Hi there! I am Kevhvan, an MSc student at the University of Aberdeen (UoA) that was placed with Buglife as an intern through the Aberdeen Internship programme organised by UoA, through their career’s office. I was overly excited that I was successful in interning with Buglife, because they are working on this amazing project, Aberdeen B-Lines, partnering with Aberdeen City Council, to create wildflower spaces at select locations in the city of Aberdeen. This is being done not only to boost the livelihood and diversity of our pollinator species, but also to create beautiful wildflower decorated spaces to refresh the wellbeing of all residents.
My key responsibilities included assisting with site visits, where I conducted surveys of both pollinator and wildflower species in each area. With this data, I conducted additional research to gain further understanding of some distinct wildflower/pollinator interactions that were observed.
I was also involved in creating vibrant event posters in Canva. This was an excellent experience as my design skills were significantly improved.
The most exciting bits of this internship, for me, were the events. From assisting in a guided pollinator walk, to catching bees with P4 and P5 students. Each event had its own unique experience, and I was left with memories that I will cherish for many years to come.
The highlight of my internship was definitely the moth catching event. Big iridescent lights were set up, trees were painted with specially made sugary treats to attract the moths, and guess what? The moth turnout was spectacular! We had a Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) expert on hand who helped us identify the variety of moths that turned up for a treat. She was amazing, and overall, it was an evening well spent.
From left to right: Kevhvan painting sugary mixture onto tree before the moth survey event; Greyhope Pollinator Walk; Kehvan and Sahara. All images © Ruth Quigley
My internship with Buglife through the Aberdeen Internship programme at the University of Aberdeen was a highly rewarding experience. It provided me with invaluable practical skills in conducting ecological surveys, enhanced my research capabilities, and improved my design proficiency. The opportunity to engage in memorable events, such as the moth catching night, enriched my understanding of pollinator species. Moreover, this internship significantly developed my networking and relationship-building abilities, which will be essential in my future scientific career. Overall, it was an unforgettable and professionally enriching experience.
Main Image Credit: Kevhvan on a Pollinator Walk © Ruth Quigley
