Re: No formal education required!

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Posted by BabyHerp on September 08, 2000 at 16:12:08:

In Reply to: Herpetologist ???? posted by cwatbay on September 08, 2000 at 09:58:10:

As far as I understand it the only thing that makes a herpetologist is being a professional...getting paid/compensated for services. A PhD in biology with thesis work in herpetology can call him/herself a herpetologist just as Joe Schmoe with no education ..yet has documented, researched, studied, collected data, published info & related work in herps has/had received grants, monies, a position, whether it be in zoos, teaching college or university related courses, consultation....they make a living at it, they're professionals. Perhaps the person you saw was/is indeed a herpetologist. Without more information on her background who knows? besides I think is irrelevant in this case (she was in a pet shop for pete's sake! no more dangerous/sham than most info given out on herps by some teens/adults that work in them!!)
While many herpetologists have a degree in ecology, biology,zoology, or animal science...& thesis & specialty work is herp related.... formal education isn't a requirement unless the job app. specifies it! Sometimes even then..fieldwork, experience ...is preferred and the best education one can have anyway!
I haven't met a herpetologist in real life....Online, I think Shannon Nelson over at Varanus is about as close as they come....doubtful her thesis work is in herpetology tho, Andy Highfield and Adam Britton, don't know if they get compensated for the herp RESEARCH they have done tho....I think also Henry Lizardlover is kinda close....even tho he has a book published he has no original hard, published data or research on igs. Same goes for MK...good at gathering other scientists, researchers, herpetologists data, majority of her own research is anecdotal drawing conclusions on personal observations, experience... a hobbyist like the rest of us.

Does any of this make sense? Ok Ok...I give up....I wouldn't know a herpetologist from a hole in the ground....there happy!
My 2 cents!
Gina (what do you mean take my .02 cents back!!)

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: As far as I understand it the only thing that makes a herpetologist is being a professional...getting paid/compensated for services. A PhD in biology with thesis work in herpetology can call him/herself a herpetologist just as Joe Schmoe with no education ..yet has documented, researched, studied, collected data, published info & related work in herps has/had received grants, monies, a position, whether it be in zoos, teaching college or university related courses, consultation....they make a living at it, they're professionals. Perhaps the person you saw was/is indeed a herpetologist. Without more information on her background who knows? besides I think is irrelevant in this case (she was in a pet shop for pete's sake! no more dangerous/sham than most info given out on herps by some teens/adults that work in them!!) : While many herpetologists have a degree in ecology, biology,zoology, or animal science...& thesis & specialty work is herp related.... formal education isn't a requirement unless the job app. specifies it! Sometimes even then..fieldwork, experience ...is preferred and the best education one can have anyway! : I haven't met a herpetologist in real life....Online, I think Shannon Nelson over at Varanus is about as close as they come....doubtful her thesis work is in herpetology tho, Andy Highfield and Adam Britton, don't know if they get compensated for the herp RESEARCH they have done tho....I think also Henry Lizardlover is kinda close....even tho he has a book published he has no original hard, published data or research on igs. Same goes for MK...good at gathering other scientists, researchers, herpetologists data, majority of her own research is anecdotal drawing conclusions on personal observations, experience... a hobbyist like the rest of us. : Does any of this make sense? Ok Ok...I give up....I wouldn't know a herpetologist from a hole in the ground....there happy! : My 2 cents! : Gina (what do you mean take my .02 cents back!!) :

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