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 Lab scienceWant to experience the sheer joy of being the first to make a discovery? Or the excitement of figuring out how another little piece of the universe works? You're in the right place. |
Field Scientists
| Accidents do happen, and when they do, we need ways to resolve them. Research scientists work in the lab, looking for chemical and biological solutions to existing and potential contamination problems. Field scientists are called onto the scene. They identify polluted areas, the cause, and the best technique for handling a specific problem based on the pollutant and the type of eco-system effected. |
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Materials engineers
| The way we use wood for building construction has a large impact on the amount of tree resources we consume. Materials engineers design new basic materials and building systems that have lower impacts on natural ecosystems. In some cases, this involves reducing the amount of wood needed. Other times, engineers will find a way to use a different type of tree that’s less critical to an ecosystem. |
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Food scientists
| Food scientists strive to create food products that provide the nourishment our bodies need. Some of their efforts focus on minimizing the loss of inherent nutrients during processing and transportation. Other efforts focus on adding in nutrients that are not inherent to a particular food, or decreasing the levels of less desirable contents, such as the amount of trans-fatty acids in sandwich cookies. |
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Food scientists
| Any food supply has it’s inherent dangers. All foods naturally contain bacteria that can eventually cause decomposition. Additionally, some foods can harbor dangerous organisms, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Food scientists work to understand the nature of these threats as well as ways of minimizing them. Some techniques are developed for safer food processing, while others involve public education campaigns, such as for the safe handling of raw meats and fish. |
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Research scientists
| The ways crops are grown (including fertilizer and pesticide use), the ways animals are raised (including their food supply and waste run-off), and the ways food is processed, all have an enormous impact on the environment. Research scientists research these issues and look for ways to develop better plant and animal breeds, as well as improved processing techniques that reduce environmental impacts. |
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Research and field scientists
| Scientists in many fields are contributing to this issue. Some are working to develop new plant breeds that require less fertilizers and pesticides. Others are testing to find pesticides that are less harmful to the environment. Similar work is being done on the animal side to minimize the use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock. |
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Research scientists
| How do we give plants the basic nutrients they need without creating harmful concentrations of the same elements in our soils and water bodies? How do we protect plants from insects that stunt their development without doing the same? Scientists study these issues to find new compounds that help grow healthy plants without harming natural resources. |
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Research and field scientists
| What happens when a new disease or insect infestation threatens to destroy an entire year’s crops? Research and field scientists immediately begin investigating to identify the cause and figure out the best way to intervene. When no crisis is looming, the same folks work on developing new techniques for alleviating more common-place problems, like worm-filled apples. |
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Research and field scientists
| Most of our drugs have evolved from studying the bio-chemical properties of medicinal plants. Field scientists often collaborate with indigenous peoples to learn about plant species with medicinal properties. Research scientists study their bio-chemical properties and create man-made compounds that replicate these beneficial effects. Other scientists study ways to stabilize and incorporate these compunds in foods. |
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Research scientists
| Pharmaceuticals are a powerful tool in fighting human diseases. However, the same drug that can save one person’s life can threaten another’s through interactions with other drugs. Research scientists test new medicines for interactivity, side-effects, and maximum dosage levels as a critical part of the process before they are approved for public use. |
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