A good question, Patrick. Why not apply it to other realms of endeavor?
For instance, what is the point of serving others as much as possible? Is
this the only way of making the world a better place? Everyone serving
everyone else is like everyone doing everyone else's laundry; wouldn't it be
just as efficient if everyone did hisher own laundry? If everyone
sacrifices for the benefit others, who is left to enjoy the benefits
conferred by those sacrifices?
Also, you should consider the different forms of service. Increasing
the human store of knowledge about the natural world is a form of service.
Remember the old saying: "Give a man a fish and you've given him a meal.
Teach a man how to fish and he will feed his family, have more children,
over-exploit the local fish population, make war on his neighbors for their
fish, and eventually cause an ecosystem collapse resulting in mass
starvation." Or something like that.
My point is that there are many forms of service, and many things
that masquerade as service, and it is sometimes hard to know what's what.
Why not try to find a career that lets you help make the world a better
place and also lets you enjoy life while you're at it?
Martin M. Meiss
2010/5/26 Patrick Green <[email protected]>
> Hello All,
>
> I am a recent UCLA grad with a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. I
> love learning about science and research, and I am especially interested in
> Vertebrate Morphology. I feel like grad school is the best future for me,
> but there is one question that always bites me when I think about the
> future:
> What is the true "point" of all this scientific research?
> I know that without this knowledge there are several important advancements
> we as humans couldn't have made. I know that fields like conservation and
> ecology are especially important in terms of mitigating the impact humans
> have on the environment. However, I am still torn.
> I come from a background of serving others as much as possible, so to join
> a
> field that seems less service-oriented is hard for me. If anyone can help
> me get over this issue with some kind advice or specific examples, I'd
> really appreciate it. Feel free to email me personally, unless this issue
> is something others feel as well.
> Thanks a lot!
>
> Patrick Green
>
> --
> Patrick Green
>
> [email protected]
> (530) 417-2089
> 2753 Knollwood Dr.,
> Cameron Park, CA 95682
>
