Screw math-based sciences, is anyone into ecology?

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · July 17, 2007, 05:29 PM

Just curious. It seems the threads in here are limited to the universe and other topics involving physics and chemisty and the root of all evil--numbers. Of course there's the odd mention of an alien or Moon Base Zappa but there are rarely threads about the outdoors in general.

As for me, I am very interested in ecology, and not because of the salary.

In the summer, I work for a county Forest Preserve as a peer leader in a youth program. We basically act as an operations crew for the F.P., planting trees, shrubs, and sedges, woodchipping trails, etc etc. It's great because you learn a lot from the people you work with from the Forest Preserve as well as just spending time outdoors seeing how plants and animals interact.

Perhaps the best part about the job is that what you do helps get other people interested in the science behind the beauty...

Now it's your turn...is anyone studying a science involving the outdoors? In school or in their free time...

**Gary88** · July 17, 2007, 05:33 PM

i'm actually into physics but i love the outdoors and am fascinated by biology et al. a friend of mine used to do the stuff you do before he became a tree surgeon and we used to talk about it it sounded like a great time. i cant say i have done much about ecology since secondary school and being sent to the god awful north welsh coast to look at tiny sea creatures.

**Bootsiuv** · July 17, 2007, 06:55 PM

My early years were marked by a strong interest in biology...I used to love watching animal shows when I was little. Eventually, though, I became more interested in astronomy and cosmology. Prehistoric Biology has also always been a strong interest of mine (although my real love is human history now). I think I've just seen most that modern day animals have to offer after watching about 1000 nature shows growing up. It gets a little boring eventually (no offense to you, of course).

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · July 17, 2007, 07:17 PM

Good to hear!

Just a note, I didn't mean "screw" literally--I'm amazed at all of the math-based sciences, I just can't get my head around them.

I respect you and your math abilities!

**chris_uk_83** · July 18, 2007, 02:50 AM

eew, biology, it's all squishy. Ick!

**Chaigidel** · July 18, 2007, 07:02 PM

some good friends of mine are professionals in the bio industry; turf farming and general plant manipulation :O--- I find biology exceptionally cool, the micro ecology of the world is neato too ( parasites etc)

but aaaah I have no real personal experience unless you count organic chemistry and I dont think it is counted :O

**Simetrical** · July 18, 2007, 11:47 PM

Of course, ecology in the sense of preservation of biodiversity and so forth is based on evolutionary biology, which in turn has an awful lot of mathematical models in it. Evolutionary biologists like Dawkins and so on definitely know and use a lot of math. So hah.

**STReetSamurai** · July 18, 2007, 11:51 PM

I enjoy nature, you also have to remember with biology comes biotechnology and that **** has the potential to do some very interesting things.

**Wild Bill Kelso** · July 19, 2007, 12:20 AM

umm.. all ecologists use a lot of math.

How else would we be able to analyze the mountains of data we collect?

case in point:
http://www.bio.umontreal.ca/legendre...rner_paper.pdf

Myself- I soil microbial ecology of the boreal forest is my field of study.

**SoggyFrog** · July 20, 2007, 01:16 PM

I'm starting science this year, but I don't yet know my specialization. It will most likely be abouts the region of ecology though

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · July 22, 2007, 09:00 PM

@ Sim...way to rain on my parade.

Of course we all use math, but if I do go into ecoligy I don't have to spend all my time with advanced math theories.

Statistics is much more simple!

Anyway WBK, how did you get into that field and if you don't mind me asking, where do you live that allows you to do the research you do?

**Gary88** · July 22, 2007, 09:03 PM

that reminds me a professor at Cardiff uni i was talking to was telling me about his research into biological circuit boards, which is not ecology but still, its cool biology

**Wild Bill Kelso** · August 02, 2007, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Fuzz

@ Sim...way to rain on my parade.

Of course we all use math, but if I do go into ecoligy I don't have to spend all my time with advanced math theories.

Statistics is much more simple!

Anyway WBK, how did you get into that field and if you don't mind me asking, where do you live that allows you to do the research you do?

Sorry for the late reply, I kind of forgot about this thread

. There are many universities that have soil science departments. The thing is, all of the fun stuff starts at the graduate level. Sadly, many institutions no longer have pure soil science degree programs

**Bernem** · August 03, 2007, 08:09 AM

I'm a biology student, but I won't specialise in ecology, rather in microbiology and genetics, looking forward to next month, when I can help in a study about bioethanol!