Biological anthropologists study the physical development of humans from an anthropological perspective and can work in research, teaching, forensic investigations, museums, zoos, and consulting. Effective communication is essential, and tasks vary depending on the institution. The discipline has evolved over time, and anthropologists must be flexible and creative in their work.
A biological anthropologist, sometimes called a physical anthropologist, may undertake a variety of activities, depending on the focus of their work. The broad topic that all biological anthropologists work with is the physical development of human beings from an anthropological perspective, but this topic can be used professionally in many ways. Research and teaching are always options for such an anthropologist, but a biological anthropologist may also find their skills useful in forensic investigations, museums or zoos. Sometimes such an anthropologist can even find consulting work with companies that need specific knowledge about human growth and development.
All biological anthropologists research and write professionally or academically. The analysis is based on effective research, and almost all jobs involving anthropology require effective communication. Depending on the type of work the biological anthropologist does, this may be a major or minor component of their work. Research in biological anthropology often requires research in libraries, but it can also involve conducting experiments and going out into the field to collect evidence. In some cases, scientific investigations may be the main work of the anthropologist, especially when working in a team.
In addition to research, a biological anthropologist can be expected to teach if he or she is employed by a university. In some cases, anthropologists working in museums and zoos are also expected to fulfill an educational role. The precise mix of tasks associated with teaching biological anthropology depends on the institution.
There are many additional opportunities for biological anthropologists, some of which involve applying this unique perspective to specific projects. For example, when a biological anthropologist is hired to consult on an engineering project, he may be asked to look at the discoveries of that discipline in a very unusual way. As such, a biological anthropologist must often be flexible and creative in their work.
An important fact to consider when thinking about what a biological anthropologist does is that this particular discipline has changed dramatically over time, both in methodology and in the way the results are used. Biological anthropology has been used to justify many policies that have since been deemed racist and discriminatory, as well as to define the physical characteristics of human races. In addition to changes in philosophy, there were also scientific developments in this field that drastically changed the basic functions of the anthropologist’s job. What a biological anthropologist does depends not only on his or her work, but when he or she is doing that work.
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