(not targeting Ben here, just replying to thread) I know there has been talk about the cellular level and how it seems tangent or outside the realm of ecology, but it is not. Much of ecotoxicology deals with cellular elements. Stress responses can be read in immunofunction, antioxidant levels, and heatshock protein up regulation. Genetic technology is increasingly important, in fact, I have seen a growing number of genomics-wildlife vacancies in recent years. Further, many of the wildlife problems are pathogenic leading to the need for a firm understanding in the microscopic and submicroscopic world. Never under-estimate the value of what you can learn, always shoot to learn as much as you can, and continue to learn new things even after you are in school. If you do this, you will continue to grow as a person, a professional, and as a scientist. Unfortunately, most people really do stop learning the moment the leave school (some stop earlier than this). The stagnation that results will gradually lead to an array of phenomena that are neither healthy nor productive. You can never know too much, and the one thing in life that is certainly true is that the more you learn, the more easily you learn who is full of it, and who is not! :) Stepping outside of your comfort zone and learning crazy new stuff often leads to the biggest and neatest results. When you take ideas from one field and apply them to another where they have not been introduced, it can be pretty amazingly enlightening. So, don't be afraid of getting stuck in a course on membranes! It just turns out that one of the easiest ways to detect stress is to detect free radical attack on lipid membranes, and these tests constitute very important stress markers in all organisms! And, of course stress is fundamental to what drives evolutionary change, population stability and change, and ultimately ecosystem function.
So, its not all that distantly related to the big picture! :) On Wed, Apr 8, 2015 at 10:03 AM, Ben Fertig <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Matt, > > To answer your question: Yes, you probably can become a successful > ecologist or wildlife biologist with either environmental studies or > biology. A Masters and possibly a PhD would also likely give you helpful > credentials, depending on your interests and the degree to which you want > your career to be based in hard science. > > My two cents is that undergraduate years are what one makes of them. While > the focus of a department may influence a student’s interests, I believe > self-motivation is ultimately critical in pursuing science. While maybe not > the norm for a small liberal arts university such as Brandeis, I graduated > in 2003 with a BA in Biology and an Env. Studies minor (there was no major > at that time). After internships and working for a few years I went to U. > of Maryland for my Ph.D. (2010) in Marine, Estuarine and Environmental > Science with an Ecology area of specialization. I have always felt that the > rigor of the (essentially pre-med) Biology major at Brandeis has been > extremely helpful beyond college despite that my interests lay outside the > cellular level. > > Cheers, > Ben Fertig > https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Benjamin_Fertig > > On Apr 8, 2015, at 8:21 AM, Judith S. Weis <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > I haven't looked at it lately, but last I knew, the Bio Dept at Brandeis > > was not interested in anything outside the cell membrane - which would > > explain some of these policies. I would suggest transferring to a school > > that appreciates ecology. > > > > > >> Dear Matt, > >> > >> What a crazy biology department you must have! Studying abroad, > enrolling > >> in a SFS program (or, better, helping conduct scientific research in a > >> more formal setting, or taking an Organization for Tropical Studies > >> course) is EXACTLY what you should be doing! Students without research > >> experience in ecology will always have a hard time getting into top > >> ecology departments. > >> > >> > >> In my experience, environmental studies programs can weak in the hard > >> sciences ... and you do need to know some physics and chemistry, > >> certainly math (calculus, linear algebra, probability) and statistics > >> (means and variances, t-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, regression, multiple > >> regression) and ... some real biology - get to know the ecology and > >> systematics (and physiology) of at least one group very well, and it > will > >> serve as an inspiration and strength forever. > >> > >> > >> Cheers, Tom > >> > >> > >> Thomas J. Givnish > >> Henry Allan Gleason Professor of Botany > >> University of Wisconsin > >> > >> [email protected] > >> http://botany.wisc.edu/givnish/Givnish/Welcome.html > >> > >> On 04/07/15, Matt Smetana wrote: > >>> Hey Everyone! > >>> > >>> My name is Matt Smetana, and I’m a current sophomore at Brandeis > >>> University out near > >>> Boston. I have been subscribed to this listserve for a few months and > >>> have been > >>> applying to various summer internships within the ecological/biological > >>> field. I am certain > >>> this is the career path I want to take but am unclear of the skill set > >>> required to be > >>> successful in this field. > >>> > >>> My current degree is Environmental Studies, but I am also highly > >>> interested in Ecology, > >>> Wildlife Biology, and Forestry. I am most drawn to internships and jobs > >>> pertaining to the > >>> biological field but enjoy my course work and have a real passion for > >>> the environment. > >>> My question is, can I become a successful ecologist or wildlife > >>> biologist with a degree in > >>> environmental studies or must I switch my major in order to obtain the > >>> necessary skills > >>> for the career that I want. > >>> > >>> My main concern with choosing biology is that it inhibits me from > taking > >>> many desired > >>> courses, studying abroad at a School for Field Studies programs, > >>> participating in > >>> independent research opportunities, and possessing an internship this > >>> summer (I would > >>> need to enroll in Chemistry this summer). > >>> > >>> I will have already taken all of the requirements for the biology > degree > >>> such as the > >>> introductory courses, biology lab, one semester of general chemistry > and > >>> lab, and all > >>> required electives. But I have not finished general chemistry, organic > >>> chemistry, or > >>> physics. As ecologists, do you think it is more important to go for the > >>> biology degree or > >>> stay with environmental studies and gain experience through research, > >>> study abroad, > >>> and internships? > >>> > >>> Any input would be very helpful and could potentially change the course > >>> of my future! > >>> > >>> Best, > >>> Matt Smetana > >> > >> -- > >> Thomas J. Givnish > >> Henry Allan Gleason Professor of Botany > >> University of Wisconsin > >> > >> [email protected] > >> http://botany.wisc.edu/givnish/Givnish/Welcome.html > >> > -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Environmental Studies Program Green Mountain College Poultney, Vermont “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
