What Biologist-themed merit badges would you give out?
Ask a Biologist 8/2/21
Mine would be “Best Inventive Save” for Mcgyvering together a solution in the field.
Answers from Biologists:
“Angry Old Angler”-for creel surveys. For navigating your first grumpy fisherman.
Getting to a site only to realize your forgot a vital piece of equipment.
“Animal Detangler”-For those who work with mist nets. Bats and birds can get pretty knotted up, and angry
“Field Clothing Style”-when you still look nicely put together in field gear.
“Untangling”-the opposite of knots. Special option for untangling animals!
“Work-life balance”-achievement merit badge.
“Baby Panda”-for when you learn to fall hard but land softly hiking off trail.
Getting a field vehicle stuck in mud/sand and then finding a way to get out.
“Duct Tape Champion”
“Ultimate Resiliency”-for pushing through all the flopped plans
“Mud Buddy”-for the person that can walk on top of the mud instead of waist deep.
Most times bitten
“Spiderweb Duster”-for unflinchingly walking through thousands of webs on the way to a field site.
“Taxonomist’s Folly”-for not getting flustered when all grasses and hibiscus species look alike.
Braving biting/stinging insects for the sake of data integrity.
"You stabbed yourself”-because it happens.
“Volunteers to go complete the worst job site” badge
“Thorny Plant Navigation”-the person who seems to go through any briar patch unscathed
Getting your truck/work vehicle stuck
“Befriend the old landowner”-and now you are the only person in the office they’ll talk to.
“Pathfinder”-for those who have an internal compass and never get lost.
Successfully backing up a trailer without crying.
“Burn Zone Speed”-based on your ability to speedily navigate through a burn
“Avalanche debris gymnast”-for crossing insane avalanche debris on the way to a site (summer).
“Botanist buddy”-you either have one or you are the expert
“Dry hip boat” award
“Pack Mule”-being willing to carry the heavy/bulky/awkward gear.
Not falling on the way to/from a field site.
“Reminding the PI to drink water” award
“Most sediment moved from study site”-for all them sandy boats/shoes out there moving dirt.
“Fall expert”-managing to find every hole/bush/heather in a site and coming out uninjured.
