What do I do to becom a ethologist?
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Here's what the US Department of Labor Occupation Handout has about Biological Scientist.  Ethologist is a very specific field, and from what I have researched it's best to stay broad in the begining of your educational career.\n\n"A Ph.D. degree usually is required for independent research, but a master’s degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or product development; a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some nonresearch jobs. \nDoctoral degree holders face competition for basic research positions; holders of bachelor’s or master’s degrees in biological science can expect better opportunities in nonresearch positions. \nBiotechnological research and development will continue to drive employment growth. \n\n\nNature of the Work [About this section]  Back to Top \n\nBiological scientists study living organisms and their relationship to their environment. They research problems dealing with life processes and living organisms. Most specialize in some area of biology, such as zoology (the study of animals) or microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms). (Medical scientists, whose work is closely related to that of biological scientists, are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)\n\nMany biological scientists work in research and development. Some conduct basic research to advance knowledge of living organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and other infectious agents. Basic biological research continues to provide the building blocks necessary to develop solutions to human health problems and to preserve and repair the natural environment. Biological scientists mostly work independently in private industry, university, or government laboratories, often exploring new areas of research or expanding on specialized research started in graduate school. Those who are not wage and salary workers in private industry typically submit grant proposals to obtain funding for their projects. Colleges and universities, private industry, and Federal Government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation contribute to the support of scientists whose research proposals are determined to be financially feasible and to have the potential to advance new ideas or processes.\n\nBiological scientists who work in applied research or product development use knowledge provided by basic research to develop new drugs, treatments, and medical diagnostic tests; increase crop yields; and protect and clean up the environment by developing new biofuels. They usually have less autonomy than basic researchers to choose the emphasis of their research, relying instead on market-driven directions based on their firms’ products and goals. Because biological scientists doing applied research and product development in private industry may be required to describe their research plans or results to nonscientists who are in a position to veto or approve their ideas, they must understand the potential cost of their work and its impact on business. Scientists often work in teams, interacting with engineers, scientists of other disciplines, business managers, and technicians. Some biological scientists also work with customers or suppliers and manage budgets.\n\nThose who conduct research usually work in laboratories and use electron microscopes, computers, thermal cyclers, and a wide variety of other equipment. Some conduct experiments using laboratory animals or greenhouse plants. This is particularly true of botanists, physiologists, and zoologists. For some biological scientists, research also is performed outside of laboratories. For example, a botanist might do research in tropical rain forests to see what plants grow there, or an ecologist might study how a forest area recovers after a fire. Some marine biologists also work outdoors, often on research vessels from which they study various marine organisms such as marine plankton or fish.\n\nSome biological scientists work in managerial
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I'm going to quote one of the greatest evolutionary biologists of all times. \n"Nothing makes sense except in the light of evolution"\nErnst Mayr (1904-2005)\n\nAnother great researcher, the ethologist Niko Tinbergen, argued that there were four questions that the ethologist should answer, to include the different kinds of explanations for any behavior:\n1) Function: how does the behaviour impact on the animal’s chances of survival and reproduction? \n2) Causation: what are the stimuli that elicit the response, and how has it been modified by recent learning? \n3) Development: how does the behaviour change with age, and what early experiences are necessary for the behaviour to be shown? \n4) Evolutionary history: how does the behaviour compare with similar behaviour in related species, and how might it have arisen through the process of phylogeny? \n\nSo... see item 4)
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If you are in college, some schools offer courses in Professional Development.  If you are not in school, try to find a mentor (someone you think is tactful and diplomatic) and mirror that person's actions and seek their advise before you approach others.  It is definitely not going to be learned overnight.
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You can work in a natural history museum, zoo, national parks, any research organization that deals with existing and extinct animals, school(university), consulting, various government agencies that deal with ecosystems, natural reserves, zoological societies, animal disease control, etc, doing jobs of molecular technician, marine invertebrate biologist, any staff in an office of science and technology in a national marine fisheries, national history collections curator, conservation associate, comparative animal physiologist, any staff in a zoonotic disease defence center, ecologist, project scientist, field biologist and the list goes on
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I really recommend you take some time to find out what majors are out there and what they mean.  Zoology *is not* working in a zoo or the study of zoos.  It's the study of animal life and if you want to work with animals, that and biology should be your majors. \n\nAlso, don't forget about Primatology.  It's a subdiscipline of Physical Anthropology, but once you get to your masters level, it's biology and field research laden.   Primatologists working for preserves in Indonesia and Africa frequently work to rehabilitate the orphaned primates.  They also work to educate the world about primates and the dangers they face.  \n\nWhat you do with your major is up to you.  Once you have it decided and are in school, you can start doing unpaid internships with various organizations around the world.  You can try and find a good fit for what suits you and what doesn't.  Realize that a Masters or a Doctorate will most likely be required if you wish to pursue a field professionally.  \n\nAlso realize that unless you are in a preserve/reserve/zoo situation, your work will most likely be reserach oriented.  You will be in the field, but not just sitting and playing with the animals.  You will most likely have no contact with animals and will instead be watching for whatever your research assignment is.  Once your field assignment is over, you will have to organize your data and present it in a coherent format (scientific paper).  \n\n\nAnd remember, a biologist/zoologist that wants to travel has to be free to do so.  No ties.  That means no menagerie of pets at home to abandon.  No boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse that's not going to understand.  You can sustain relationships, but until you are ready to no longer travel, they will be long distance for large chunks of time. . .\n\nYou don't say how old you are, but you should start volunteering with animal organizations RIGHT NOW to get a feel for it.  Rescue groups, shelters, zoos, etc - it may not be what you wish to pursue, but the experience will help when you are applying for internships or doing study programs on site.  Also start looking for programs that do educational things like go into schools and talk to kids or give lectures at the zoo.  This will help teach you different approaches to talking to people about wildlife.  \n\nIf you want to be on camera educating the world, you should also take some acting/public speaking classes.  You need to be comfortable on camera and speaking to groups of people.  \n\nGood luck to you!
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Degree in Biology, Chemistry or Environmental Science and then either join the Meat Hygiene Service or the Environmental agency. Would recommend doing a masters in Environmental management or biochemistry.\n\nI
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zoology started as a career back in the day, as far back as roman times as people have always wanted to find out ways to exploit the natural world and its inhabitants.\n\nIn victioran times zoology as a creer was basically going out to far flung places (or lacally in the case of amature zoologits) and killing beasts in order to stuff them to bring home for study. although some did make detaild notes on behaviour and habitat it was mostly a trophy hunting game so ironocally in many cases the study of animals caused a good few species to go extinct, including the Adonis Bule butterfly from the UK.\n\nIf you mean how do I make zoology my career, go to college and study it, if you live in the UK then i recommend A'level biology, chemistry and possibly maths (there are loads of statistics involved) english is a good one as is an art based subject or geography as you will need to be able to map out ares for study in order to get an accurate reading of thier diversity.\n\nThen go to Uni and study zoology, although speaking from expereince you might like to try environmental scinece(this means that you get to do all the interesting zoology modules but are more likeley to get a job.\n\nI would also urge you to go on and do a higher degree straight away I have left it and am now too skint to apply but as soon as i can afford it i am getting the fuck out of dodge and giong for my masters ASAP\n\nGood luck i hope i have helped or at least not rambled on too much about nothing
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Don't close any doors.  Take as many courses as you can, explore things, and take at least one course you're SURE you won't like but have never tried.  I didn't take biology in high school and i really regret it now.\nHave an idea of what kind of job you'd like to do, but you don't have to be specific.\nHave 1-2 backup plans for your "life plan".  I want to be a teacher, but failing that i can work in a hospital or newspaper, all three of which i would make into a happy career.\nVolunteer and working experience is absolutely amazing - you can learn all kinds of things...stuff you like, stuff you hate, stuff you wanna see more of and stuff you never knew existed.\nTravel.  Learn about different cultures, meet lots of people and don't be shy.\nMake and keep social connections.  Getting a job has a LOT to do with WHO you know.\nOh yeah, don't piss off your boss - you may need their help again.  Don't piss anyone off...haha\n\nGood luck!
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You may want to start with Biology. You can also go on school websites and look at a list of courses you need to take for that field.
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Take basic bio courses followed by zoology courses.
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This would depend on a number of questions.  First off, at what state of your education are you?  Are you about to enter college?  In that case there a numerous good schools you can go to which offer you possibilities to get involved in wildlife biology.  If you are thinking about graduate school, I would certainly want to ask which type of wildlife bio youa re thinking about.  \n\nMy suggestion wuld be this:  Figure out which questions you are actually interested in.  Not only wildlife biology, but what issues, what topics interest you.  If you have a few keywords regarding your favorite topic, search on Medline or some other databank at your local college/university/public library for publications by scientists working on these questions.  See where they are, which universities, labs, or field stations, and then contact the ones you would like to perhaps work with.  \n\nFrom my own experience, it is very, very helpful to know the work done in the lab of a scientist you contact.  read some of their papers, go to their websites, and be a bit in the clear as to what it is they do.  Also, it is extremely helpful to be able to address a rather clear question.  Something you would like to research. \n\nHope this helps.
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Your sister might have to take a few courses to refresh her classes, but once she does that, I know Zoos and animal shelters and animal hospitals accept people with Zoology degrees.  Tell your sister to talk to the place she wants to work or a company resembling where she would like to work and ask their requirements for someone who has been out of school for that length of time. \n\nI hope this helps your sister.
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Make ur OWN Rules.\n& Follow them.
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to find food, attract/find mates, detect danger/predators, identify other animals' territory\n\n-find food e.g. shark smells blood from far away, know that there's weak prey, swims to prey and devours it\n\n- attract/find mates e.g. some female animals have a scent that tells the males they are mature and ready to mate\n\n- detect danger e.g. breeze carries scent of a predator to a deer, deer is alerted, whole herd runs away\n\n- identify territory e.g. wolves mark territory by peeing on trees... ><\n\n :) hopefully this helped
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Rules from a Book.\nTips from a Tutor.\nExperience from the telecost.\nPractise with your best attention.
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If you are capable enough, actually get a reptile, you will attract your science class enormously. Let them touch it and feed it. Make your class jot down reptile's physical features, what they are used for and make them have a guess what the reptile food chain is. You may want to add some additional information on anphibians, because lots of people don't know the difference between the two alike species.
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You don't say how old you are, but you would need to be at least 18 to get anywhere near wild animals. Sorry to say that in this country the chances of 'interacting' with chimps is virtually zero as in reality they are extremely dangerous and as highly intelligent animals decide for themselves who they like or don't like, on top of this, in general most zoos don't encourage that much interaction. John Aspinall's zoos - Howletts and Port Lympne are probably the exception.\n\nReally there are only two routes to working with apes in this country, one is becoming a zoo keeper and managing to get onto the primate section, the other is doing a relevant degree and then getting into primate research as a postgraduate - to do this you will need to aim to be the best student in your year and get one of the few studentships available in this area. Competition is really fierce.\n\nIf you are prepared to extend your interest to monkeys rather than great apes there might be more opportunities. You could sign on as a zoo volunteer, but there are usually waiting lists. Places such as the woolly monkey sanctuary in Devon are more specialist and may offer more chance. Again, postgraduate research opportunities do exist but competition will be hard.\n\nI know this all sounds rather negative but it is better to be truthful. You are one of thousands whose interest is in great apes and to get one of those vanishingly rare posts you need to work really hard in your chosen profession and be much better than of everyone else. \n\nOne other option is to go to the earthwatch site - www.earthwatch.org and see what they are offering in terms of primate research projects there. Be warned though this is expensive.\n\nI have worked in wildlife research and know that every time a primate job was advertised there was a flood of applicants.