My Science School

I am a Class 12 Science student. I am very interested in wildlife and I want to become a wildlife biologist. What do I have to study to achieve my goal? Does this career have a good scope in India?

A wildlife biologist studies both animals and plants. It's more common, however, that wildlife biologists only work with wild animals.

Here are some good institutes: Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Bengaluru, University of Kota, Rajasthan, Central University of Odisha, Koraput, Amity Institute of wildlife sciences, Noida.

All these institutes offer a PG programme in wildlife sciences. Graduates in Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Nursing, Forestry, Veterinary or equivalent science degree are eligible to apply.

After completing the post-graduate course in wildlife sciences, students work with research labs, central and state natural resource agencies, conservation groups, forest industries, forest research institutes, wildlife research institutes, zoological parks, sanctuaries and with private consulting companies.

There is huge demand for wildlife biologists and a wonderful career in wildlife conservation awaits the trained and motivated. But be prepared as there is a lot more to being a wildlife biologist than just looking at animals in forests. All that is good enough only for amateurs. To be a biologist, you need to start making the transition from naturalist to a scientist.

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My brother is pursuing B.E. (Mech.) third year now. He wants to do a Master's in Marine Engineering. Is it a good idea? If so, which college would be best for this? What is the procedure to join this course?

A Marine Engineer is responsible for maintaining and operating the machinery and electrical and electronic equipment on board ships. Although a career at sea appears glamorous and attractive, it entails being away from one's family for long stretches of time. In spite of all this, life at sea pays very well and is full of varied experiences, thrills and challenges.

The following institutes offer M.Tech. in Marine Engineering: National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Srinivasnagar PO, Surathkal, Mangalore (nitk.ac.in), Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering (KMSME) CUSAT, Cochi; Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, (Deemed University), Girinagar, Pune; Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET), Chennai. Admission for Mechanical Engineering graduates is usually based on the GATE score. Eligibility is B.E. in Marine/Mechanical Engineering.

Candidates seeking admission to these courses should be medically fit. Glasses are permitted but the power in each eye should not exceed +/-2.5. You must also not suffer from colour blindness.

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In 2017, I passed Class 12 with PCM. My aim is to become an engineer but unfortunately I didn't get a good rank in JEE. I wanted to take the JEE again so I decided to give up one year for preparation. But my parents decided that I should join a local degree college. I again applied to JEE. I have successfully completed the first semester in degree college, but now as my preparation for JEE is in the final four months I am not able to manage both of them at same time. What can I do now? I am thoroughly confused and stressed. How can I overcome this stress?

Were you studying for JEE throughout the year? If you were studying then during the remaining time, you can easily allot time to prepare for both the exams. But if you were not studying earlier and thought that you could make up during the last few months, then it's difficult to get a good rank in JEE. In that case, it's better to study for your graduation.

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I am a medical student of Std XII (PCB). I am equally interested in Science as well as Journalism. Please suggest some courses in which I can study both subjects. Which reputed universities offer such courses?

You can combine your interest in science and journalism by doing a course in Science Communication. These courses are very well-designed with the theoretical and practical aspects of science communication, and train students to become successful communicators in Science and Technology. Students also learn development communication, advertising, public relations, publication of science newsletters and media management in the light of science communication.

But these courses are available only at the Master's level. The National Council of Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) (iscos.org) requires graduation with three years' work experience in science journalism. The Institute of Mass Communication, Lucknow, (http:// Ikouniv.ac.in/oldsite/imcst.htm) offers a two-year M.Sc. (Tech.) for which the eligibility is science post-graduation or graduation in medical and engineering fields. Other institutes include: Department of Media Sciences, College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai (annauniv.edu); Centre for Science Communication, School of Future Studies and Planning, Devi Ahilya University, Indore (csc.dauniv.ac.in). But before joining these you need graduation, so go for B.Sc. or B.Tech. Also, you should have a flair for writing and speaking.

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Having an MBA is a powerful tool that can increase job security with your present employer or within your current industry. The average salary for an MBA graduate is considerably higher compared to the salary of an employee with a regular Master's degree. You can expect to earn twice as much as what you would expect to earn from a regular university degree.

Since the MBA programme teaches a whole range of business disciplines such as finance, marketing and human resource management, graduates get to understand how business operates as a whole. Business graduates are known to be critical thinkers, hence they are equipped to make decisions relating to all departments and how different functions work together. Before delving into problem-solving, graduates think strategically, by understanding the circumstances and identifying the problems making them great strategic problem-solvers.

Doing MBA forces you to step out of your comfort zone, deal with mounting pressure, apply management techniques by continuously challenging yourself, and solving the latest issues creeping up in the business world.

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I'm a student of Class 12 and currently studying Computers, Maths, Chemistry and Physics. I want to become a Software Quality Assurance (QA) Manager. Is there a scope for this in India? If yes, what can I do in order to achieve my goal? What course should I take in University - B.E. Computers or B.Sc. Computers?

Software Quality Assurance and Testing Engineers are key personnel who solve problems in software products before these glitches can hit the customer. During the process of developing software, the Test Engineer conducts several checks to confirm whether it is working smoothly.

To be considered for a Software Tester position, you need to have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, or the equivalent. As companies continue to grow and expand their product lines, quality assurance professionals become more important. There are several different positions available, such as working in production quality assurance or quality assurance and safety.

Duration of B.Sc. (Computer Science) is 3 years, while for B.Tech. it is 4 years. Also course contents and syllabus level of B.Sc. is somewhat easier than that of B.Tech.; the fees are less and there is hardly any competition for admission. In B.Tech., you will get more technical exposure, better course content and a deeper knowledge of Computer Science and related subjects, along with wider career options.

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