Careers in Science
1.) What is your major field of expertise and how did you become interested in it? 2.) What suggestions do you have for students who wish to become involved in your field of study?
Hi Courtney! Thanks for the great questions! That is what science is all about . . . thinking up questions and seeking answers!
I like being a scientist and a teacher. My area of expertise started out to be biology. In school, I loved to learn everything I could about animals. I wanted to know how they moved, why they ate what they did, and why they looked like they did, both inside and out! I found that in order to answer many of the questions I was thinking of, I had to learn more about other subjects like chemistry and physics. Then I began to realize that I needed to understand more about the environment and various habitats of living things if I wanted to really understand life processes. That led to interest in the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Soon, even Earth's gravity couldn't keep my thoughts from zooming into outer space and I just had to study astronomy! That is a cool thing about being a scientist. You never run out of things to learn about!
Though we sometimes think of science disciplines as separate areas of study, they really do depend on one another to explain the various systems that make up our world. I encourage my students to take an Earth Systems approach to learning about science. This way, my students can see that everything is made up of parts. Collectively, these parts make up a system. Each system becomes a part in a larger system, and this goes on and on and on! By understanding how various parts and systems work together, and what happens if something makes it so that these parts and systems don't work together like they are supposed to, one can better understand the world and our place in it.
So you are interested in a career as a scientist or a teacher, right Courtney? Great choices! Many scientists are teachers and many teachers are scientists, so you can certainly enjoy a career doing either or both! As a middle school student, I would encourage you to seek out experiences and opportunities that interest you and challenge your thinking. Look at the world around you through "science eyes" and help your friends "see" what you see! Ask questions, but don't expect others to just give you the answers. You have all that it takes to find the answers for yourself! When you discover the answers yourself, you learn and remember more from the experience. Let your teachers, parents, and even the "experts" guide you towards your own answers to your own questions! Figure out what you already know or think you know about the subject. Then make a plan for using the available resources to get your answers and check your understanding. Be open-minded and willing to try out new ideas, even if they don't seem to "fit" with what you previously thought to be true. When you find your answers, share them with others! One day, you might find an area of science that is of special interest to you. You might feel compelled to study it in great depth, making one exciting discovery after another!
Always take advantage of the many resources available to you as you go about your science quest. If you ask any scientist, he or she will tell you that one of the most important factors and best resources was a great teacher who inspired them to think creatively and to be self-directed learners! I can see that you are already a self-directed learner because you took the initiative to ask your questions here! Way to go, Courtney! Seek out those special teachers with whom you can really relate. You might not get them for a science class, but I'll bet they sponsor a science, math, or technology club you could join. They probably would enjoy talking about science with you, even if you were not taking a class they teach! Lots of times these teachers help students get involved with student competitions.
Courtney, you might enjoy participating in the Craftsman/NSTA Awards Program at
http://www.nsta.org/programs/craftsman/. Can you think of an invention you would like to develop and enter into this competition?
What about entering the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Competition? Go to http://www.exploravision.org/ for more information.
Be sure to enter your school's science fair and consider taking special science classes offered over the spring, summer, or winter holiday breaks. These classes are really fun! You get to do "real science" and you will make some new friends and some amazing discoveries! You get to do things that usually can't be done in your classroom during the regular school day.
Join clubs outside of school, as well. Are you involved with any online science clubs or activities? You might want to check these links out!
Discover engineering and learn about Engineers' Week at http://www.eweek.org/.
Join NASA's Earth Crew at http://edspace.nasa.gov/index.html.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Kids Zone has some cool stuff to check out at
http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=KIDS.
Join the Environmental Kids Club at http://www.epa.gov/kids/.
Join the U.S. Army's eCybermission at http://www.ecybermission.com.
I hope this helps you on your way. To reach your goals, remember to associate with good people, do good things, and be in good places! You don't have to wait to become a scientist! Think like a scientist and that is just what you will be!