BIOLOGY: All speakers great and small

RGS biology students have welcomed a wide range of speakers over the past year. Sixth form student ANNA BRADLEY, who leads the Biology Society, reflects on two of the latest talks. She persuaded TV vet Julian Norton to take time out from tending to animals at his North Yorkshire practice to reveal more about his work, while parent Katie Reeves gave a fascinating insight into her exciting role as a marine scientist, which included counting whale sharks in the Middle East

A HUGE thank you to Katie Reeves and Julian Norton for coming to RGS to talk to students about their work. They are just two of the guest speakers Biology Society has welcomed this past half term, covering topics ranging from Hox genes to bioengineering.

Parent Katie Reeves talked about her fascinating career as a marine scientist, and an adventure that led her to participate in a whale shark count in the Middle East. Despite not doing A-level biology, Katie took us through her journey, starting with ecology charities, mud flat surveys, and leading onto her work in the Middle East, all driven by a love of water and diving.

Julian Norton told us about his experience of becoming a vet, and the events that led to his fame as the world-renowned Yorkshire vet. He recounted how his dream of being a vet started when he was ten years old, having been fascinated by the TV series All Creatures Great And Small, which led him to a prestigious placement at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School. After some time working in the Cotswolds, Julian found himself working in the same practice as James Herriot once did. From there a seemingly quick six-episode series, dipping its toe into the day-to-day life of the North Yorkshire vet, led to the popular long-running documentary we know today.