Michelle Newman’s route into ecology has been anything but traditional, but it led her to RSK Biocensus, where she is able to thrive both professionally and personally. Now working as a Senior Ecological Consultant, Michelle’s journey began when she dropped out of sixth form due to a significant bereavement.
Talking about this, Michelle said: “I’ve had an interesting life to say the least. When I left sixth form, I started working in a gift shop and then in financial services. Many of my colleagues at that time were counting down the days to retirement and were miserable. I knew I couldn’t carry on doing it for the rest of my life.”
With this realisation, Michelle started to look into alternative education routes, where she began studying with The Open University. After six months of studying astrophysics, she discovered that she had an interest in environmental science, which she then began a course with.
Michelle said: “While my interest in astrophysics waned, the complete opposite happened with environmental science. I didn’t realise that ecology could lead to a career and believed it would be limiting. When I realised the scope of it, my interest grew.
Alongside my studies, I was working full time as a mortgage adviser and volunteering to gain hands-on ecology experience. This included conducting bat and reptile surveys, as well as carrying out great crested newt surveys in the Forest of Dean.”
After seven years of hard work, both in her studies and working outside of this, Michelle secured her first job in the ecology sector, even before completing her course. She later became a mother, and although she was worried about what this would mean for her career, she knew it was something that she wanted to do.
“Some women in ecology avoid having children because of the nature of the work. It is demanding, seasonal and often incompatible with family life. However, being a mother was something I wanted, and I was fully aware that it might mean having to walk away from the world of ecology.
After giving birth, I experienced postnatal depression. It was an incredibly difficult time with many demands and pressures. I left the role I was in and began to explore my next position carefully, not knowing if it was possible to find what I was looking for jobwise.”
Her next challenge was to find a role that was compatible with her new life as a mother, and upon seeing the role of a Project Manager at RSK Biocensus, she thought it was too good to be true.
“I had several requests, including being able to work remotely and part-time, as well as not having to work in the evenings, which the business was extremely accepting of. When I joined RSK Biocensus, I saw how many people had children. I soon felt less alone and more understood.
Three years after joining, I found my way back into doing ecology work. It’s desk based, but I know now that I can be a mother and an ecologist without sacrificing one for the other.”
In her current role, Michelle supports solar farm and residential development projects, as well as providing advice on planning applications for major developments in a local planning authority.
Working at RSK Biocensus has given Michelle space to explore her love for invertebrates. Together with David Denman, Associate Director at RSK Biocensus, Michelle has set up the business’s Technical Expert Group (TEG) for invertebrates.
Michelle said: “Invertebrates are underdogs and are often deemed as scary. Despite being one of the most important parts of the food chain, they are often forgotten about.
“Spiders are a great example. Lots of people fear them, but you don’t have to think they’re cute and fluffy. You can find them interesting or at the very least respect them.
“I want to encourage more people to join the world of entomology, especially young people and women, as there is a large shortage of these groups in this particular area of study.”
Alongside her work and life as a mother, Michelle also spends time drawing and taking photographs of invertebrates. Using this as an outlet to support her mental health, she has also found it to be a great way of advocating for invertebrates too. (You can find some of Michelle’s work here)
“When I first started drawing, the illustrations were very scientific, but I got a little bored and moved to surrealism, although I still make sure they are anatomically correct. I quickly realised that I could use my creativity to challenge people’s perceptions of what they consider to be boring, ugly or evil.
Recently, I’ve gotten into macro photography. By creating large-scale drawings based on the close-ups of spiders, beetles, flies and wasps, I can reveal their complexity, colour, beauty and structure.
I’ve just completed a drawing of a ruby-tailed wasp and they are so beautiful. They have this iridescent green and blue and pink and orange. It’s been such a joy to work on.”
Michelle’s passion is evident in everything that she does, from championing invertebrate conservation, to breaking down barriers that women can face in ecology.
“I wanted to make something out of my life and not be hindered or defined by it. For me, having something to aim towards is important. I always want to learn more and keep moving forward.”
We could not be more proud of Michelle, despite finding it difficult to acknowledge what she has accomplished, there is no doubt that Michelle has achieved a lot both professionally and personally, and will continue to do so in the future.