Hey Wendy, I can't answer any of your firefly questions, but I can tell you that what influenced me to become a scientist were all of my experiences outdoors as a kid. As the saying goes in my house "I learned how to bait a hook before I could tie my shoes". And it's the truth. We've got pictures of it! Anywho, my family spent a lot of time outside growing up and both my brother and I are into the outdoors now. (FYI, I'm 26). I became a biologist and my brother is an "armchair environmentalist", meaning that while he doesn't study science specifically (he became a Marine), he does make sure his roommates recycle, goes hiking/camping/fishing/hunting whenever he gets the chance, and is more environmentally conscious than most of his friends. In case you're interested, I received my BS in Wildlife Management from the University of WI-Stevens Point and most recently my MS in Ecology from Florida State University. My family is from WI and I spent most of my life there. I suspect that regional differences are going to be a big factor in determining what most influences people to become scientists. As a side note, I took an Environmental Education course a few years ago and we discussed this very topic, what influences people to become scientists (or environmental educators). You may want to check out the Env. Ed. literature if your looking for more research on the issue. Unfortunately, I do not have any specific articles to cite for you but I doubt it will be hard to find them!
-- Sarah Braun Citizen Science Director Beaver Creek Reserve Fall Creek, WI 54742 (715) 877-2212 On 9/26/07, WENDEE HOLTCAMP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have two unrelated questions. > > > FIRE-FLIES: First I'm doing an article on fireflies and it seems they're > most common (or only found?) east of the Rockies except Utah. Yet there > are > some anecdotal reports from CA and WA. Can you all tell me if any of you > currently see blinking fireflies - of any species - there are 175+ in the > US > (not all flash though). OR if you "remember" seeing them when you were a > kid. Another common report is that they are declining in some areas but no > one seems to know why - could be chemicals, could be habitat loss, could > be > light pollution, could be that people are just not outdoors enough to see > them. But can anyone confirm for me that they personally saw them as a > child > in CA or OR or WA? In the West? Or that their parents or grandparents (who > are living and I can contact) saw them out west? > > > > HOW PEOPLE BECOME SCIENTISTS/MEDIA INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF > SCIENCE - I saw some studies that indicate that most natural scientists > have > two main influences affecting their early interest in sciencets - early > outdoor experiences and media/TV (for me it was Jacques Cousteau and Jane > Goodall documentaries, whereas a slightly younger generation grew up on > Croc > Hunter). Have you seen this study that showed this? The other study I > heard > about was an NSF study that indicated the majority of Americans learn > about > science from the media. I can't seem to locate either of these from a > Google > search. Ring any bells? Know of any other studies? > > > > What influenced YOU to become a scientist? > > Wendee > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology > > Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian > > <http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com/> > http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com > > <http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com> > http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > > -- Sarah Braun Citizen Science Director Beaver Creek Reserve Fall Creek, WI 54742 (715) 877-2212
