We navigate to some fairly remote locations that require hiking in. A two-mile one-way hike is not unheard of, says Grant, a in central Pennsylvania. During the summer, he leads teams of students into the states wilds to catch fish in local creeks and test them for mercury content.

Such hikes used to require a number of different tools: a topography map, a handheld GPS unit, a camera, a rangefinder, even a notebook to write down data. Now? The iPad does all of that for Grant, who utilizes apps like , , and to find his way around and take measurements in the field.

Its eliminated at least five different tools, Grant says. Just getting a camera out to take a picture while youre processing a fish, with one hand on a notebook and the other on a camerawell, its all right there, in one thing.

Since its introduction just a couple of years ago, the iPad has entered and started to transform many professions, finding a place in , , , and even . Now its starting to transform the work of scientists, as well.

Scientists we spoke to say theyve found three main ways to use the iPad in their work.