- #1
myrsky
- 3
- 0
I'm not entirely sure that this question doesn't belong in the Earth sciences forum, so my apologies if I've goofed.
I'm trying to figure out what academic path to take in order to best be qualified to do field research out in the natural world as often as possible, and secondarily in as broad a scope of environments as possible. Basically, I'm looking to build the foundation for a career in which I can get paid to travel to interesting, beautiful places around the world, such as rainforests, tundra, deserts, polar regions, etc. And I do know that scientific research careers would involve more time spent in the lab dealing with the results than out in the field, and I think I can live with that.
There are two basic paths I'm considering, and the difference between them is a matter of specialization vs versatility.
The first path I'm thinking of would be along the lines of ecology or wildlife biology, and the second would be Earth systems science (*). The first would presumably indicate a greater degree of competence in its specific field, while the second would (and please correct me if I am wrong about this) give me an excuse to be on a field research trip in virtually any environment in the world, given that it covers a certain amount of land, sea, sky and life knowledge.
So, I'd be very pleased to receive any advice people may have about this quandary.
(a) How do people get to work in field research?
(b) Specialty vs versatility for securing a career?
(c) Does ESS actually do what I think it does (grant sufficient competence in any environment to justify a field research career)?
(d) Can a research career be founded on a bachelor's or is a master's generally better for that?
(e) Anything I haven't thought of or silly mistakes I'm making here.
Thanks for your time.
(*)= Since Earth system science doesn't seem to be universally represented across american colleges, I wanted to include a couple of links in case it wasn't clear what it is:
http://www.eas.cornell.edu/cals/eas/academics/sesrequirements.cfm"
I'm trying to figure out what academic path to take in order to best be qualified to do field research out in the natural world as often as possible, and secondarily in as broad a scope of environments as possible. Basically, I'm looking to build the foundation for a career in which I can get paid to travel to interesting, beautiful places around the world, such as rainforests, tundra, deserts, polar regions, etc. And I do know that scientific research careers would involve more time spent in the lab dealing with the results than out in the field, and I think I can live with that.
There are two basic paths I'm considering, and the difference between them is a matter of specialization vs versatility.
The first path I'm thinking of would be along the lines of ecology or wildlife biology, and the second would be Earth systems science (*). The first would presumably indicate a greater degree of competence in its specific field, while the second would (and please correct me if I am wrong about this) give me an excuse to be on a field research trip in virtually any environment in the world, given that it covers a certain amount of land, sea, sky and life knowledge.
So, I'd be very pleased to receive any advice people may have about this quandary.
(a) How do people get to work in field research?
(b) Specialty vs versatility for securing a career?
(c) Does ESS actually do what I think it does (grant sufficient competence in any environment to justify a field research career)?
(d) Can a research career be founded on a bachelor's or is a master's generally better for that?
(e) Anything I haven't thought of or silly mistakes I'm making here.
Thanks for your time.
(*)= Since Earth system science doesn't seem to be universally represented across american colleges, I wanted to include a couple of links in case it wasn't clear what it is:
http://www.eas.cornell.edu/cals/eas/academics/sesrequirements.cfm"
http://www.ess.uci.edu/academic/bs"The SES major is intrinsically interdisciplinary, involving many branches of science and engineering. The SES program is unique in that it incorporates fundamentals of Earth science with the emergence of a new and more complete approach, encompassing all components of the Earth system—air, life, rock and water—to gain a new and more comprehensive understanding of the world as we know it.
Scientific aspects of environmental problems
Prepares students for graduate studies or careers in science, research, or technical fields
Classes in Earth system science, weather and climate, oceanography, hydrology, and ecology
Last edited by a moderator: