Today in class, we looked at several different fields in which a Marine Biologist might work. Some of the files we looked at were Ichthyologists, Fishery Biologists, Marine Mammalogists, and several others. The particular scientist that my partner, Will Schneider, and I looked at were Research Scientists. A research scientist is the broadest sense of the word scientist. All scientists conduct research in order to prove or disprove theories or just to make discoveries Most scientists who spend time in the lab collecting and arranging data are considered research scientists, although they will often collect data in the field too. A research scientist can study any particular area of research. Andrew C. Baker is an example of a research scientist in the field of Marine Biology. Baker is researching the effects that warm-climate algae have on coral reefs. Through research, Baker has discovered that these warm-climate algae can help preserve these some of these coral reefs that have begun to die and disappear. Another example of a research scientists’s experiment is an article that we read last night. The article talked about how human interaction and climate/temperature changes in water affect the migration of certain species of fish. Also, the research found that in general, the smaller and younger the fish is, the more likely they are to move about and migrate. Thus far, I feel as though I have learned more than I thought I would have, and it’s only the second day! I am thoroughly enjoying this class and look forward to each new day.
