Question

Where can I learn hands-on Biology on my own?

I am doing the MIT opencourseware, but it there anything I can do in a lab if I'm not currently taking bio courses (I will next sem)? If there any lab-type places I can just go to or anything I can do around the house or city for science?

I'm in college and they have a lab, I'd ask if I could help with anything, but I don't know what they might need my help with, especially given my lack of experience.

Answer 1

University Of people -

Answer 2

Well all you can do really is ask :) There will always be simple things that you could do - just make sure you let them know you don't have any experience.

You could also try at museums and botanical gardens

Answer 3

Hmm what type of biology do you want to help out with too?

Answer 4

I really like plants. I would grow plants to do experiments on and stuff. But you can only come up with so many experiments (with so little education or lack of what's going on in the field) and even so, many other experiments might be redundant with information that's already out there that might be cryptic to me but obvious to a biologist.

Answer 5

I'm seriously at the level where I don't know where to go after "buying your own microscope at toy r us" and look at fake slides!

Answer 6

Ah ha, yes in that case definitely talk to your nearest botanical garden (though check if they do that kind of thing.. usually will have info about research on their website).

Lol, I know that feeling - definitely try your college too

Answer 7

I've volunteered with my local landcare group and have done some plant research, so it might be worth looking at who is in your area too :)

Answer 8

Alright, I'll definitely do that. I'll start by drafting an email to the bio department. They probably can help me come up with some ideas even if I'm not qualified to help out.

Answer 9

Yup! and don't worry about not being qualified, always hands-on things that need to be done around the lab!

Answer 10

If you have the money, you could try getting a real microscope off ebay. They're definitely not cheap (I haven't bought one yet because I can't afford one), but it's still cheaper than buying a new one, and you'd actually be able to do things with it. Toy microscopes are more likely to annoy you and put you off biology, from what I've been told.

You could also check to see if there are any biology/botany/microscopy clubs in your area.

Another possibility that others have mentioned, and this is probably the most practical, is to go up to one of the botany profs (they usually have office hours, or you could send an email) and ask if you can use the available lab equipment to look at/experiment with things.

They're unlikely to let you touch the good, expensive stuff, but any university/college is going to have a lot of old, cheaper equipment for use in introductory classes. Profs generally love it when people show an interest in their field and try to learn things outside of class, so you have a very good chance of success here, and if you show an interest, you might be able to get a student job doing something easy like cleaning up or watering plants in one of their labs.

This is also an opportunity to get to know professors and get your name out there as someone interested in the topic: that could come in handy later.