Over-educated and Underfunded
Weird, wacky and wonderful stories and sketches from biologists in the field.
There's been some debate amongst our readers about what equipment to bring into the field based on one of our recent posts. So we thought we'd asked a few biologists the question, "what is the most essential piece of equipment for a field biologist to have?", here's what they had to say: 1. "Good boots! You can only go as far as your footwear lets you!" -Vincent Diringer, Biology M.Sc. Candidate, France 2. "A big backpack so you can look and feel like Dora the Explorer" -Emma Su, Park Ranger, U.S.A. 3. "A good wet bag...especially in the tropics!! And like different sizes, one for the phone, or bigger ones for equipment" -Ananya Iyer, Sustainability M.Sc. Candidate, India 4. "Obviously insect repellent, everything else is secondary...and good leech proof shoes" -Sylvia Gan, Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Coordinator, Singapore 5. "A good waterproof headtorch so that you can catch frogs hands-free like a pro." -Connor Butler, Ecology Ph.D. Candidate, U.K. (check out his awesome frog photos on instagram @connor_the_ecologist) 6. "A backpack with a raincover, so that you can protect all your belongings. Oh! And a camera!" -Isabelle Ng, Marine Biology M.Sc. Candidate, Hong Kong (for more cool facts and pictures of marine life check out her instagram @biotography) 7. "A waterproof case for your phone, it's saved me thousands on having to buy new phones. And download the app SEEK for a quick field ID." -Ariana Loehr, Field Biologist, U.S.A. 8. "A big a** bottle of water to stay hydrated all day." -Sophie Webb, Field Biologist, U.K. 9. "A hiking stick that helps you keep your balance in rough terrain and doubles as a makeshift measuring stick in a pinch" -Adam Goh, Biology Teacher, Singapore 10. "An umbrella, and a good camera phone." -Charles Downing, Field Biologist, U.K. Is there anything not listed here that you think should be? Let us know in the comments below!
0 Comments
By Rachel Pringle“The act of musicking establishes in the place where it is happening, a set of relationships, and it is in those relationships that the meaning of the act lies. They are to be found not only between those organized sounds which are conventionally thought of as being the stuff of musical meaning but also between the people who are taking part, in whatever capacity, in the performance” – Small, 1998. As a biologist, it seems natural to love and admire microscopic organisms. One of my favorite things about studying was getting to learn about all the tiny, squirmy, alien-like organisms underneath a microscope that had their own lifestyles and behaviors. Always busy, always fulfilling a purpose, these organisms were unencumbered by my giant watching eye. I found myself loving these creatures, giving the simplest spore a personality. I wondered what it would be like if everyone was able to connect with these tiny animals the way I did in biology class. Would understanding microscopic organisms, accompanied by the realization of how important they are for supporting life on earth, allow humans to forge a new relationship with nature? If it is not possible for everyone to look through a microscope to see the micro-organisms, is it possible to listen to them? As the gateway to human pathos, the idea of relating to microorganisms through music presented an interesting opportunity. Due to microorganism’s lack of anthropomorphic characteristics, it is difficult to invoke feelings of empathy through pure observation; however, could hearing an expression of their life-force make up for this deficiency? To do this, I created the Insentient Choir – a micro-computer which interacts with a collection of fungi and bacteria growing on strawberries. Simply put, the Insentient Choir uses the universal language of music to give bacteria and fungi a voice so that we can relate to them in a new way. "Would understanding microscopic organisms allow humans to forge a new relationship with nature?" The composition of the Insentient Choir includes three differently aged strawberries resulting in one rotten strawberry containing large amounts of fungi, one middle-aged strawberry blossoming with new communities of fungi and bacteria, and one fresh strawberry with a lower amount of microbial activity still retaining its moisture. The device itself utilizes two carbon dioxide sensors and one humidity sensor (the long spindly things) which translate the detection of these chemicals into music. Because bacteria and fungi release carbon dioxide when they breathe – like us – the carbon dioxide sensors measure the “life” growing on the middle-aged and rotten strawberries. Finally, the humidity sensor measures the moisture released from the fresh strawberry – an indication of molding. When exposed to high concentrations of these chemicals, each sensor is programmed to play a certain role in the musical composition – keys, vocals, or the atmospherics. This means that though the device was given a certain criteria of what it should sound like – for example, the first carbon dioxide sensor should sound like keys – the data from the sensors naturally utilized the musical program without human interference. This data gathered from the growing microorganisms in the form of carbon dioxide and humidity measurements is what creates the music heard in the video. The Insentient Choir’s melody is based on the lyrics “there is an entire world in here” generated through the digital vocaloid “Alter-Ego”. These lyrics are repeated throughout the composition at a rate and pitch determined by the fungal and bacterial growth on the middle-aged strawberry. This phrase is used to translate the idea that despite being on a microscopic scale, the population of bacteria and fungi form an entire microcosm - complex and intricate. The Insentient Choir is an effort to use the pre-existing, strong emotional pathways of music in humans to connect deeper with organisms that we rarely think about and that are evolutionarily very distant from humans. It is important for our appreciation of nature that the complexity of these organisms – bacteria, fungi, and plants – is highlighted and recognized on a deep emotional level. The Insentient Choir gives us a glimpse inside the world of microorganisms and indication of their livelihood without a microscope.
Sometimes you end up learning more about human behavior than the wildlife you're studying.
By Vincent DiringerBiology is a fairly broad section of science encompassing everything from the study of cells to cladistics as well as conservation and astronomy. Such a vast multitude of majors also entails a similarly large and varied array of pathways leading towards them. All Paths Lead to Biology is a series by the Broke Biologists delving into the stories of how biologists have arrived to where they are and what drives them. “It started from a really young age, my dad has always loved watching Nat Geo, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet - you name it - and it became a pastime we shared together. He was often at work, and our way of spending time together was to sit on the couch and watch TV together, and as we’d watch these channels he’d teach me things while we’re watching - a lot of the things I know today are because of him,” explains Isabelle Ng, “For example, he is the one that taught me about shark-finning, and that is really what kick-started things for me. I was in about fifth, or sixth grade when he explained to me the issues of shark-finning, and at that point I’d been at banquets and family dinners where it had been served, where I’d eaten it, and I had no idea why it was bad because I was so young. Then one day we watched a show that discussed shark-finning, my dad taught me more about it, and from that point on I vowed I’d never eat it again, and I wanted to push forward that movement. It was really inspiring to see my dad do it too - at family events he’d educate my family on shark-finning, why you shouldn’t eat shark fin soup - it gave me the courage to do it too.” These early interactions were what pushed the 25-year old biologist from Hong Kong towards a life of environmental advocacy. Following on from her childhood experiences, while in high-school Isabelle got involved in an organization in Hong Kong that sought to educate the public on shark finning and ban the consumption of shark fin soup. Her interest in community engagement led her to start an environmental club for her school, enlisting it as an affiliate branch of Greenpeace and landing an internship with the NGO in the process. After years spent organizing beach cleanups, protests, coral reef surveys and promoting environmental rights, Isabelle decided to pursue an undergraduate degree that reflected similar values. “I’d been determined to go to the United States and study at Pitzer College in Claremont, California because they are very into environmental sustainability. I went there with the intention of studying Environmental Science, but I met a professor who recommended to go down the biology path and build up the scientific side first, if I still wanted to go into policy I could do that afterward, it was easier to go from science to policy than the other way around - so I majored in Organismal Biology.” "There is so much more I can do in an environment where I get to interact with the public, disseminating scientific information." Deciding to intern as a lab assistant during her summers, Isabelle found herself working in labs in Hong Kong and California, studying everything from coral reefs to epidemiology. She would graduate with a double major in Organismal Biology & Environmental Policy and would be offered a position as a field biologist in Singapore shortly thereafter. After a little under two years working, she yearned for more and decided to move to Townsville, Australia in order to undertake a Masters in Marine Biology at James Cook University. Now halfway through the program, she is focusing on finishing her postgraduate degree before moving on - but to where? “In terms of future plans… I’m clueless,” she says failing to stifle her laughter, “Well, maybe not clueless, I’m hoping that this Masters degree will bring more clarity for what I want to pursue. When I was young, my plan was to do my undergrad, my Masters, my PhD, then become a professor - I was thirteen. Now… well, I really don’t know. I think it is really easy to get sucked into the education realm once you’re exposed to it, but I feel as though there is just so much more I can do in an environment where I get to interact with the public, disseminating scientific information. I just want to find a balance between doing research, doing what I love, studying what I love, and also finding a way to spread that information to the general public,” she pauses for a bit, “I hope something will come along, or maybe I’ll create my dream job, we’ll see.” Have an interesting biology story to tell? We are always looking for interesting stories and biologists to feature. Contact us in the comments below!
|
About the AuthorsThese stories come from several biologists working in the field around the globe. Archives
July 2020
Categories
All
|