Biology in a changing worldRob Cruickshank

Department of EcologyLincoln University

Biology careersPlan A – MedicinePlan B – Acarology, aerobiology, agriculture, anatomy, arachnology, astrobiology, biochemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, biomathematics, biomechanics, biomedical research, biophysics, biosecurity, biotechnology, building biology, botany, cell biology, conservation biology, cryobiology, developmental biology, ecology, embryology, entomology, environmental biology, epidemiology, epigenetics, ethology, evolutionary biology, genetics, haematology, herpetology, histology, ichthyology, integrative biology, limnology, mammalogy, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, mycology, neurobiology, oncology, ornithology, population biology, paleontology, pathology, parasitology, pharmacology, physiology, phytopathology, psychobiology, sociobiology, soil biology, structural biology, synthetic biology, virology, zoology

The world is changing

• Population growth• Resource consumption• Globalisation and international trade• Climate change• Ocean acidification• Pollution• Rapid decline of biodiversity• Habitat loss and fragmentation• Invasive pests

Biology is changing

• Collaborative• Multi-disciplinary• New technology• Next generation DNA sequencing• Massive amounts of data• New analytical methods• Reproductive technologies• Genetic manipulation• Synthetic biology

Biology is changing

Keys to success in modern biology

• Shift from specific knowledge to generic skills• Shift from specialisation to multi-disciplinary collaboration and

synthesis of ideas• Shift from particular technological approaches to strategies for

learning and adapting new techniques• Ability to integrate knowledge from different areas• Research skills, philosophy of science, how to make and record

observations, ask questions, construct testable hypotheses, design experiments, analyse results, make inferences, communicate findings, etc.

• Information literacy, finding and assessing the quality of information, critical thinking, critical literacy

Keys to success in modern biology

• Quantitative thinking, data management, computing, maths, bioinformatics, statistics

• Visualisation, creative presentation of data, dissemination of research outcomes, public outreach

• Collaboration, working as part of a team, understanding, empathy, effective communication

• Cultural sensitivity, cross-cultural communication, languages

• Entrepreneurship, commercialisation, business knowledge, economics, policy

• Ethics, moral philosophy, social science

Keys to success in modern biology

A high-level of academic achievement is not necessarily as important as…

• Curiosity• Enthusiasm• Creativity• Logical reasoning• Practical ability• Persistence

The New Zealand curriculum

• Nature of science strand• Integration of biology with other strands (e.g. maths

and statistics, technology, social science)• NCEA achievement standards (biology matrix)…

2.1 – Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context, with supervision2.2 – Analyse the biological validity of information presented to the public3.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context, with guidance3.2 – Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue

Careers in biology

• Biology + computing = bioinformatics• Biology + social sciences = management, policy

making, politics, communication• Biology + commerce = product development,

commercialisation• Biology + languages = international

collaboration, economic development• Biology + arts = data visualisation, landscape

ecology, biomimetics

An example

An example

How can we get the economic benefits of mining while preserving

this unique native species?

Population biologyTo predict effects of

interventions on population

Communication expertsLocals, mining company,

government (local, national), iwi,

conservation groups, volunteers, media

EcologistsWhat are their ecological requirements in captivity

and restored habitat?

Molecular biologistsDiet analysis, population

genetics

EconomistsEconomic costs and

benefits of mining in this area, commercial implications, etc.

Ecological restoration experts

To restore area after mining

Captive breeding expertsTo preserve population

until they can be returned to restored site

Translocation expertsTo identify new areas

suitable for introducing this

species

LawyersLegal

implications

TaxonomistsTo identify prey taxa

StatisticiansTo analyse

results

An example