Animal Research Day

Wednesday 25th March 2015

• Full day
• Manchester University
• Looked at the animal research facilities, where they keep the mice, rats, sheep, pigs and fruit flies
• Dissected mouse brains in order to dissect the hypothalamus. We looked at this using an optical microscope to see more clearly
• Cracked open a chicken egg. Saw chick embryo with heart beating. Saw that the heart beat decreased as temperature decreased. Discussed how organisms are not that different as an early embryo.
• Did a few experiments with fruit flies and discussed epilepsy and how fruit flies were able to conduct studies to show epilepsy and seizures. Put 2 test tubes underneath arms, one test tube contained a protein which made the fruit flies temporarily paralysed. Looked at different types of fruit flies under an optical microscope and discussed the discovering of genetics through the use of fruit flies.

Biological Sciences Day

Wednesday 11th March 2015

• Full day
• Manchester University
• Body's Internal Clock
• Cancerous cells
• Cells in the brain for diseases such as alzheimer's
• Bacteria in the gut
• Did a range of workshop activities throughout the day.

The East Manchester Academy

8th, 9th and 10th December 2014

• 3 days
• Assisted the BTEC Animal Care lessons
• Helped the students feed, clean and manage the welfare of a range of animals: corn snake, rat, guinea pigs, hamster, gerbil and tropical fish.
• Limited hands-on experience.
• Helped the students with their presentations on their specific animal, which allowed me to obtain some information about the behavioural aspects of some of the animals.
• Improved confidence with people.
• Allowed to experience what it is like to work as part of the staff rather than as a student. 

Piglets

Summer 2014

Poland

• 1 day (around 2 hours)
• Watched a Veterinarian obtain piglets from a mother pig as the pig wasn't able to do it on her own.
• The birth of around 15 piglets.
• 1 or 2 still births.
• The mother pig was extremely big, kept moving and was squealing from pain. 
• Aggressive behaviour from the pig. 
• Worrying experience? For both the Vet and the pig.
• Allowed me to see life as a Vet in a rural setting, in a farm.