CAREER 10TH GRADE LEVEL TOPIC CHOOSEN IS ZOOLOGIST - Research Paper Example

Zoologist The career I am most interested in pursuing is that of a Zoologist. My initial interest in Zoology came about as I had a great love for animals. My family has always had pets, and we made frequent visits to the local zoos. I marveled at the extreme variety of animals and wondered about the individuals that worked with them and ensured their health and safety. When I got home from such a visit I started research on the internet and came across the career field of zoology, which has led me to further my research in the context of this research paper.

Officially zoology is the study of the biology, evolution, and structure of animals. The study originated in the work of a number of writers and theorists. Like a number of contemporary subjects of knowledge such as ethics, Aristotle is regarded as one of the first thinkers to distinguish the study of animals as a distinct subject of investigation. Other early thinkers include Al-Jahizz in Asian, whose Book of Animals is regarded as a precursor to Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution. However, it wasn’t until 16th century Europe that zoology became an official scientific field of investigation.

The science progressed at a gradual rate until the 19th century when the investigation of the microscope and Darwin released the Origin of the Species, which detailed his theory of natural selection, that the study of zoology was truly revolutionized. (Hickman 2007) Today zoology as a variety of subfields and types of scientific investigation. One of the main roles of the science of zoology is that of developing systems of classification for animals. This is referred to as morphography. Other subfields include the fields of comparative anatomy, which studies the anatomy of animals in relation to other animals; descriptive zoography, which investigates animals and their behavior; molecular biology is greatly concerned with the internal biological and evolutionary functions of animals and is close in contact to the study of evolutionary biology; and paleontology is the study of prehistoric life.

While these subfields of zoology cover a broad spectrum of the scientific field, they are no means comprehensive, as the study of zoology is a diverse and complex as the very animals that the function to investigate. (Hickman 2007) One of the most famous zoologists in recent times and one of the individuals I am most interested in is Steve Irwin the ‘Crocodile Hunter’. While Irwin gained famed for his television show where he daringly confronted dangerous animals, he was also a devoted conservationist.

Before his death he was an outspoken crusader for the preservation of endangered species and the conservation of the habitats of endangered species. Irwin also discovered a new species of turtle that now bears his name – Elseya irwini. Another individual zoologist I am particularly interested in is Jacques Cousteau. Although he died in 1997, Cousteau remains one of the most renowned zoologists in public discourse. Like Irwin, he was a dedicated conservationist. Cousteau also has the honor of aiding in the development of the aqua lung which has become an essential tool for scuba divers and underwater zoologists alike.

With his famed ship the Calypso, Cousteau recorded over a 100 oceanographic documentaries over fifty years, documenting the changes and wonders of the animal world to great acclaim. In addition to his film work, Cousteau worked as a director for a number of museums, including the Oceonographical Museum of Monaco. (Matsen 2009) In conclusion, one should understand that the field of zoology, while simply the study of animals is highly complex and diverse. The field has a longstanding history that dates back to Aristotle, and ancient Chinese thinkers, and it was revolutionized in the 19th century with technological advancements.

Finally, zoologists Steve Irwin and Jacques Cousteau have popularized the field and brought the diverse and exciting world of the scientific study of animals to the general public. ReferencesHickman, Cleveland. (2007) Integrated Principles of Zoology. McGraw-Hill. Matsen, Bradford. (2009) Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King. Pantheon.