Should I study biology?

Did you know that the career you choose can affect how happy and satisfied you feel with your life?

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Let's see if biology is your calling, what you'll need to choose this path, and what to expect on your journey!

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• Biologists identify problems and/or changes in the environment.

• They gather information and may carry out experiments to find an explanation for what they observe.

• Many times, biologists can also provide a solution to the problem, like breeding crops that withstand drought or using DNA profiling to identify people in disasters or criminal cases.

• Biologists communicate their findings to other scientists, the community, and decision-makers.

How do scientists communicate their findings?

To other scientists:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles

• Conference talks and posters where researchers present data and network with colleagues

• Technical reports

To the general public:

• Popular science articles

• Public talks, school visits, and museum events

• Social media, podcasts, videos, and infographics

Biology is a science that studies living organisms: what they are, why we study them, and how we study them.

And it's the "what, why, and how" that creates different branches of biology. Check out the video below for more.

Do you see yourself going down any of these paths?

Where do biologists work?

Biologists can work in universities, research labs, natural reserves, biotech companies, government agencies, and NGOs.

In the past, biology focused on observing, describing, and classifying organisms through lab and field experiments. Today, technology offers biologists tools to research and solve complex problems.

For more, check out how biologists generate and analyze data in the field of computational biology.

Skills

Outside of research and technical skills, biologists need a problem-solving mindset and the ability to stick with a question even when the answer isn’t obvious.

You’ll also need to be comfortable with uncertainty, when experiments fail or when results are confusing. Being able to adapt and try again is key.

Finally, biologists need to communicate their findings, whether that’s through writing, presentations, or talking with others. Discoveries only matter if you can explain them clearly.

Previous study

Biology is a science that draws on mathematics, chemistry, and physics. And yep, you guessed it: as a biologist, you'll need training in all three areas. Most biologists need at least an undergraduate degree in biology or related fields, with more senior positions requiring a master's degree or a PhD.

In some cases, you may be able to do an undergraduate course in biology without having taken high school biology. You can catch up by taking introductory courses before or during your first year of college, or doing online courses on Khan Academyor YouTube.

In other locations, a high school course in biology is required to be eligible for a biology course at the undergraduate level. Make sure to check the requirements in your location.

Quiz: Who should study biology?

Three high school students are considering studying biology:

• Clara seems to have a knack for math, chemistry, and physics.

• Dani understands science topics like they're second nature. She can't stand writing her lab reports, though.

• Mike actively seeks help to understand challenging topics.

What biologists do depends on their branch of biology.

Different fields have different approaches to setting goals, and the day-to-day processes are very different...that's what makes biology so AMAZING!

For more, take a look at a day in the life of a marine biologist, cell biologist, and wildlife biologist.

The field of science can be very exciting, but can we talk about science in a way that makes it more understandable and raises awareness among people outside the scientific community?

Yes! That's what science communicators do.

To learn more, check out some science communication courses(also called SciComm).

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A bachelor's degree in biology typically requires 4 years of study. To graduate, you'll need to complete a number of credits in biological sciences, including advanced courses, and laboratory courses.

You might also need to take support courses (chemistry and physics), general courses (math, English, and sometimes foreign languages), and complete a research project.

What if you struggle with your courses?

• Talk to people early. Reach out to your course instructor and ask for feedback and guidance. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss course load, prerequisites, etc.

• Contact teaching assistants for specific questions on assignments and lab reports, etc.

• Use academic support on campus.

• Change your approach. Instead of memorizing, focus on understanding "how" and "why". Connect new information to your background knowledge in biology or other areas.

• Find videos on YouTube (e.g. Khan Academy) to expand your knowledge of biology.

To be a biologist, you'll need:

• Formal training: a bachelor's degree (4 years) or, in some countries, a licentiate (typically 5 years).

• A specialty: biology is a broad discipline. Developing expertise in a specific area increases your effectiveness...and your opportunities.

• An internship: while formal education is important, hands-on experience provides evidence of your skills.

• Graduate school for some roles: some employers require or prefer candidates with a graduate degree. Research tuition costs, types of programs, etc.

It's always a good choice to be proactive!