Many thanks to everyone who introduced themselves on this blog over the weekend. (If you missed it, don't be shy. Feel free to add to the thread.) Community is a major part of what science blogging is all about and I certainly appreciate all the questions, comments, and criticisms left here since I started last October. Hell, without help and advice from many of you I definitely would not have achieved what I have this past year alone, and I think it is wonderful how science bloggers can help each other.
Following ScienceWoman's lead, then, I thought it was only right to post my own quick bio. I'm a 25 year old undergraduate student presently trying to navigate the treacherous waters of Rutgers University. I started off with marine biology, left for a year and a half to get a 2-year degree in education, and when I came back I enrolled in ecology & evolution. Truth be told I'd rather be in the evolutionary anthropology department (the closest thing to paleo here) but for a number of reasons I'm stuck with what I've got. I will be finished with my program by this time next year.
Given that I'm generally unsatisfied with my coursework I spend the majority of my free time reading and writing. If I couldn't get the education I want from Rutgers I thought that I might as well try to educate myself. About two years ago I started reading about evolution and I haven't been able to stop, a few excellent professors and good books rekindling my interest in vertebrate paleontology along the way. Although I am interested in many different creatures, extinct and extant, large predators fascinate me the most. If it has big teeth and looks ferocious, it generally gets my attention. The history of science has been another draw for me, as well, the increasing availability of old papers and books on the internet being a treasure trove of often-forgotten information. Even though I am not able to contribute anything in terms of new research, I have been able to turn my fascination with the history of science into more tangible results with one paper in press and others in the proposal stage. I hope they only mark the beginning of a long run of publications.
I could not do any of this without the support of my wife Tracey, however. She has backed me up every step of the way and has offered constant encouragement. Even when I doubt my own abilities or the relevance of my work she has provided a reassuring voice that has pushed me onward. Although it is not yet finished, my book would probably only be a vague idea without her kind persistence.
As for what the future holds, I honestly don't know. My aspiration is to continue my formal training and become a professional paleontologist and a science writer. Achieving those goals is going to be difficult, however, and this year I'm coming to a crossroads where I am not sure which path is the right one and my "best options" are not very appealing. Still, science blogging has propelled me very far very fast and I should not be too presumptuous about what the next year will bring. Whatever happens I'm going to keep writing, and I'm certainly glad that so many of you have supported this student of nature.
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Whatever happens, get the highest GPA you can as an undergrad. This increases your chances of getting into the grad programs of your dreams. Stay in the loop and get some fieldwork on your resume. Undergrad is too early to think in "final' terms about anything. The paleo work you dream of doing is out there. You'll have to work, network, meet people, and maybe bite the bullet and slog a little water at times, but if you develop a reputation of being bright, strong, and someone who adds in a positive way to a working team, you'll get where you want to go.
I'd also offer some graduate-school advice, except that I don't have any yet so you'll have to settle for mere encouragement. Whatever you end up deciding - go for it.
Hi Brian,
I've been slogged down here and there as well, but my set back isn't quite as bad. I was geared into the wrong undergraduate program at my community college. I'm adjusting now, or at least trying to (I fear I'm going to be having to go through an extra year and a half...). I'll agree with yogi-one, the best thing you could do is try to get your undergrad GPA as high as possible.
This'll be the Telegraph that recently fired one of its science reporters, and then lost the other one to New Scientist.
Hey Brian. I missed the other delurking posts, so I'll put mine here. I'm 24, a second year grad student in behavioral neuroscience, but I've always had a soft spot for paleontology, evolution, and related fields.
As another young science student, I really appreciate your perspective on the issue, and your passionate thoughts on your fields of interest. I think your readers would agree that you are going to have a great career, whatever exactly it might be. Keep it up! We'll be reading.