Interpersonal & Group Skills
Introduction
Life scientists are individuals who are tasked with the responsibility of examining the anatomy , biochemistry and the physiology of animals, humans, plants and other living organisms so that they comprehend better the functioning of these organisms and how these living organisms function in the environment that they live in.
Description of Life scientist profession
My profession basically deals with the structure and function of organisms, inheritance and variations of traits, interdependent relationships in ecosystems, natural selections and evolution and matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems. In terms of inheritance and variation, the profession enables me to demonstrate the comprehension of how the characteristics of the previous generations of living things are related to the current generations. Additionally, the profession will enable me to determine why certain individuals of the same species vary even though they are of the same species. In this section of my profession, I will be able to determine why there are various instances of gene mutations.
In terms of the Matter and Energy in Organisms and ecosystems, I will be able to explain to other people how organisms obtain and use energy and how matter moves through the bodies of living things. In this field, I will be able to explain the importance and the role that water plays in organisms.
In terms of interdependent relationships in ecosystems, I will be able to provide an explanation of the relationship between living things and non-living things. When fully qualified, I will have the ability to investigate the role of biodiversity in the various ecosystems. In terms of the topic of natural selection and evolution, I will be able to explain why there are various similarities between the living things while at the same time there are also various differences as animals and plants adapt to the environment.
The profession of a life scientist can be implemented in many fields. The life scientist can conduct research on the different ecosystems and explain the causative agents of the different occurrences in the ecosystems.
The profession of Life scientists can have huge responsibilities and roles. It is the responsibility of the life scientists to ensure that they inform the roles that viruses play in the spread of diseases (Treas and Wilkinson, 2013). The profession plays a vital role in providing new plants that have been created through the hybrid system by grafting. Additionally the profession provides research on the best plants that have to be planted in certain areas so as to maximize their yields. This profession thereby enables the farmers to improve the food security of the country. Al-Achi (2008) notes that apart from developing the best plants and seeds to be planted by farmers, this profession also provides the different chemicals that can be used in the control of pests and other organisms that may impact the plants negatively. It is not only the field of plants but also in the area of animals as well. This profession is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the chemicals that are used for deworming and killing of the pests that infect domestic and wild animals.
Basic skills required in Life scientist profession.
There are various skills that a life scientist requires in order to be successful. Some of the skills include; observation, inferring, and communication. Good communication skill is one of the most vital aspects that a scientist must have. Communication is not only focused in the area of speaking but also in the writing aspect of communication. According to Pollan (2003), most of the communication that the scientists have are amongst themselves be it with scientists who are in the same profession or in areas that are closely related to the profession of life scientists. Scientists also have to write properly in that sometimes; they have to provide research papers that are within in journals. If the scientist does not communicate effectively, then the information that they provide to the public or the other scientists may be misinterpreted. Public speaking is also vital in the field of life scientists. According to Box and Fisher (1978), this is because the life scientists should be in a position to inform other people about their work and the research that they are currently undertaking (Nabors, 2004).
The other skill that scientists must have is the inferring. Inferring enables the scientists to predict the outcomes of the research that they are conducting. Additionally, inferring enables the scientists to eliminate all the other variables in a study. A good example is when a scientist is looking for a causative agent of a particular disease. All the other variable agents are eliminated through the process of inference. Once the scientist has decided that all the other causative agents have been eliminated, then the scientist can infer that the remaining one fixed variable is the correct causative agent of the research being conducted (Jain and Stoker, 2009).
Observation is another skill that scientists must possess. Scientists do not only have to be very observant but also use also other senses of the body. Yager (1996) notes that the observation process should be very tactile and involve all senses. The observation skills can be used for the development of other inquiry skills in that the types of observation that is used or the activities that are done during the observation process. Observation process also has some aids in that they have been many instruments that aid the scientists in the process. Some of the observation aids include magnifiers like microscopes, stethoscopes, and digital microscope. Sometimes the observation aids can be a source of distraction. It is the responsibility of the scientists to ensure that they are not distracted (Houtz, 2008).
There are various professions that life scientists can work together. These professions include the profession of the botanists and the zoologists. Botanist studies all types of plants so as to increase the knowledge that humans know about the plants. Botanists also are interested in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, biotechnology, medicine and forestry. This is vital to both the life scientists and the botanists. The relationship is based on the work that they have. According to Clitheroe and White (2008), all of the research that the botanists conduct can be conducted by life scientist. It is only that life scientists combine the plants and the animals in their area of research. The botanists and the life scientists work together in the development of the chemicals that are used in the treatment of plants or the extraction of chemical agents in the plants that are used in the creation of medicines (Roussel, 2012).
The other profession that the life scientists have to work regularly with is the medicine practitioners. Constantly doctors encounter different illness causative agents in that have not been encountered before. The doctors send the viruses and the bacteria to the labs whereby the life scientists determine how to combat the causative agents of the illnesses. Additionally, the doctors and the life scientist can work together in the development of new medicines and the creation of the vaccines (Prinz, 2011).
There are several similarities between the professions of medicine and the botanists. These similarities include the process of research that they have to encounter. According to Krull and Hewitt (2013), the basic skills that are required in all these three professions area almost identical. They include effective communication skills, observations, inference, hard work, honesty, and commitment. The differences that can be seen in the three professionals is that life scientists cover a large area in terms of specialization. Doctors only deal with patients who are human beings while botanists deal with plants only.
The profession of life scientists require individuals who are dedicated to their jobs. There are various skills that are required to perform the tasks that are associated with the life scientists. There are also skills that overlap between the three professions. The overlapping skills mean that the three professions can work together for the betterment of the animal and plant fraternity. The three professions can work together to benefit the patients in that the botanists can assist in the development of the medicines from the plants. The life scientists are responsible for the research, and it is up to the doctors to ensure that the medicines that have been developed is correctly administered to the patients. The different overlapping skill sets enable the three professions to work together. It is, however, the life scientist who is in a position to act as a link between the two other professions.
References
Krull, K., & Hewitt, K. (2013). Lives of the scientists: Experiments, explosions (and what the neighbors thought).
Prinz, H. (2011). Numerical methods for the life scientist: Binding and enzyme kinetics calculated with GNU Octave and MATLAB. Heidelberg: Springer.
Roussel, M. R. (2012). A life scientist's guide to physical chemistry.
Box, J. F., & Fisher, R. A. (1978). R.A. Fisher, the life of a scientist. New York: Wiley.
Clitheroe, F., & White, M. (2008). Life sciences: Grade 12. Cape Town: Pearson/Maskew Miller Longman.
Pollan, M. (2003). The botany of desire: A plant's-eye view of the world. London: Bloomsbury.
Al-Achi, A. (2008). An introduction to botanical medicines: History, science, uses, and dangers. Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers.
Committee on Biology Teacher Inservice Programs, National Research Council. (1996). The Role of Scientists in the Professional Development of Science Teachers. National Academies Press.
National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Assessing Fundamental Attitudes of Life Scientists as a Basis for Biosecurity Education)., National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Development, Security and Cooperation Policy and Global Affairs)., National Research Council (U.S.), National Research Council (U.S.), & American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2009). A survey of attitudes and actions on dual use research in the life sciences: A collaborative effort of the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.
In Zažímalová, E., In Petrasek, J., & In Benkova, E. (2014). Auxin and its role in plant development.
Jain, S. K., & Stoker, D. L. (2009). Basic surgical skills and techniques. Tunbridge Wells: Anshan.
Treas, L. S., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2013). Basic nursing: Concepts, skills, & reasoning. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Yager, R. E. (1996). Science/technology/society as reform in science education. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Houtz, B. (2008). Teaching science today. Huntigdon Beach, CA: Shell Education.
Nabors, M. W. (2004). Introduction to botany. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
