ARU Blogs — Lana Ishmukhametova

Hello, my name is Lana. I was born in a small town in Siberia near the Arctic Circle. I started off pursuing all sorts of arts and crafts before moving to St. Petersburg to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Photojournalism.

Fast-forward many years, I am now living in the English countryside with two dogs and two cats, while studying MSc Applied Wildlife Conservation at ARU in Cambridge. Getting from there to here has been quite a transition and I came to the ARU as a mature student. I especially appreciate ARU's career-driven and employability-focused approach, and the practical studies with plenty of field work.

ARU tutors have supported me all the way through this new and exciting path, encouraging me to conquer my goals – from joining groups and societies to attending workshops, participating in conferences, and obtaining licenses useful for my future career.

I enjoy it all, from learning GIS and DNA technologies to studying land management and animal behaviour and welfare.

In my spare time I still do some drawing, crafting, photography, and writing. I also enjoy gardening, hikes, and long walks with my dogs in local woods.