Premium
Science, Education, and the Fisheries Scientist
Author(s) -
Hard Jeffrey J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(1995)020<0010:seatfs>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - fisheries science , fisheries management , foundation (evidence) , engineering ethics , fishery , political science , biology , engineering , fishing , law
Fisheries science faces the prospect of a shrinking pool of qualified recruits at the same time demand is increasing for its scientists. The traditional approach to educating the fisheries scientist typically immerses the student in issues and techniques specific to fisheries, often at the expense of a solid foundation in the basic sciences, especially biology, chemistry, and applied mathematics. Specialization is no substitute for a broad foundation in basic science and mathematics—such a foundation is essential to effectiveness in modern fisheries science. Consequently, the traditional approach to educating fisheries scientists may not serve the best interests of the fisheries profession. I propose an alternative approach that emphasizes undergraduate exposure to the basic sciences and development of quantitative skills, postponing fisheries specialization until advanced graduate school (primarily via the thesis or dissertation) or employment training. Such an approach will be costly in the short term but should ultimately supply the fisheries science community with scientists who are better equipped to resolve scientific and management problems.