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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gizalba" data-source="post: 202399" data-attributes="member: 31253">Yeah from what I gathered from that podcast, it is quite complicated if you wanted to actually do scientific research as you'd have to get a degree in Biology first, then specialise in Entomology (insects), then find an Entomology department that actually has an Arachnology department to further specialise in that. I have done a bit of research into this as I too would love to study it scientifically, but I would have to accept that I have to do tons of insect research first and perhaps even a PHD in that before getting to arachnids in general, never-mind just tarantulas. I have a degree in Psychology so I am unclear whether I'd need to start again with an undergrad in Biology or whether the Psychology being a science degree could get me onto an Entomology masters degree or PHD. If anyone knows please let me know! However even finding a university with an Entomology department is hard; I seem to have found only one in the UK, so it would potentially mean going abroad. With Arachnology being relatively new and rare in terms of academic study, even Dr. Linda Rayor in that podcast seemed unsure as to whether her official title is an Arachnologist, as it's not like she could do a degree in that, so I think she said her official degree title was something to do with behavioural entomology? I hope this is changing though, and that eventually there will be degrees in Arachnology available. However I think the prerequisite currently of having a science degree is to learn all the statistical methods etc that can then be applied to studying tarantulas. Dr. Rayor did mention that an alternative if you don't want to do the academic route could be to do summer schools or something, maybe courses on tarantulas for the public? I've never heard of these, maybe they have some in other countries? I'm not sure what that would entail though, whether you could actually contribute to the research or not. Usually the research assistants they use to help them gather the data and look after the animals are under-grads and you have to apply. However I wonder whether extensive experience with pet tarantulas and a serious passion for them could be enough to become a research assistant? Might be worth looking into, but again first you need to find a country where that research is done argh lol.</blockquote>

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