organising engaging events for members of the Nature & Conservation Society.

As an intern with WWF Singapore, in which I helped create content for and facilitate their citizen science Cyber Spotter Programme, which enables volunteers to spot and report online illegal wildlife listings. I am also a volunteer with the Herpetological Society of Singapore (HSS), and have operated a booth at multiple events, including the Festival of Biodiversity, to educate members of the public about the importance of reptiles and amphibians in the ecosystem. Additionally, I have a very strong interest in wildlife photography, and enjoy doing this in my leisure time.

In fact, around the beginning of Term 2, I gave a conservation talk to members of NatSoc about illegal wildlife trade, reptile and amphibian conservation, as well as my work with WWF and HSS.

If elected, I intend to engage with my former colleagues, to arrange for them to give online seminars about their work, and reach out to their UK-based counterparts to organise in-person talks for members of the society. I also plan to arrange other events, such as guided nature walks in various parks around London, conservation talks by students, and pub socials.

Hi Everyone! I am Zach Liu, a first-year Biological Science student, and I am running for the position of Event Secretary for the Nature and Conservation Society here at UCL. Since middle school, I have been interested in our diverse environment after attending volunteer work with organisations in China. In high school, I was the Biological Club vice president. I successfully collaborated with others and organised various talks hosted by students from different fields, the exhibition of Rainforests in China, and online pub quizzes. These experiences equipped me with the skills to organise, promote, and execute successful events.

In the following year, I plan to continue last year's activities that greatly inspire people by inviting more students and experts in conservation-related fields to the weekly talk, the annual conference, and nature walks. I will also discover additional activities that allow members to contribute to nature, such as volunteering with the People and Nature Lab at UCL and residential trips with NGOs. Collaboration with other societies is similarly essential beyond talks and field works. Besides the continuous cooperation with sustainability society, I will connect with artistic and athletic societies to promote more influence. For example, With the photography society, we can start a photography competition and create a nature photo exhibition.

Thank you for considering my nomination. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.