I am an ecologist because I can't help but think in ecological terms - which can be both a good and a bad thing. Sometimes the broader view creates more trouble than finds solutions, but it is what it is. I always end up coming to terms with my inability to sometimes evaluate a problem properly or account for all the factors that should be taken into consideration, if nothing else for practical purposes (if you want to finish part of a project, for instance, you must draw the line somewhere - maybe because the grant is done and you need to write a report, a paper, and get more funding - I can see that one starting a whole new discussion!).
It helps that I have degrees, of course, since those degrees "taught" me the language, the background, and the method that makes me think ecologically. But they didn't turn me into who I am - I am sure there are plenty of people out there with degrees who don't particularly become ecologists but rather call themselves environmental scientists or something else. Maybe being an ecologist is a vision? I always wondered about the ESA certifications. In my mind, it has always been something for others, not for ourselves. Like a court of law or EPA might need someone to testify on something, and they like titles and certifications and such. I never thought of getting certified because I don't think it would add anything to me as an ecologist, but I may be wrong. Astrid Caldas, Ph.D. Climate Change and Wildlife Science Fellow Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street N.W. Washington D.C. 20036-4604 Tel: 202-772-0229 | Fax: 202-682-1331 [email protected] | www.defenders.org -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matt Chew Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 5:41 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology What is it? As of the latest digest I received, this thread had attracted input from fewer than 0.1% of the list's 12K recipients. Perhaps there are 12K reasons for remaining unengaged but I suspect they are all variations or combinations of a few basic themes. Rather than debate plausible rationalizations, I challenge you all to consider Wayne's question carefully. Sociologists who study the formation and dynamics of scientific disciplines use the concept of "boundary work" to describe the process of deciding what ideas (and those who adhere to them) are "inside" (therefore also "outside') of the group. So, what's "in" and what's "out" of ecology? Academic ecologists and biogeographers have a long tradition of border skirmishing. But beyond that ecology seems to have been accreting adherents, methods and ideas at quite clip for the last 40 years or so. As an "-ology", is ecology limited to studying something? Strictly speaking, yes; but we do not speak strictly. Is "ecology" a thing to be studied? We speak of the ecology of a place, of a geographical feature, of a species, of a population, of an assemblage, of a community (whatever that is) of an ecosystem (whatever that is) or of a landscape (etc.). Is ecology a method, a philosophy, an ethical stance, a moral commitment, a religious belief? Are you an ecologist? What makes you one? Recycling stuff? Organic gardening? Watching a TV show? Joining the Sierra Club, Audubon, and/or TNC (etc.)? Taking a class? Two classes? Earning a certificate? An Associate's degree? A BA? A BS? An MA? An MS? A Ph.D.? Some other accredited degree? Working in the field for 1/5/10/20 years? Should anyone who calls whatever they feel, think or do "ecology" be considered an ecologist because they call themselves one? If so, why does ESA have a certification process? Does that process exclude anyone who seeks certification? If so, can excluded individuals still call themselves an ecologists? Can those of us who never seek certification call ourselves ecologists? Does being certified mean you know what you're talking about, or merely that you're using the right words? If ecology means all those things, can it really mean any one of them? The impending 100th anniversaries of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and of ESA and BES as organizations are good excuses to ponder all this. I'm expecting 12,000 answers by Monday night. But don't cc me. Just respond to the list. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology & Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 [email protected] or [email protected] http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
