The more we see of human behavior, the more interesting animal behavior becomes.
Cat has loved to talk of her time watching her chickens because their behavior is much more sophisticated than anyone might think. I had never thought all that much about chicken behavior beyond how they taste in stir-fried meals so it was interesting to hear her tell of it and she was describing performance of the science of ethology. (WIKI: Ethology)
Ethologists who study gorillas get lots of attention and it's the same thing in studying the behavior of chickens but not much attention.
Ed: but you get eggs!
Roger that, Old McDonald.
There was a minor dust-up with Cat about a week ago regarding scientists who sit in their offices issuing grand proclamations but they never get out to 'watch the chickens.'
Immediately that got a reaction of no, no, no ... what about Konrad Lorenz (who many call the father of ethology). (WIKI: Konrad Lorenz)
He may be the last scientist anyone would ever accuse of failing to get out to 'watch the chickens' since he's the one who discovered goslings imprint on the first creature they see after they crack their way out of their shells. As he walked about his farm, the goslings followed him everywhere. That example was famous and you have probably heard of it. I've referred to him multiple times on Ithaka since he's been one of the Great Rockhouse Gods ever since I first read his work when I was a kid.
So we know Lorenz was not some 'desktop scientist' as there's no question he was out in the field with his studies. The question wasn't so much whether scientists did the field work back then but rather whether they do it now so it continues.
I read quite a few summaries of research papers because it intrigues me to stay as much abreast of the science as any 'desktop scientist' can. From that I've seen a whole lot of cowboy scientists getting out into the field to study whatever they need. My favorite was the one who went to Antarctica to study microfossils and who the hell wants to go there anyway since what a massive bitch even to find these microfossils. That was just the first part since the researcher has to collect and categorize them.
There are others fluttering around all over the place with drones because they can perform aerial surveys of local environments for sophisticated analyses of whatever type of biome exists there. Drones seem to have brought quite a few scientists into the field since they offer significant advances in data gathering for them.
I really don't see much evidence for the idea scientists have become a bunch of Ivory Tower slugheads who have lost touch with their actual science.
Ed: are you ever going to get to the punchline?
Tallyho, Dagwood.
From my own reading, I see a whole lot of scientists going out to 'watch the chickens' and I see them doing that in support of multiple disciplines. The ones who aren't 'watching any chickens' are the politicians who pass judgment on the scientists.
Maestro, rim shot, please.
Cat has loved to talk of her time watching her chickens because their behavior is much more sophisticated than anyone might think. I had never thought all that much about chicken behavior beyond how they taste in stir-fried meals so it was interesting to hear her tell of it and she was describing performance of the science of ethology. (WIKI: Ethology)
Ethologists who study gorillas get lots of attention and it's the same thing in studying the behavior of chickens but not much attention.
Ed: but you get eggs!
Roger that, Old McDonald.
There was a minor dust-up with Cat about a week ago regarding scientists who sit in their offices issuing grand proclamations but they never get out to 'watch the chickens.'
Immediately that got a reaction of no, no, no ... what about Konrad Lorenz (who many call the father of ethology). (WIKI: Konrad Lorenz)
He may be the last scientist anyone would ever accuse of failing to get out to 'watch the chickens' since he's the one who discovered goslings imprint on the first creature they see after they crack their way out of their shells. As he walked about his farm, the goslings followed him everywhere. That example was famous and you have probably heard of it. I've referred to him multiple times on Ithaka since he's been one of the Great Rockhouse Gods ever since I first read his work when I was a kid.
So we know Lorenz was not some 'desktop scientist' as there's no question he was out in the field with his studies. The question wasn't so much whether scientists did the field work back then but rather whether they do it now so it continues.
I read quite a few summaries of research papers because it intrigues me to stay as much abreast of the science as any 'desktop scientist' can. From that I've seen a whole lot of cowboy scientists getting out into the field to study whatever they need. My favorite was the one who went to Antarctica to study microfossils and who the hell wants to go there anyway since what a massive bitch even to find these microfossils. That was just the first part since the researcher has to collect and categorize them.
There are others fluttering around all over the place with drones because they can perform aerial surveys of local environments for sophisticated analyses of whatever type of biome exists there. Drones seem to have brought quite a few scientists into the field since they offer significant advances in data gathering for them.
I really don't see much evidence for the idea scientists have become a bunch of Ivory Tower slugheads who have lost touch with their actual science.
Ed: are you ever going to get to the punchline?
Tallyho, Dagwood.
From my own reading, I see a whole lot of scientists going out to 'watch the chickens' and I see them doing that in support of multiple disciplines. The ones who aren't 'watching any chickens' are the politicians who pass judgment on the scientists.
Maestro, rim shot, please.
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