Dissolving Scientific Stereotypes: A Lesson from the Gorilla beringei Lecture

What makes a scientist a scientist? Is it the white lab coat and pocket protector? Or rather, is it the strict, introverted data collecting that makes for awkward conversation? These stereotypes no longer define the successful scientist. In a recent lecture on a primatologists' research on the Gorilla beringei, I've learned education can only mentally prepare one for a field research study; the physical and emotional components develop as the study progresses.

To begin with, most people don't realize that Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey were regular women with little knowledge of the animals they studied. In fact, it was their lack of exposure that made their research so successful. Naming their subjects gave a personable touch to the animals; this revolutionized the way scientists viewed their subjects. Perhaps this approach to the field research formed a bridge from quantitative research to qualitative research.

The best way to approach a field study is with an open mind and a spirit of adventure. Walking into the field with leather boots and an adorable flower-print dress will have no benefit; instead, bring only the bare necessities essential to survive. Luxury has no place in science. You are in a relationship with your work, and you should have no intention to leave it.

Also, dissolve any preconceived image of what you think a scientist is. Culture and science work hand in hand to provide an ultimately enriching experience. Shocking at first, different value systems are hard to comprehend and compare; developing a universal sense of ethics is practically impossible. Instead, begin your research with an open mind. Allow people to introduce their culture to you and accept what it is. If these people have been killing animals their whole lives, there’s a big chance that you probably won't be able to change their lifestyles. Instead, work around this cultural barrier by thinking outside of the box. What can you do to respect their traditions, but also effectively save an ecosystem?  

Science isn’t a grand puzzle where only the selected few have an answer. In fact, it’s a door waiting to be opened! Ordinary people are just as valuable to the scientific world as trained scientists are. Accepting cultural norms into your scientific study will supplement any research study. Leave your glasses and textbooks behind, my friends, and instead, strap on your hiking boots, get out a map, and dive head first into the world of curiosity! The world is waiting to be discovered.