Articles in Career DevelopmentArticles in EntrepreneurshipArticles in Health & SafetyArticles in Job SearchArticles in Salary / BenefitsArticles in WorkplaceEcologistA Day in the life of a Ecologist Ecologists work with scientific and mathematical models to analyze and interpret correlations between actions and effects on the environment, which translates into significant time looking at data. “You’ve got be able to find the assumptions which underlie every study or you’re history,” mentioned one ecologist. Over 40 percent of those we surveyed used the phrase “keen analytic mind” to describe a trait of the most successful members of their profession. Some fieldwork is required-at the most, three to six months per year, but more often two to four weeks per year. Those who enter the profession with strong academic training in the issues presented have no difficulty; over 80 percent of environmental science majors who enter the field stay ecologists for at least five years. For those who come to the career through other routes, the path is less certain: Only 55 percent remain in the profession after five years. People with strong essay-writing and report-writing skills last longer than those without them. “I had to learn to think all over again, and once I had done that, I had to learn how to write all over again,” said one professional. A solid majority of respondents ranked writing the second or third most important skill in this profession. An ecologist can make a difference in how the general population treats the environment with rigorous scientific research and presentation of their ideas in well-written reports and articles which educate others. One ecologist described her colleagues as “smart people who love looking at big systems and, if possible, saving them.” Many researchers review others’ articles and papers before they are sent out to publishers. The sense of community often sustains ecologists in their careers when little, if anything, is done with their recommendations. Aspiring ecologists should be aware of the institutional difficulties in making any headway against environmental degradation: This sense of frustration can be significant for those entering this profession. Paying Your Dues Associated Careers Source : Princeton Review
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