A demographics poll

[TZ]

I'm interested in the backgrounds of the people who read/post in this forum on a regular basis.
Are you in a science oriented profession or do you just have an interest in science/hobby of it?
If you are a professional in which field? And if its just a hobby what field interests you the most? Just curious.
Thanks!:hi:

I'll start-I'm in biotechnology professionally so I keep up am interested in that. I also did a lot of college work in evolution, animal behavior and ecology so that interests me too.
I like astronomy but the physics is difficult for me...:)

[yellowdogintexas]

1. years and years in Medical insurance claims work. nt

[amyrose2712]

2. Environmental Studies....

I am about a semester or so away from a BS is Environmental Studies. Unfortunately, I had to leave for medical reasons and have not been able to finish yet. But I am interested in all aspects of science. I love learning.

[YankeyMCC]

3. Electrical Engineering by education

Computer and Network engineering by practice and just a general interest in science.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Applied Math major in college

My grandfather -- a genius engineer and one of the world authorities on pump mechanics -- suggested I major in math and either take one or two minors in science or tech fields, or see about a "created" minor that would be a broad overview that included biology, chemistry and physics. The idea was to become a technical generalist, who could walk into just about any science or tech job.

I ended up taking the math, but minoring in computer science. It's worked out pretty well.

[damntexdem]

5. PhD in Sociology -- now a Gerontologist.

BA minor in chemistry, but, oh, so long ago.

[Greyskye]

6. Semiconductor design

I've worked in the semiconductor industry for over 24 years. Man, everything has changed! :silly:

[deoxyribonuclease]

7. Computational biology

I'm also in biotech (more of the software side of it at the moment) working on high-throughput data analysis and visualization and molecular modeling.

I used to like physics until I finally became sick of math.
My college work was in computer science and evolutionary biology, but almost all my electives were molecular biology-related.

[Lucky 13]

8. I'm interetested in species conservation

Got my B.S. in Zoology. Worked for a number of years in environmental non-profits, the most interesting of which was when I was working on Tiger conservation. Now I've started taking some graduate level classes in Evolutionary Biology and Geographic Information Systems. I hope to begin a masters program officially next year, but gonna see how this semester goes first.

[Indenturedebtor]

9. B.A. in Psychology, worked in IT for a bit, may be going back into it

I've always loved Science, but I just don't want to be a Scientist. I studied Psych and some Computer Science with the intention of working on integrating computers with our nervous systems for things like artificial legs, eyes, and matrix type shiz. But then I decided that I didn't want to work in a lab all day.

[Odin2005]

10. I'm a Biotechnology major.

I also have interests in microbiology, astrobiology, historical geology, planetary science, ecology, paleontology, neuroscience, and lingustics. My current hobby is worldbuilding, complete with constructed peoples, cultures, and languages.

[Igel]

11. A sometimes freelance technical translator.

I like science, but decided as an undergrad that it would be either grad school or uninteresting job, and I wasn't cut out for grad school. Took the uninteresting job.

But kept up and improved my language skills. Last full-time (ok, massively overtime) work was on the Lockheed/Martin RD-180 engine (yes, it *was* rocket science). Surprising what you need to understand to do tech translation, even though it's a purely parasitic enterprise, and how few native English speakers with MAs or even PhDs in a language can actually do it.

[semillama]

12. Archaeology

an admittedly soft science.

but most of the time, still a form of science.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. BA in Engineering, work in IT (nt)

[Orrex]

14. I'm no scientist, but I look utterly fantastic in a lab coat

Put me down for option six.

[TZ]

16. and I bet you look just peachy in protective eyewear too...

:D

[Orrex]

18. I'm so hot, I don't even need that sparker thing to light a bunsen burner

[TZ]

19. "sparker thing"--lol!

Its flint striker....Love your technical terms.....:P

[nam78_two]

15. Doctrate in Biophysics

My background is pretty interdisciplinary at this point-I started out mostly purely interested in Math and Physics. Got a B.Tech in EE, but then switched into Biomedical engineering/Biophysics in grad school because I started taking a few classes in Biophysics as cognates and started finding them more interesting than my own field at the time. I ended up getting my doctrate in Biophysics and now I am doing a postdoc in Biophysics. I am doing a lot of cell biology in the lab these days-something I really didn't picture myself doing in undergrad. I have always loved Math and Physics so those were obvious choices for me. My interest in Biology has slowly developed and evolved over
the years.

I have a great deal of interest in the environmental and climate sciences though they don't really intersect my area of research at all. As a long-time environmentalist, the rate at which we are fucking up the eco-system we rely on is usually at the top of my political concerns.

I only read this forum now and then though. Usually politics is at the top of mind when I log on to DU, so I often forget about most of the forums other than LBN, GD and GD: P. But I always think this is a cool forum when I remember to visit it.

[Orrex]

17. I guess that counts, if you call that science

:P

[nam78_two]

I get to wear a white coat sometimes!

Doesn't that count for anything :(?

[Orrex]

21. Do you look utterly fantastic in it?

If so, then you're in the clear!

[nam78_two]

23. It has disgusting stains all over it so no

Quite nasty really...I should wash the damn thing at some point :think: !

[nam78_two]

20. Dupe.nt

[Orrex]

22. What did you call me?!?

Madam, I am no one's dupe! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[nam78_two]

24. I meant to say dope ;-).nt

[Orrex]

25. Ouch! Damn!

:cry:

[chiefofclarinet]

29. Cool!

Are you more of a physiology emphasis, or are you closer to molecular biophysics? (I'm an undergrad doing work in biophysical chemistry, which is fascinating to me. I think I will end up as molecular biophysicist, though.)

[Nihil]

26. Geology major, physics minor, work in IT

Originally started on a electrical engineering major with music minor
straight from school but that went South so went into industry as a
technical assistant, moving to IT shortly afterwards.

After a few years, found that I needed "that piece of paper" to get
any further promotion so took a BA in earth sciences (geology + side
modules in oceanography, evolution, physics) then later went on to
a BSc Hons in geology & physics.

I check the Science forum most weekdays (I particularly love the
astronomy threads) but my main interest is Environment & Energy.

:hi:

[SurveyResearch2008]

27. I voted other.

[chiefofclarinet]

28. Biochemistry major

So, I don't fit your poll. :( (I went with chemistry, as it is one of my minors.)

I hope to become a professor after grad school and post-doc work.

[Jamastiene]

30. I earned an Associate's Degree in Computer and Electronics Engineering.

After that, my financial situation kept me from being able to move to Charlotte to earn the Bachelor's Degree. There was only one job available, but I had the reputation among the teachers and school administrators and the grades that I should have gotten it. It just didn't work out.

I have had a lifelong fascination with electronics and science in general. At one point, I wanted to become a veterinarian, but decided it might be best not to go into that career. I just don't have the nerves nor the stomach for it.

Other than that, I just love science.

[Orsino]

31. BS, Physics

Twenty-ahem years ago.

[n2doc]

32. Oceanography n/t

[phantom power]

33. computer science

[Nevernose]

34. I'm an English teacher who just loves science

Couldn't handle the math, though. I thought during an Environmental Science 101 class that I should switch majors, went to the department head to discuss it, and noticed the charts on the walls: statistics. Lots and lots of statistics.

I'm not a numeriphobe (I probably just made that word up, btw), I just have a learning disability. I remember in the twelfth grade, I had AP Psych, AP Government, AP History, two AP Englishes, and in my math class I was still learning how to balance my checkbook. If it weren't for Dungeons and Dragons, I still wouldn't be able to add. I had to take high school chemistry twice because I've never quite understood the complex theory of "division" -- as in 10/2 = 5.

But I'm a hell of an English teacher. Words -- how and why they're used -- I get.