Botanist

A botanist (also known as a plant biologist) is

a scientist that studies all aspects of plant life
including microorganisms, soil, flowers and
trees. Botanists work in a wide variety of
settings such as botanical gardens, zoos,
greenhouses, laboratories and for government
agencies.

Botanists discover new plant species,

grow new or improved plants and even
use plants to create new medicines.
 Palaeontologist

A palaeontologist is a scientist that studies the

fossils of all kinds of organisms including
plants, animals, bacteria and of course,
dinosaurs! They study fossils to try and
understand what life on Earth was like in the
past by learning about what plants and animals
existed.

A palaeontologist might work in a

museum, for a university, for a gas and
mining company or they might travel
around the world digging up fossils and
preserving them.
 Ecologist
An ecologist is a scientist that studies the
relationships between living things, such as
humans, animals and plants, and the
environment. They are particularly
interested in how the actions of humans
affect other living things.

Ecologists can work for environmental

organisations, at a zoo or aquarium and
part of their job is to educate people
about environmental issues.
 Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist that studies outer space,
the solar system and the objects in it. They try to
understand how the universe works. In order to
understand the sun and our solar system better, an
astronomer studies the evolution of the stars. Therefore,
telescopes are a vital piece of equipment so that they
can observe the stars and planets without actually
touching them.

The telescope gathers light from distant

objects (stars and planets) and lets the
astronomer see them up close. They can then
analyse and interpret what they have seen.
 Pathologist

A pathologist is a scientist who studies the cause

and effects of disease. They work closely with doc-
tors in order to diagnose and then treat patients
that are unwell. They do this by taking samples
such as bodily fluids and testing them in laborato-
ries.

Most of a pathologist’s time is spent in a

laboratory, carrying out research into the effects
of different medicines on diseases in the hope
that they will find a cure.
 Geneticist
A geneticist is a scientist that studies traits or
genes and how they are inherited. Geneticists
study how different life forms vary and how these
variations are passed on from one generation to
the next. Geneticists work in many different
places, doing a variety of jobs.

They mainly work in laboratories carrying out

research on samples that they have extracted.
This might be a medical laboratory in which
geneticists research how genetic links can
affect people’s health.
 Physicist
A physicist is a scientist that studies motion,
forces and energy. There is so much variation
within the role of a physicist because they study the
universe and everything in it. Different physicists
study different things such as the study of atoms and
molecules, the study of magnetism and the study of
liquids, gases and solids.

Physicists work in many different places

including universities, research labs, power
plants, the military and for businesses.
Famous physicists include Albert Einstein,
Marie Curie and Stephen Hawking.
 Geologist
A geologist is a scientist that studies the Earth, rocks,
minerals and land forms. They study processes such as
earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions in order to un-
derstand the planet we live on and to better predict what
might happen in the future. Geologists are concerned
with how the Earth is changing such as climate change
and land formation.

There are many different types of geologists

such as environmental geologists, marine
geologists and planetary geologists. A great deal
of time is spent collecting samples of rocks and
materials which a geologist will then use to carry
out important research.
 Zoologist
A zoologist is a scientist that studies animals and their
behaviour. Some zoologists work in zoos, helping to
protect and care for animals. Others work in wildlife
reservations, in research laboratories or in the field
observing the behaviour of particular animals.

The knowledge and understanding that zoologists

gain about the behaviour of animals is key in
protecting endangered species and preserving their
natural habitats. A zoologist might spend their
whole career studying just one species of animal
or their work may be more general.
 Marine Biologist

A marine biologist is a scientist that studies living

things in the ocean and other saltwater
environments. Their job involves collecting
samples for research, observing the behaviour of
different organisms, tracking and measuring
organisms and analysing the health and condition
of the ocean environment.

There are different types of marine biologists

who all study different aspects of marine-life and
their workplace can vary from aquariums,
laboratories, research boats, deep-sea diving and
wading through swamps.
 Meteorologist

A meteorologist studies the weather and climate. They

use scientific principles to observe, understand and
explain how the Earth’s atmosphere affects us. Some
meteorologists look at long-term weather patterns in
order to predict future climate trends.

Some study and report on ways to reduce air pollution

and climate change while others develop new ways in
which to monitor and predict changes in the weather.
Meteorologists can be found all over the world doing
many different jobs including working for TV and
radio stations, teaching in universities and working for
the military.
 Biologist
A biologist is a scientist that studies all forms of life and
their relationship with the environment. They study
humans, animals, plants and bacteria to gain a better
understanding of how the body and nature works and
how different factors may affect each living thing.
There are many different areas within biology that a
biologist will work.

For example, some will specialize in human anatomy

which deals with the study of internal structures
within the human body while others will specialise in
taxonomy which includes identifying and classifying
different organisms.
 Archaeologist

An archaeologist is a scientist that studies the remains of

human life. Archaeologists study the origin, development
and behaviour of human beings and their societies by
studying archaeological remains. They use scientific
techniques to guide them as to where they need to dig and
they observe, record and interpret what they find then
share their findings with other scientists.

An archaeologist will plan research projects, collect

information, examine samples in laboratories, write
reports and advise organisations on the impact that
their proposed plans may have on cultures around the
world. Archaeologists often do fieldwork, either in
their own country or in foreign ones and their work
can be strenuous and lengthy.