Patrick, I think the point of all research is to increase our knowledge of how the natural world works. It's how the information is used that determines whether there are immediate applications of that knowledge or whether it needs to sit and "cook" for awhile while other research fills in the holes in the story. You make the "point" of research when you choose your question and plan your projects. But remember, it is a service to our collective knowledge when any new information is gathered and reported. Best wishes, Liane **************************************** D. Liane Cochran-Stafira, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences Saint Xavier University 3700 West 103rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60655
phone: 773-298-3514 fax: 773-298-3536 email: coch...@sxu.edu http://faculty.sxu.edu/~cochran/ <http://faculty.sxu.edu/~cochran/> ________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Patrick Green Sent: Wed 5/26/2010 1:09 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] The Real "Point" of Research? 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 patrick.gree...@gmail.com (530) 417-2089 2753 Knollwood Dr., Cameron Park, CA 95682
