the other Avatar drivers
 

We have Grace the botanist (although she also does a lot of anthropological work), Norm the xenoanthropologist (or so the script says) who does botanical and chemical readings, and we have a fair few other drivers. I imagine there would be some biologists and geologists amongst the other drivers (although they all seem to be cross-training), but I was wondering what you guys thought.

What other disciplines do you think are among the Avatar drivers, and to what extent?

I should imagine there are a number of dedicated 'social workers' there too, who would be in charge of Huma/Na'vi relations, as well as cultural studies and sharing. Maybe some of the people who helped build the school?

Hmm, you mean people who are involved with Human-Na'vi relations as well as being scientists?

^ That's what I would figure - avatar drivers who really want to understand Na'vi culture and "bridge the gap" so to speak.

I figured that! *g* I think that's a given - I was asking about what kind of degrees you'd think they might have. As I said, we've got a bonaist, a xenoanthropologist, but what would the others be?

Hmm, a good question.

Depending on how long this Pandora 'mission' has been going, maybe some of them actually have specialised degrees and studies in dealing with 'aliens', or specifically with the Na'vi. I suppose if you decided you wanted to embark on that process, a specialised degree would be possible. I guess that would make sense... We can't exactly study it now, as we haven't found intelligent life on other planets, nor have they ever visited our planet and had interraction (Yeah, I know... Both of those are debatable points, but that's besides the OP) so maybe once we knew and came in contact with the Na'vi, a new branch of studies emerged through the years...

After all, what I am thinking is that you could not really apply human social studies to a race like the Na'vi, as they are driven by very different ideals.

So perhaps some of them are 'Na'viologists' so to speak...?

That's what Norm was for, for one :P

I would guess there are at least a few duplicates, particularly around the Na'vi themselves, but I'd guess there would certainly be biochemistry, neurology (the network), geology, possibly even general physics.
With both Grace's dealings with the Na'vi and Norm's clear understanding of biology, they would most likely need to show some level of understanding on everything - it's not like they can hire huge numbers of people as needed.

Actually I differ here. I think (as sad as it is for me as a geologist), that probably there will not be too many geologists, chemists and neurologists with an Avatar around. Why do I think so? Because there are scienctists and there are Avatar drivers and these two overlap but do not match. It does not make a whole lot of sense to spend the effort to give a geologist an Avatar body. He can do his field trips in regular gear and in the time he spends in the lab, the Avatar body would just be idle, which is not good, so that scientist would not get to do lab work. Scientific work usuall yis about 1/10 to 1/4 field work, the rest is done in the lab or office.
Also, the Avatar program was specifically started as a means to get into friendly relations with the indigenous population, not as a science experiment or as a convenient method for scientists to move around the surface without masks. So i think that the vast majority of Avatar drivers will at least have as a major task and education something in the direction of anthropology, diplomacy, teaching, culture, language (linguists), maybe some biologists and medical personnel to study the Na'Vi. But to poke instruments into Eywas nerves and to pick fruits and put them in the lab one does not need an expensive Avatar body, sadly. Well sadly in the thought that if I as a geologist would actually go to Pandora (if that would be possible), I would probably not be given an Avatar unless I have some qualities that go in the direction of being helpful establishing relationsips with the NA'Vi...

I agree. There may be a few avatars with weird professions if only because the human body is so fragile on Pandora, but they would need to basically only be data collectors or field workers.

It's possible - but then, considering how they will likely attempt to hire the very best from the required field, a reasonable competence in most fields would seem to be advantageous - Norm certainly knew his way around biochemistry/neurology, despite his focus being on the Na'vi.

Now was it the 880 script or the actual script that mentions that only 1 in X number of people are "capable" of producing an Avatar? That would severely limit the field methinks. If you found someone smart/competent even if they had a degree in something somewhat superfluous you would probably sign them up for the program. Shrug at least thats how I see it working.

It was the non-canon one (well, technically both are non-canon, but the project 880 one has far more in the way of mistakes and differences). Even if only some individuals were compatible, they wouldn't be automatically hired for that, since they'd still need some degree of competence.

Grace was in charge of contacting and conversing with the Na'vi. Selfridge said so, therefore, it makes me think that there were a lot less specialised people than we think. When the avatars go to "sleep" in the outside tent there are around 15-20 cots (correct me if I'm wrong). Grace, Norm and Jake make 3, so there are around 12-17 more avatar drivers. I'm inclined to say that some are specialists and some do grunt work like collecting SAMPOLZ as someone said.
As to which field of study... no idea. People who study plants and animals, biologists, botanists, anthropologists, xenobiologists and -anthropologists; perhaps physicists to examine the flux vortex and the unobtanium.

The Link Room has, what;- 8? links...
Shack has 3.
Others we may no know of.

Do they work in shifts?

- Mikko

The link room has 10. Shifts seem reasonable since they do other work, in addition to that, another shack wouldn't be definitely out.

Hey, saying collecting samples is "grunt work" .. I feel a bit insulted now :P - I actually LIKE taking samples and it takes quite a bit of scientific knowledge to do it right ;)

Still - I can imagine that some of the people are scientists of different fields, but I still hold to that it is probably a lot cheaper to give someone a helicopter and some good masks if he is sent to take samples or look at rocks than to make a really expensive Avatar. The purpose of that whole Avatar program is "to look like them to get their trust" - so it is all about the NA'Vi. That such an Avatar also can move around more freely on Pandora is certainly a cool thing, but I doubt it would justify the expenses for the RDA.

Humans would be much more vulnerable to attack and injury.