by Randi J Task

Created on: July 26, 2008   Last Updated: July 27, 2008

Saving the Earth as a Career: Advice on Becoming a Conservation Professional
Malcolm L. Hunter Jr., David Lindenmayer, Aram Calhoun
216 pages
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (August 13, 2007)

I've often thought about jobs or careers that can help save the planet. On reflection we can't save the planet. But given that there is an environmental crisis, we can at least begin to make a contribution to help preserve biodiversity, make our cities and infrastructure greener and cleaner and generally help in safeguarding ecological factors that will ensure the success of both our civilisation and the resources like fisheries, water and wildlife on which it so critically depends.

This book seemed to help, but not necessarily in helping me to save the world, but perhaps succeeding as a Grad student engaged in research. Career wise the aim, a "conservation professional" is defined to begin with. Most of the books' eleven chapters, (however) are about scientific work as a student - for careers in a governmental, academic or conservation body. Field work, ecology and resource management are stressed though much of this book could readily be translated into general biology: the advantages of postgraduate work, applying and funding, research, conferences, producing a theses and scientific papers.

The book is leavened with excellent cartoons, themed conversations and real life quotations reflecting solutions to issues like tutors, deadlines and launching publications.

Few people reading this book will have most of the options described let alone the choices, particularly in the context of academia - getting suitable research, funding or adequate supervision. E.g., PhD students in an American context are advised about hiring research helpers, a luxury many students will only dream about. This book largely caters for an American audience though that could include interested parties in other parts of the world that can support a research conservation centred research program.

The last two chapters address finding a job and making a difference "you may be the only one at the table that speaks for those who cannot speak non-human animals and ecosystems" with emphasis overall on volunteer work and sharing your findings with the world.

This book will not help you in becoming a David Attenborough and even less, Chico Mendez but is a manifesto in launching a career. It is ideally suited to budding researchers with tips and pointers to the compromised majority about keeping faith and shifting career gears in an age when conservation is yet to be considered a grown up discipline. More could have been said about non academic routes to helping to save the planet given that the greatest conservationists have not necessarily been scientists but often hunters, farmers and that rare breed an enlightened politician.

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