Rainforest Live '97 Topic Essays from Queensland, Australia Faculty and Student Topic Essays

From the week ending May 9, 1997

Becoming a Scientist

How can you become a scientist? Becoming a scientist takes a combination of desire and determination. Today, becoming a scientist also means spending time taking courses at a university or college to study a specific kind of science. In the past, many scientists did not have a formal education but trained themselves by exploring, observing and recording what they found.

How many different kinds of scientists are there? The list is long and the subjects are numerous. You can become a chemist, an ecologist, a marine biologist, an ethnologist, a taxonomist, a physicist, an astronomer, or a geologist, just to name a few.

Why are all of these kinds of scientists necessary and why would you want to become one? How else would you find out about the details of the human body, the chemicals used to make the materials of your favorite soccer ball, or the principles of physics used to design a wild roller coaster? Each type of scientist has a special role in the world of scientific research and study.

Jane Goodall is an example of a scientist, a zoologist to be exact, that has become famous for her study of the behavior of chimpanzees and her work to save their species. Some of you might also be familiar with the name John Muir, a naturalist who helped to establish Yosemite National Park. These scientists are just two examples of how important the work of scientists can be.

How does all of this relate to the students studying in the rainforest? They are working to become scientists and have spent many hours in college classrooms taking science classes. Being in a classroom has helped them to learn the basic scientific concepts, but it did not give them the experience they need in the field, observing, recording and exploring. The students at the Center for Rainforest Studies are very lucky to have an opportunity to study in the rainforest of Queensland, Australia. For many of them it is the hands-on experience they need with one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. SFS student Jonah Ibson believes “it is impossible to understand something without experiencing it with all five senses.”

Analysis of Riparian Reforestation
by Josh Farley, Faculty
Economist

The WTTPS (Wet Tropics Tree Planting Scheme) is currently reforesting from high bank to high bank along the upper Johnstone river above Malanda, and along the stream which leaves Bromfield Swamp and enters the Johnstone River. These water ways flow through primarily agricultural land where they serve as irrigation water for crops and drinking water for cattle. Both water ways feed into the Malanda Waterfall Park, a well used recreational facility, and also supply Malanda with drinking water. Most of these waterways had been clear cut up to the water’s edge, resulting in highly degraded water quality, reduced stream flow in the dry season, invasion by exotic weeds, higher water temperatures, erosion, and other problems. This degradation has resulted in environmental and economic costs. Preliminary analysis suggests that reforestation has led to cleaner water, shading out of Para grass, improved stream flows, reduced erosion, etc. Unfortunately, the project is expensive, and relies almost entirely on external funding sources. The goal of this project is to measure the benefits of riparian reforestation and show how these help offset the costs. The results will be presented to WTTPS, and summarized in pamphlets designed to show farmers and communities the benefits of riparian reforestation, and potentially convince them to help shoulder the costs.

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