Want an Unusual Career in Science?

It’s one subject that lends itself to careers that span a wide spectrum; from corporate hallways to cold and

barren lands, from dangerous jungles to deep blue seas, from remote locations to research labs, science gives

rise to a plethora of professions, all of which overlap at certain points, yet which are so far apart at others.

Some careers are more unusual than others, like head leech hunter, or to put it more formally, associate

curator of annelida for the American Museum of Natural History. As the informal title indicates, this job

involves seeking out leeches in obscure corners of the world and studying them. Some careers overlap two

different spheres, like that of space psychologists who help astronauts cope with the weightless environment

of outer space. And some careers are straightforward and simple, like those of science teachers who teach at

schools and colleges.

If you love science and are looking for an unusual career, be prepared for the following:

• Some amount of danger – while it’s not always the case, the most unusual of careers may come with a small element of danger; you may have to cope with unfriendly and unfamiliar environments, you may be handling dangerous chemicals and substances, or you may be treading in unexplored territory, both literally and figuratively. Science is all about exploration, and the more diverse your field of work, the more you may have to go where very few people have gone before. So be prepared to deal with danger, and if you thrive when there’s mystery and room for exploration, these careers turn out to be great professional choices.
• Some amount of boredom – just as there is danger involved in some jobs, there is boredom too in even the most exciting of jobs. There may be long spells of waiting around with nothing to do but exercise patience; there may be times when your job gets monotonous and repetitive; and there may be periods when you need to get past routine activities in order to get to the more exciting part.
• Some amount of change – science is all about change, so even though you think you’re in the most sedentary profession, be prepared for some changes ahead. Exhilarating and exciting careers are prone to change too, so be ready to take the ups with the downs and the rough with the smooth.
• Some amount of penury – not all professions related to science pay very well, so if you’re passionate about what you do, that’s all you need to think about. When you start to worry about money or the lack of it, then your job becomes a chore, one that you start losing interest in sooner or later.
• Some amount of obscurity – while unusual science professions may seem glamorous and exciting at first glance, they often involve hours of back-breaking and painstaking mental (and at times physical) labor. Even if you achieve a breakthrough, it’s not really a Eureka moment that you can claim for your own. Most scientific discoveries and inventions today are a team effort, so while you may be felicitated, you’re hardly likely to find the kind of fame that erstwhile scientists enjoy even today.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Beatrice Owen, she writes on the topic of bachelor of science . She welcomes your comments at her email id: owen1.beatrice(@)gmail(.)com.