Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Contrary to popular belief not all scientists wear white coats and work in laboratories (and even fewer have assistants named Igor). Conservation scientists and foresters are a good example of those that do not. While there are some, a very few, who do work indoors, studying the advanced areas of research, for most in the field it is hard work outdoors, actually in the forests. While to a city boy like myself (civilization is defined by indoor work, no heavy lifting) this doesn’t sound too good there are of course those ourdoors types for whom it is very heaven. Imagine getting paid to hike through the woods each day!
Yes, it is actually a little more complex than that but that is the setting for the work that has to be done, out in the great outdoors, soaking up the sun (and the rain, and the wind….). The usual route into the profession is via a four year college degree in forestry or something similar. For those few indoor jobs a further college degree will almost certainly be required, probably a Ph D.
Where would we place this job on our EQSQ spectrum? It’s a science, so obviously a certain amount of systemizing ability is necessary. However, our buddies over at the BLS think that being able to get along with people is vitally important. The range of people who can be involved (special interest and conservation groups, county, state and federal government, businesses and so on) in a management project can be so vast that it looks like empathy, the ability to understand and get along with others is also necessary.
I’d say a job best suited to those with balanced brains.
July 24th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Yes, I tend to agree that Forestry requires a great deal of empathy — if not for the people forestry professionals need to collaborate with, definitely for the environment they’re trying to understand and conserve.
I was one of the lucky few without a college degree (this was when I was back in high school) to be working in the field of Forestry with the BLM (the U.S. land management agency). As the U.S. has such vast swathes of undeveloped, publically-owned land, the proper leasing and management of said land must be administered by the BLM. But the BLM also educates the public, to help them become aware of the environmental and historical resources available in public lands. I want to think that was where I first realized that an empathetic career path was where I wanted to head. And that summer job helped me to realize it.
July 26th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Excellent! I’ve always thought that summer jobs should be used that way. Try out a few things, have a look around at the alternative careers and options. Who knows, people might find out they actually like something they would not normally have thought of.
Using a little intelligence in these things wouldn’t hurt. One job in an office, one standing in the rain in the middle of a forest, another dealing with customers. With an intelligence based approach like that people might find out that they hate offices, hate the outdoors and completely despise customers. Like me, nothing left to do but become an economist.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:00 am
I totally agree with Pangea! Conservation work requires or perhaps derives from a well-developed empathic quotient–same with being a vet, pet trainer, zoo keeper, or maybe even a gardener!
I know a woman locally who actually makes good money as a pet psychic (100$ an hour!). And last year she was going on about how one of the plants in our office didn’t like it’s orange pot. I’m plenty skeptical, but I’ve also met people who swear she’s right on with their pets. My theory–she’s got a great EQ and knows how to use it!
On a related note, I teach a writing course in which we do some readings and discuss animal emotion. A good 1/4 of the class will usually pipe up that they believe animals don’t have emotions. But anyone who’s had a dog can clearly observe feelings like longing, joy, irritability, rage, contentment (right?).
Upon further inquiry, I’ve learned many of these college kids simply haven’t ever spent quality time with animals. I totally agree with you Tim–it’s so important for people to try a few things. How many of these young people who think animals don’t have emotions might have their hearts melted and life changed by a summer spent working with animals?
July 27th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
On the subject of the pet psychic I’d say she’s got great intelligence: the EQ part is reading the emotions of the owners, rather than the animals themselves though. James Randi has a great line for a pet mind reader he once came across. The first question was always, “What is your pet’s name?” Which is odd because of all the words that would be in an animal’s mind, their name is the one that would be on top. So why not just read the animal’s mind to find out? You know, they come when called etc.
That animals have emotions is obvious to me. But whether reading them is actually empathy or rather the application of intelligence to known or typical behaviour, that I’m still uncertain about.