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Ethnoscientists

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Any experience one can obtain in their specialty (ethnobotany, ethnoarchaeology, etc.)—via internships, volunteering, or a part-time job—will be useful for aspiring ethnoscientists.

Ethnoscientists need to have open minds, be accepting of other cultures, and be willing to learn from and work with people from other cultures. You won't be successful as an ethnoscientist if you have cultural or racial prejudices or believe that the Western high-tech, capitalistic approach is the only successful way of viewing the world. Many cultural groups of the world live lives that are far less technologically oriented than in the Western world. Ethnoscientists embrace those differences.

Ethnoscientists need a healthy curiosity and should enjoy research. They should be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Many ethnoscientists are away from home for extended periods and must be able to tolerate different climates, rustic accommodations, unusual foods, and other physical conditions. Adaptability is a key personality trait for ethnoscientists doing fieldwork.