Bursary testimonials

Read what bursary recipients have said about their courses and download examples of other courses. Previous courses have included training about mosses and liverworts, aquatic beetles, mammal identification and solitary bees.

Kate Kirkwood:
Woodlands: A Habitat Introduction, 2024

“I have been able to take the knowledge and skills I have gained from this course straight back to my role as a Greenspace Project Officer with Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust. I am developing improvement proposals for two existing urban woodlands in Edinburgh and already feel more confident in delivering those because of the course.”

Eristalis tenax hoverfly

Miranda Shephard: Hoverfly Identification, 2017

“Overall, I came away from the course with a host of new knowledge and skills that I can bring to my own hoverfly recording activities contributing more to the hoverfly recording scheme and also hopefully encouraging others to become more aware of, interested in and ultimately help look after the world for these fascinating and diverse insects.”

Apithanny Bourne: Learning Leaf Mines, 2019

I received a bursary to attend an excellent FSC course on leaf mining moths. I knew that I wanted to do something a bit different to my usual butterfly and macro moth recording, so this course was a challenging but excellent introduction to something brand new... The BRISC bursary scheme is so important in helping young people develop their field skills and the application process was really straightforward - I would highly recommend taking part!”

common woodland mosses

Andrew Painting: Bryophytes, 2018

“The BRISC bursary gave me the opportunity to start studying an area of natural history that had previously felt beyond me! It was a great experience, and one that has improved both my career and my understanding of Scottish ecology. A few years on, and I now feel like a much more fully-rounded ecologist. Many thanks!”