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Thread ID: 81129	2007-07-17 11:49:00	Paleontology/evolutionary studies in NZ	qazwsxokmijn (102)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
569736	2007-07-17 11:49:00	The year is closing and very soon I'll have to make a decision that will surely affect my life greatly - choosing a subject for university. I've always been interested and loved paleontology and evolutionary studies. The thing is, I don't know if any NZ universities provide any bachelor or masters for either paleontology and evolutionary studies. Furthermore, if there are courses available in NZ for the above two, what kind of paid jobs can I do with the subsequent degrees?	qazwsxokmijn (102)
569737	2007-07-17 12:05:00	The year is closing and very soon I'll have to make a decision that will surely affect my life greatly - choosing a subject for university . I've always been interested and loved paleontology and evolutionary studies . The thing is, I don't know if any NZ universities provide any bachelor or masters for either paleontology and evolutionary studies . Furthermore, if there are courses available in NZ for the above two, what kind of paid jobs can I do with the subsequent degrees? A very good question . Try your career advisor, if any, at your school . Presumably these people will be paid to answer your question . Paid job or career?	Sweep (90)
569738	2007-07-17 12:17:00	The year is closing and very soon I'll have to make a decision that will surely affect my life greatly - choosing a subject for university . I've always been interested and loved paleontology and evolutionary studies . The thing is, I don't know if any NZ universities provide any bachelor or masters for either paleontology and evolutionary studies . Furthermore, if there are courses available in NZ for the above two, what kind of paid jobs can I do with the subsequent degrees? As far as Auckland Uni is concerned, there are some evolutionary biologists ( . sbs . auckland . ac . nz/uoa/science/about/departments/sbs/research/research . cfm" target="_blank">www . sbs . auckland . ac . nz) down at the School of Biological Sciences (http://www . sbs . auckland . ac . nz/) . I don't recall prehistoric archaeology being a major subject there . You would be better off trying further afield in Australia at least . Hate to bring you down, but have you investigated the employability of palaeontology graduates? Think about how you will pay off your student loan . I'd put them in the same basket as philosophy, english, history etc graduates . As such, you should seriously considering moving to Australia at least: Bigger job market + better wages + cheaper student loan = better prospect of paying off loan .	vinref (6194)
569739	2007-07-17 12:45:00	As far as Auckland Uni is concerned, there are some evolutionary biologists ( . sbs . auckland . ac . nz/uoa/science/about/departments/sbs/research/research . cfm" target="_blank">www . sbs . auckland . ac . nz) down at the School of Biological Sciences (http://www . sbs . auckland . ac . nz/) . I don't recall prehistoric archaeology being a major subject there . You would be better off trying further afield in Australia at least . Hate to bring you down, but have you investigated the employability of palaeontology graduates? Think about how you will pay off your student loan . I'd put them in the same basket as philosophy, english, history etc graduates . As such, you should seriously considering moving to Australia at least: Bigger job market + better wages + cheaper student loan = better prospect of paying off loan . I don't quite get that . It says evolution is under research - is it not a degree entirely of its own? I understand what you mean, paleontology seldom attracts money, unless if you unearth a substantial finding . Even if you do find rare fossils, the government will probably steal it from you lol . But anyhow, I'd rather be doing low-paying jobs that I truly love rather than be stuck for the rest of my life doing something that bores me . I'm a really picky person - things I truly like rarely brings bacon home . Paleontology, cryptozoology, archeology and the likes . It annoys the heck out of me that I am born loving things that doesn't smell like money, but I love studying about them . I was also thinking if I did become a paleontologist, it may be possible for me to become a lecturer at some uni and maybe eventually a professor leading a research team of students . Evolutionary studies it seems heavily involves aspects of ecology and animal behaviour and changes, and from what I've gathered I can be employed by the government to be a field biologist to preserve native wildlife, managing and controlling organism entering and exiting NZ, etc . So as you can probably tell the jobs available to me from evolutionary studies differ from what I had in mind . If any of you watch Primeval, Professor Nick Cutter's job doesn't seem too bad . He is a professor and a team leader, and his research often involves practical and hands-on work directly involving fossils and such . That's the sort of job I'd like, but I'm not sure if there are anything like that available in NZ?	qazwsxokmijn (102)
569740	2007-07-17 13:01:00	I don't quite get that . It says evolution is under research - is it not a degree entirely of its own? No . Evolution is a sub-topic, usually (and properly) undertaken as part of a biology degree . I understand what you mean, paleontology seldom attracts money, unless if you unearth a substantial finding . Even if you do find rare fossils, the government will probably steal it from you lol . But anyhow, I'd rather be doing low-paying jobs that I truly love rather than be stuck for the rest of my life doing something that bores me . Be aware that student loans are now lodged with Inland Revenue . You cannot escape the clutches of the Dept of Inland Revenue . Doing low-paying jobs will make them angry with you . I was also thinking if I did become a paleontologist, it may be possible for me to become a lecturer at some uni and maybe eventually a professor leading a research team of students . It will take you around 9 years straight to get a PhD (~6 years of student loans, and the rest in grants) . When you get a PhD, you then spend around 10 years making a name for yourself on 12 - 18 month grants . You live from year to year not knowing if your grants will be renewed . For a discipline like Palaeontology, this would be especially bad . No bank will give you a mortgage . You will always be poor . If you move from place to place following grants, your family life will suffer . Your husband/wife will leave you and your children will not respect you . . . . So as you can probably tell the jobs available to me from evolutionary studies differ from what I had in mind . If you are keen enough, emigrate .	vinref (6194)
569741	2007-07-17 17:21:00	0800 61 62 63 - Auckland University Studentinfo number. G'luck! :)	Renmoo (66)
569742	2007-07-17 19:25:00	Palaeontology is taught within the Geology department of most NZ Universities. I well remember that Victoria University in Wellington had a very strong Palaeontology section with Paul Vella as its leader. A branch of paleontology - micropaleontology or the study of typically foraminifera has strong applications within the oil prospecting industry. One of my fellow students in the Geology department at Vic became a top, world renowned paleontologist at Santa Barbara University in California. He recently became an emeritus professor there in his retirement. Another, specialised in fossil pollens and was a palynologist at Geological and Nuclear Sciences (old Geological Survey) until his retirement at the end of last year. I used my studies in geology to move into hydrology and later into teaching - mathematics actually - but am now also retired. Hope this is of some information to you. Jim	Hhel (8073)
569743	2007-07-17 23:46:00	Yes Palaeontology is studied within Geology, if you have a strong interest in the subject by all means follow it, perhaps a BSc with a double major in Geology and Biological Science could be worth investigating. But focus your degree on disciplines that put bread on the table. When I was teaching in the UK back in the late seventies, University careers advisers were being exhorted to encourage students to do some market research on graduate employment openings, and select courses that actually had a sustainable market demand. In some disciplines Graduate unemployment was running at greater than 90% 12 months after completion of the degree. In some social sciences it was over 70% 9 months after graduation. The same is still true today, its a shame because the idea of a university education is to produce well rounded educated citizens, and not merely to be a factory for occupational qualifications. I would recommend that you initially take a degree that provides a prospect of a fruitful professional career, and couple that with studies that follow your passion either in conjoint studies or following on from an initial degree. In many cases bachelor degrees (BSc BA) only qualify one for secondary teaching, as long as the subjects are in the required category, and to advance professionally in a discipline a masters is a minimum requirement, and in several disciplines a doctorate.	KenESmith (6287)
569744	2007-07-18 04:20:00	Thanks for all the advice guys. I think it is not a good idea for me to do evolutionary sort of degree, doesn't seem to put much bread on the table indeed. :( I probably need to do something with computers, but problem is I'm only interested in computer hardware and system building. Not interested in softwares other than a bit of Windows OS. I was wondering how much system builders/fixers/repairers get?	qazwsxokmijn (102)
569745	2007-07-18 04:34:00	Hi qazwsxokmijn. Bioinformatics could be something you want to think about. As the name indicates, it involves the use of technology (mainly computer) to do researches regarding biology. Cheers :)	Renmoo (66)
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