Scientist's Best Advice: Don't Fear the Truth
Editor's Note: ScienceLives is an occasional series that puts scientists under the microscope to find out what makes them tick. The series is a cooperation between the National Science Foundation and LiveScience.
Name: John A. Vucetich
Age: 38, I think
Institution: Michigan Technological University
Field of Study: Much of my research is focused on population
biology and the ecology of wolves and moose. All populations fluctuate
over time, and I’m curious to know how and why.
John A. Vucetich
of Michigan Technological University has long been an outspoken
advocate for environmental policies that protect wildlife. He is
co-author — with environmental ethicist Michael Nelson of Michigan
State University — of much-cited essays on environmental ethics, the
most recent titled "On Advocacy by Environmental Scinetists: What,
Whether, Why, and How" and published in the journal Conservation
Biology. Vucetich and Nelson also co-authored a letter to federal
officials, signed by dozens of ecologists and environmental
philosophers across the country, warning that pending changes to the
endangered species act could substantially weaken its ability to
protect certain animals. Vucetich's primary research is the well-known
wolf-moose predator-prey study at Isle Royale National Park, the
longest running predator-prey study in the world. Recent press releases
about Vucetich and his work can be found here, here (a Michigan Tech news release about his essay "Abandon Hope") and here (about the Endangered Species Act protest letter). Below, Vucetich answers the ScienceLives 10 Questions.
What inspired you to choose this field of study?
I grew up in suburbia but was always trying to be outside in natural
environments. From that time, I knew I wanted to work outside. In the
fourth year of my undergrad experience, I took an advanced course in
statistic. At that time, I knew that I wanted to do research that
involved ecology and quantitative methods.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Don’t be afraid of the truth.
What was your first scientific experiment as a child?
I don’t recall, but I suppose it involved trying to get something from my mother that she didn’t think I should have.
What is your favorite thing about being a scientist or researcher?
I spend a great deal of time being outside, writing, analyzing data,
and sharing ecological knowledge with others. Diversity of work is
what I like most about being a scientist.
What is the most important characteristic a scientist must demonstrate in order to be an effective scientist?
Fostering the creativity to identify good questions, questions that are
not just curious, but also important; questions whose answers are
interesting, no matter what the answer may be; and questions for which
you have the resources to answer excellently.
What are the societal benefits of your research?
I hope the most valuable benefit of my research is to give people new reasons to be wondrous of the natural world around us.
Who has had the most influence on your thinking as a researcher?
Rolf Peterson (Michigan Technological University) taught me curiosity
and patience, trusted me, and showed me the way; Thomas Waite (Ohio
State University) taught me to think clearly.
What about your field or being a scientist do you think would surprise people the most?
How smelly and mundane it is to prepare bones from the carcasses of moose and wolves that we find.
If you could only rescue one thing from your burning office or lab, what would it be?
My laptop computer.
What music do you play most often in your lab or car?
My lab is the outdoors, where I listen to song birds. I don’t spend
much time in the car, I usually walk or ride my bike to the university.
The most played music on my iTunes include: Tom Waits, Josh Ritter and
Nouvelle Vague.











