A tangled sward – on becoming a grassland ecologist over the millennium

Abstract

This essay describes the career and professional development of the author in the field of plant ecology between the 1970s and early 2000s. Early experiences of under- and postgraduate training reveal the similarity between the late 20th century, and the present-day, in the struggle to obtain a career and stable employment. I describe the booming development of conservation ecology as applied in production landscapes together with the collapse of support for this work two decades later. However, continuity in my research has been provided by the enduring themes of plant functional types and grassland conservation. The experience of second wave feminism and its translation into gender issues in the workplace is also considered. Finally, tips are provided on professional development, collaborations, research strategies, professional practice, writing and communication.