Science and Helping the World

[EquALLity]

There's a program in my school called 'Science Research' in which you study a particular type of science.
I'm not sure which to do, because I'm not sure which will best help the world.

What science do you think best helps the world? I'm leaning towards 'Alternative Fuels' under 'Energy and Transportation'.

[PsYcHo]

Pick a field that has a lot of flexibility, because you may decide to alter it as you get older. (Kinda insane society expects the youngest to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but I can almost guarantee your guidance counselor isn't farting rainbows about their job..) Look into how much your field pays as well. Helping the world is a noble cause, but it is hard to focus on if you are worried about paying rent.

[EquALLity]

Pick a field that has a lot of flexibility, because you may decide to alter it as you get older. (Kinda insane society expects the youngest to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but I can almost guarantee your guidance counselor isn't farting rainbows about their job..) Look into how much your field pays as well. Helping the world is a noble cause, but it is hard to focus on if you are worried about paying rent.

As if I know what field has a lot of flexibility.

I doubt that if I go into science that I won't be able to pay rent. I don't actually know what I'll end up going into, but I'd like to keep the option of going into science open.

[_Doc]

As if I know what field has a lot of flexibility.

Well I am currently majoring in Computer Science (Cyber Security) which is a flexible category. There are many different parts to computer science such as: Programmer, computer Engineer, Cyber Security, and many more (I don't want to bore you with computer science jobs). And even cyber security has many other sub categories to it. Now computer science probable wont help the world. But, I just wanted to give that as an example of a flexible field.

I'm leaning towards 'Alternative Fuels' under 'Energy and Transportation'.

I doubt that if I go into science that I won't be able to pay rent. I don't actually know what I'll end up going into, but I'd like to keep the option of going into science open

Alternate fuels sounds like a good way to help the world. Have you heard about the Toyota Mirai? It is a car that is powered off of hydrogen fuel cells. So it produces no pollution only water. It does feel like it is a growing field in engineering since fossil fuels are declining and harming the atmosphere. I found that "My Energy Gateway" pays those who works within Hydropower as low as $34,000 to as high as $65,000 a year. (Can you tell I am into Hydrogen as fuel source?)

Here are the links :
http://www.myenergygateway.org/career-options
https://ssl.toyota.com/mirai/fcv.html

[brimstoneSalad]

I suggest starting with computer science. It's relevant to all fields.

[EquALLity]

Well I am currently majoring in Computer Science (Cyber Security) which is a flexible category. There are many different parts to computer science such as: Programmer, computer Engineer, Cyber Security, and many more (I don't want to bore you with computer science jobs). And even cyber security has many other sub categories to it. Now computer science probable wont help the world. But, I just wanted to give that as an example of a flexible field.

I suggest starting with computer science. It's relevant to all fields.

That's pretty funny, because I actually gave up Computer Science as an elective to take Science Research (I could've given up a different elective, but apparently I can take the computer science class as a junior and reach the AP class as a senior).

Since I can take Computer Science separately, I think it's a good idea to study something else for Science Research. I think I'm leaning towards alternative fuels.

Alternate fuels sounds like a good way to help the world. Have you heard about the Toyota Mirai? It is a car that is powered off of hydrogen fuel cells. So it produces no pollution only water. It does feel like it is a growing field in engineering since fossil fuels are declining and harming the atmosphere. I found that "My Energy Gateway" pays those who works within Hydropower as low as $34,000 to as high as $65,000 a year. (Can you tell I am into Hydrogen as fuel source?)

Here are the links :
http://www.myenergygateway.org/career-options
https://ssl.toyota.com/mirai/fcv.html

Thanks for the links.

It's kind of annoying that the most environmentally damaging careers are some of the highest paying, but I'm not surprised.

[brimstoneSalad]

Since I can take Computer Science separately, I think it's a good idea to study something else for Science Research. I think I'm leaning towards alternative fuels.

People are already in favor of alternative fuels. I don't think you can help as much there. I recommend studying something that will give you scientific literacy in that field and help with public outreach.

Study genetic engineering or nuclear physics.

Something like that is going to be useful even if you don't end up doing anything related in a professional capacity, because it will give you a level of knowledge that will make you very good at being a science communicator. A few months in either of those subjects and you'll probably know more than I do about it (the subject you study).

It's kind of annoying that the most environmentally damaging careers are some of the highest paying, but I'm not surprised.

You only need about 24,000 a year to live very comfortably. Anything over that is disposable income. As long as something pays at least 24k there's no reason to worry about the income if you're making a difference.

[EquALLity]

People are already in favor of alternative fuels. I don't think you can help as much there. I recommend studying something that will give you scientific literacy in that field and help with public outreach.

Study genetic engineering or nuclear physics.

Something like that is going to be useful even if you don't end up doing anything related in a professional capacity, because it will give you a level of knowledge that will make you very good at being a science communicator. A few months in either of those subjects and you'll probably know more than I do about it (the subject you study).

Wouldn't nuclear physics be alternative fuels?
Hm, I see there's a separate category for it.

Oh, I also see that there's also a 'renewable energies'. How is that different from alternative fuels?

I don't see genetic engineering there at all.

You only need about 24,000 a year to live very comfortably. Anything over that is disposable income. As long as something pays at least 24k there's no reason to worry about the income if you're making a difference.

That's good to know.

I was thinking of it more in terms of that there's unfortunately an incentive to go into the oil industry because it pays more. Just an observation.

[brimstoneSalad]

Wouldn't nuclear physics be alternative fuels?
Hm, I see there's a separate category for it.

I think they're talking about ethanol and biodiesel.
As you said, it has its own category.

Oh, I also see that there's also a 'renewable energies'. How is that different from alternative fuels?

That's probably dealing with electric power from solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

I don't see genetic engineering there at all.

http://www.degreequery.com/what-degree-do-i-need-to-be-a-genetic-engineer/

Education
Genetic Engineering as a major may be referred to as molecular genetics, biotechnology, molecular biology, and bioengineering depending on the learning institution. Regardless of the name, the field is changing the future of health, medicine, industry, nutrition, and even crime scene analysis.

I would recommend genetics over nuclear, since you can also do it at home with a relatively inexpensive lab setup. Nuclear power you can't.

I was thinking of it more in terms of that there's unfortunately an incentive to go into the oil industry because it pays more. Just an observation.

Sure.

[EquALLity]

I think they're talking about ethanol and biodiesel.
As you said, it has its own category.

Ah.

That's probably dealing with electric power from solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

Hm, I wonder if nuclear energy is included. I'm guessing it isn't, but maybe. If I wanted to study it as part of 'renewable energies', though, I doubt they'd say no.

Education
Genetic Engineering as a major may be referred to as molecular genetics, biotechnology, molecular biology, and bioengineering depending on the learning institution. Regardless of the name, the field is changing the future of health, medicine, industry, nutrition, and even crime scene analysis.

Ah, I see. All of those things are there except 'biotechnology'.

I would recommend genetics over nuclear, since you can also do it at home with a relatively inexpensive lab setup. Nuclear power you can't.

Wait, are you saying I can't have a nuclear power-plant setup in my house?
Whoops.