Explore the World of Living Organisms With a Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree
We breathe, we communicate, and we survive despite all the uncertainties of the world we live in. The life of man and other living organisms is indeed a fascinating study. Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree can help you discover and understand the wondrous things about life. By studying biology you will be able to find out how living things function, develop, interact together, adapt and survive in the world.
Biology education often serves as an initial education for those who want to attend graduate school in biological sciences, and those who have plans to pursue medical, dental and veterinary courses. Most schools look at this reality and have developed distinctive class outlines for students that are planning to follow such path. The program provides a comprehensive background that properly prepares them for these kinds of study.
The Job of a Biologist
Generally, biologists have several contributions to our society. Part of the job of a biologist is to analyze the natural history, development, and conservation of animals and plants. They study the way of communication or interactions between living organisms including the contributing factors such as habitat, history and development. Their work increases our understanding regarding the natural world where we live and helps us tackle problems of global concern and our well being, including threats to human health, environmental degradation, and sustainability.
Biologists can choose from the wide selection of specializations in their field such as Ecology, Botany, Physiology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Biophysics, Microbiology and Biochemistry.
Career paths of biologists:
1. Research biologist – With the use of scientific breakthroughs and methods, research biologists study the habitat and natural surroundings of all living organisms. They do biological research and analyze how living organisms survive even in the most uncommon places in the world. Moreover, they help in discovering sustainable solutions for social and ecological problems.
2. Health care biologist – Public health campaigns may be developed by biologists to conquer illnesses including HIV, tuberculosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. They also work to avert the spread of uncommon, fatal disorders, including the now notorious Ebola virus.
3. Environmental conservation biologist – Biologists in conservation are really interested in solving environmental issues and preserving the natural world for future generations. They are usually involved with natural resource companies, non-government organizations for ecological conservation, private environmental consulting companies, or wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
4. Biology educators – They are not only educators but leaders who inspire students to discover new things, whether in a classroom, a laboratory, in the field, or perhaps in museums. Instructors and teachers as they are often called, they provide usually make biology classes interesting and inspiring. They also help students with research papers or studies related to biological science.
5. Other career paths- These include the biotech biologists, forensic biologists, and consultants who work with lawmakers. Biotech Biologists employ scientific concepts to create and improve resources, products, and technological improvements in fields including medicine, food science, and agriculture. Forensic biologists on the other hand, work with other law-enforcement institutions and police departments utilizing scientific techniques to process and detect evidence which can be utilized to solve crimes. Then, there are the Science Advisors or Consultants who often work with lawmakers to come up with new laws on issues concerning environmental safety and biomedical research. These biologists can function as policy supports for scientific organizations or nonprofit organizations, political advisors in the state or national-level. Their opinions and findings are crucial in the organizations’ decision making.
Actually there are several career paths for Bachelor of Science in Biology graduates. They are in demand in almost all industries. As a biologist, you are not only analyzing living organisms or how they live but you are also working with other organizations to share your understanding about living organisms and what can be learned about them.
Information is very important because it is where decisions are based. This is the reason big companies and corporations have their own departments that specialize in the gathering and interpretation of data and information. The computer is the common vessel used for the storage of information because of its practicality and ease of retrieval. One computer can take the place of hundreds of rooms of filing cabinet’s worth of information. The data in a computer is also in virtual form and a backup can be maintained securely in cyberspace. These pieces of information are invaluable and it is essential that someone be appointed to safeguard and manage them.
In 1987, an alarming article published by the Wall Street Journal shook New York City. It was a story about the substandard readings and interpretation of Pap smear samples that led to deaths caused by cervical cancer. The New York laboratory that conducted the readings was exposed and penalized.
Change is inevitable. Everything changes except change. Hence it can be said that change is the only constant thing in this universe. All organisms evolve and the smaller simpler ones like microorganisms seem to adapt and evolve faster than bigger and more complex ones such as us human beings. This is why new strains of bacteria or viruses and new kinds of infections are reported are discovered every now and then. Some pathogens evolve slightly and small tweaks to the currently available treatment may suffice. Some strains however undergo drastic changes that completely new treatment and vaccines are necessary. It is for these circumstances that graduates in Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science come into play. They lead in devising ways to detect, diagnose, and treat diseases and infections.