HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A typical path starts with senior secondary school courses in biology, chemistry, math and English, often along with field or lab work if available. Many students then take a university science program in biology or a related life or environmental science field, since biologists usually need strong knowledge of living systems and research methods. During school, summer jobs, volunteer work, internships, or co-op placements in labs, field studies, parks, farms, conservation, or environmental projects can help build early experience. Requirements can vary by employer, province, and specialty.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Plan and conduct studies of the environment, and of the population, distribution, structure and functional characteristics and behaviour of plants and animals
- Conduct ecological and environmental impact studies and prepare reports
- Study, identify and classify plant and animal specimens
- Conduct experiments in plant or animal growth, heredity and breeding
- Prepare reports and plans for management of renewable resources
- May supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.