• Question: why did you join this project, have you met any new people, what project are you planning to do next and when do you think natural resources will run out such as wood?

    Asked by 439evnb35 to Adam, Emily, Thad, Thomas on 12 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Thomas Clements

      Thomas Clements answered on 12 Mar 2015:

      So many question wrapped up into one:

      1. Why did I join this project?

      I like outreach and telling people about what I do. Importantly, not many students know palaeontology is a job so I want you all to know if you like science why not study extinct animals?

      2. Have I met new people (I presume you mean on this project?)

      Well I met what felt like hundreds of you on the chat today. That was great fun!

      3. What project are you running next?

      I’m planning on going to chicago to look at some fossils next month. I will visit lots of schools over there and tell them about what I do!

      4. when do you think natural resources will run out such as wood?

      Well wood is sustainable, so if we look after it then it is infinite. However, coal, oil and gas will run out soon if we keep using it at the rate we now use it. A big part of natural science at the moment is trying to understand when this will happen and what we can use instead which is sustainable. What do you think we should do?

    • Photo: Thaddeus Aid

      Thaddeus Aid answered on 12 Mar 2015:

      Hi!

      I joined this project because I love talking about what I do and I want to show everyone how awesome it is. When I was your age I had no idea about any of this stuff so I didn’t have any clue as to how awesome science is. I want to bring to you and the other students my love of science so that you can think about becoming a scientist or even if you don’t want to do that you will understand how much fun science can be.

      I have met a few adults and many students so far! It has been great fun, I even got involved in another project exploring how science and religion can work together to help describe and understand the universe and reality. I am really enjoying that as well.

      My next project for talking to students or for my work? My next project for talking to students is part of that project I just mentioned, I will be putting together a website to discuss the scientific history of the universe and evolution but also talking about religion at the same time. I want to provide a website that kids can go to when they have questions about what something means in the bigger sense than just here is science and here is religion and never the two shall meet.

      My next work project is a long way away but once I am done working with humans I am going to look at the evolutionary past of Chimpanzees and Mice.

      If we run out of natural resources it will be because we have wasted them and our ability to adapt to new situations. Wood can be farmed and if taken care of correctly it can even help to combat climate change. With other resources like gas, coal, and oil. These are finite, but we need to do everything we can now to stop using them and switch to renewable sources of energy. If instead we harness the wind, the waves, and the sun for our power then we will never run out of power. The sun gives us so much energy we could power the world just from a large enough solar array in Africa.

      I hope that answers your questions!

    • Photo: Adam Milligan

      Adam Milligan answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      I joined this project to answer any questions about what I do in the hope other people become interested! I also want to prove you can be a Christian and work in science – there is no war between them!

      So far I have only met all of you (students and researchers) through the internet but it has been great fun to answer your questions!

      I’m not sure what my next project will be but I would love to get back to working with social carnivores: hyaenas, lions, wolves, African wild dogs!

      Some natural resources, like oil, coal and natural gas, will run out soon unless we are careful but things like wood should be ok as we can plant more trees so hopefully we can learn to be more responsible!

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