Since leaving Hymers College, Rob Dalziel (OH 2001-11) has studied to become an ecologist, specialising in ornithology.  He studied Biology at the University of Lincoln before completing a Master of Science (MSc) at the University of York in Ecology and Environmental Management.

​After university, he worked on a year placement with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.  When this finished worked, he continued to work for them for nearly 6 months. Then in early 2017, he switched paths and started working in the Ecological Consultancy industry.

I've worked in this industry since and have worked my way up to Senior Ecologist. I specialise in ornithology and terrestrial mammals. Its a great industry to work in. I've worked in every English county except Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. I've worked in Ireland, and worked on massive projects like HS2 and windfarms in the far north of Scotland. I do loads of work on Humber and around Hull too!

Rob is still in touch with friends from Hymers College, including Tom Goodyear, Joe Dakkak, Tom Ramshaw, Josh Norrie and Billy Gilbert.

My favourite teacher was ​Mrs Jackson (staff from 2000 to present)!  She taught me Biology from when I was in year 9 through to year 13, and I think she unlocked my passion for it.  She also taught me all the ecology modules during this time so she must have brought it to life enough to make me want to do it as a career.  She also invested loads of time in me.  I'm very thankful for her as a teacher.

The massive school trips that they did were among Rob's fondest memories while at Hymers. He went to Arizona in 2008 and on the Canada rugby tour in 2009.

​Despite being awful at rugby I was somehow in the A team for it and then dropped into the gentlemens 3rd team in Sixth Form before I was forced into early retirement after knocking my teeth out.  I played cricket as well and captained the 2nd XI in year 13.

Rob has recently featured in The Guardian's "Take Part" section. They were doing an article about the best places to see migratory birds in the UK.  As an ornithologist, this was of interest to Rob who wrote in recommending Spurn Point and the nature reserve there. It is one of Rob's favourite places (along with the Humber estuary as a whole) to watch birds in the UK and it is on the migratory route that lots of birds use when coming into the country during the spring migration.  As someone who is also passionate about Hull and the East Riding, he wrote to The Guardian suggesting it as a place people could go to watch birds.

Its only a small piece (there was a character limit) but its nice to be published. It's actually the second time I've featured in The Guardian, previously writing about Spurn.  In 2020, I featured in a similar "Take Part" article recommending interesting ruins so I suggested Spurn as it has WW1 ammo stores, the lighthouse and the abandoned lifeboat community village at the end.

Actually if you know of any old Hymerians working at The Guardian I'd love a side hustle writing birdwatching/ecology articles for the paper, so if the old network can get me a foot in the door!!