My Field of Study

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Anyone who is attending or has finished college with some kind of science major knows how difficult the workload can get. For engineers, it's a couple of years of some of the most ridiculous mathematics ever concocted (by ridiculous math, I mean that there are no more numbers, only Greek letters; and if there are numbers, it's followed by the lovely "!" [Thanks, Newton!]), a few semesters of physics, and a little bit of chemistry for good measure. For chemists, general chemistry, organic chemistry, molecular and cellular chemistry, and probably, probably even "romantic" chemistry are all measured, pipetted, and weighed into the schedule. I am currently attending the College of Science within the University of Arizona, and I was well informed about how difficult the workload can get. Therefore, I thought, "If I am going to do all of that work, what would be the best for the long haul?"

For people in my major, biology, they go on to become biology technicians, conservation scientists, laboratory researchers, nutritionalists, agriculturalists, marine biologists, doctors--almost anything that involves life in the world. But even before they pursue their careers, each and every one of them, including me, learn the values of research, of careful observation, of creative thinking. We learn to value life and to preserve life at all costs, no matter how big, no matter how small. We constantly search for new ways to keep endangered species flourishing, to keep the environment safe and secure, and to keep mankind alive. Biologists, essentially, are the lifeguards of Mother Nature.

Without a doubt, I would say my love for biology is genetic--my father is a dentist, and my mother always dreamed about being a doctor. Immediately starting from childhood, I saw the wonders of medicine in dentistry, in pediatrics, and even in neurosurgery. I was and am fascinated about the way doctors can take almost any illness a person had and wipe it away. Even when I walk by a doctor, there is an aura of respect and knowledge that is almost palpable. Like my parents before me, I desire to be a part of their ranks, to know that I am among the best of the best like Dr. David Baltimore of CalTech, who received a Nobel Prize for his work in virology and HIV; Dr. Dennis Bray of Cambridge, who studied the computational abilities of nerve cells, revolutionizing the way we think about the nervous system; and Dr. Gerald M. Edelman, who earned a Nobel Prize for his study on how the immune system and the brain change over time.

I know I am not the only one with such a lofty dream. For those who are also curious about the world of biology and medicine, these are some of the best journals out there: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association (published by the AMA in Chicago, Illinois), Science (published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C.), and Nature (published by Nature Publishing Group in London, England).

Do you want to keep the world alive and well? Then look no further, for the biologists are doing so.



Reflection: After reading Arrick's article on engineering and Michael's blog on physiology, I noticed great similarities among the science majors. For engineering, physiologists, and biologists, they all learn how to think and plan scientifically, how to be creative in solving problems, and how to make things that make the world a better place to live. Although most would think that it is most mechanical, engineers can also work with biologists and physiologists to create new technologies to help the environment or people. I realize that all three of us--Arrick for engineering, and Michael and I for medicine--contribute small things to the wider expanse of science. Our plans, though different in concept, are the same in purpose: we want to help people. Our jobs, though Arrick might make new machines, and Michael and I cure illnesses, are unique yet set on the principle that we are keeping the world alive. And through each of our works, we can do just that.