For Students
In addition to the content concerning marine conservation, marine science, marine life and hourly news, MarineBio offers the following specifically for interested students and/or would-be students of the marine life sciences.
Links to schools that offer a curriculum in marine biology:
Camps and summer internships
- ActionQuest: Expedition-based summer programs for teenagers including sailing, scuba diving, cultural immersion, marine biology and global exploration - all in a 'live-aboard' environment on voyages to the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean's Leeward Islands, the Mediterranean, Galapagos, Australia, Tahiti and French Polynesia.
- Broadreach: A program that offers experiential summer adventures for teenagers ages 13-18, including scuba, sailing, marine biology, academic and wilderness programs that span the globe.
- Sea|mester: Global study abroad semester programs at sea for college students and high school graduates.
- Seatrek BVI: SeaTrek offers tropical summer camp adventure programs in the British Virgin Islands for jr. high, high school and college aged students. Voyages revolve around hands-on sailing, scuba diving, and marine biology explorations.
Seacamp: Seacamp Association is a non-profit, marine science education facility located on Big Pine Key in the tropical Florida Keys adjacent to Looe Key and Florida's fragile coral reefs. Seacamp offers marine science education and summer camp experiences including SCUBA, sailing, board sailing, and arts & crafts to students from 12-17 years of age.- Earthwatch Institute: Earthwatch provides high school and college students the opportunity to contribute their time, experience, and energy as Earthwatch volunteers. Student volunteers become personally involved in field research and work with leading scientists to gain first-hand experience in data collection techniques. Expeditions take place year-round.
The following are David Campbell's (MarineBio's founder and president) answers to the marine biologist interview commonly assigned to students. You might also check out our "Need Help with a School Report, Project or Interview?" forum at planktonforums.org/viewforum.php?f=9
Marine Biology Career Interview
One of the most common requests we get is help with an assignment that requires answers to questions about a career in marine biology.
1. What kind of schooling do you go through to be a marine biologist?
It is primarily a Masters of Science (MS) and PhD degree but many schools are now also offering Bachelors of Science (BS) in Marine Biology as well. Many suggest that the undergraduate degree should be a general Biology or Zoology degree and then go for your Marine Biology degree/s in graduate school. An MS in Marine Biology is usually required to get good jobs and to be able to publish on your own.
2. What kind of salary do you make?
Marine Biologists usually make average salaries like everyone else. BS degrees typically range from $30-40K and MS degrees often get $40-70K+. It's highly variable though and many jobs are very tough to get because they are few and there are many applicants. The more people are aware of the need for more study concerning marine life, the more jobs will become available. We have a long way to go in that area.
3. What colleges should I shoot for?
The top three, in my opinion, are Woods Hole, Scripps, and UCSB or maybe the University of Miami: Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.... See our schools page for a list of possible schools we've compiled.... The list changes every once and awhile and I'm sure we've missed some but it should help.
4. What, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of being a marine biologist?
No disadvantages except maybe that this country often treats scientists disrespectfully when the good ones should be treated better than any actor or sports figure based on the usefulness of their contributions. All our great comforts and advances come from science yet the media and far too many people treat science as something to be feared or some such nonsense. Another disadvantage is that when you really start studying marine life, especially in it's natural habitats, you are bound to run into the negative effects our species is causing. See our conservation section for more information. The advantages are endless for those truly passionate about the field. That holds for any field too.
5. What skills are required in marine biology?
Helps to be interested in biology, math and science overall. Communications is also becoming more and more vital so learning to write and communicate well is highly recommended. See the interviews above for more on this.
6. How would I get a job in marine biology after college?
You would first talk with your advisors or having interned/worked/volunteered with companies during breaks you may have something waiting for you that way. There are a thousand ways to look for jobs, your career advisors should be able to help a lot. There are a number of online resources available as well.
7. If you could do all this over, get another profession or keep this one, which would you do and why?
I would do just what I suggest above though I don't regret becoming a geoscientist first, it's a great foundation to be able to study nearly all sciences.
8. What are some of the types of equipment marine biologists use?
Besides, lab equipment, boats/ships and various oceanographic equipment including water samplers, various nets and traps, they use computers (see our Tools page) as well as submarines if they are lucky. Some also scuba dive and also use photographic and video systems to capture images and footage of marine animal behaviors.
9. What kind of marine biology fields would incorporate robotics?
The ones where robotics would be used for sampling or exploring places humans cannot go. For example, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are used often instead of manned submersibles for various reasons (cost, safety, speed of deployment, etc.). So Deep-sea research uses robotics as well as whenever ROVs are used.
10. What are some of the different fields of marine biology, and how much (approx.) do they make?
Salaries are discussed above and apply here too. See the Careers page and the interviews above to learn more about the different fields often involved in marine biology.
11. What kind of people do you work with? What sort of personality do you need?
I work with average people and some remarkable ones too. Everyone needs a calm and friendly personality to go with their top-notch skills. Much research (including the work behind MarineBio.org) involves teams and team members need to be able to communicate effectively as well amicably. Type B and even C personalities are best.
12. What kind of responsibilities do you have?
I am responsible for all of MarineBio and the Plankton Forums, as well as working with the volunteers and interns, and our project teams on our projects.
13. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a marine biologist or just started?
Enjoy what you do every second you can. If marine biology keeps you up at night and you cannot get enough of it, then read all the books, watch the films and take all the science and math classes you can. It will be hard work but if it continues to be your passion then no price is too high to succeed in it.
If you have further questions, please join us in the Plankton Forums: planktonforums.org
Feedback?
Something missing or incorrect in the above? Let us know!
Marine Biology News :: ScienceDailyLessons in coral reef survival from deep time
Lessons from tens of millions of years ago are pointing to new ways to save and protect today's coral reefs and their myriad of beautiful and many-hued fishes at a time of huge change in the Earth's systems. Today's complex relationship between fishes and corals developed relatively recently in geological terms -- and is a major factor in shielding reef species from extinction, say experts.
Carbon dioxide is 'driving fish crazy'
Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous system of sea fishes with serious consequences for their survival, an international scientific team has found. Carbon dioxide concentrations predicted to occur in the ocean by the end of this century will interfere with fishes' ability to hear, smell, turn and evade predators, says a professor.
Multiple partners not the only way for corals to stay cool
For the first time scientists have shown that corals hosting a single type of zooxanthellae can have different levels of thermal tolerance -– a feature that was only known previously for corals with a mix of zooxanthellae. This finding is important because many species of coral are dominated by a single type of zooxanthellae.
Inventory lists 19,232 newly discovered species during latest count
More than half of the 19,232 species newly known to science in 2009, the most recent calendar year of compilation, were insects -- 9,738 or 50.6 percent -- according to the 2011 State of Observed Species.
Breakthrough model reveals evolution of ancient nervous systems through seashell colors
Determining the evolution of pigmentation patterns on mollusk seashells -- which could aid in the understanding of ancient nervous systems -- has proved to be a challenging feat for researchers. Now, however, through mathematical equations and simulations, researchers have used 19 different species of the predatory sea snail Conus to generate a model of the pigmentation patterns of mollusk shells.
Wandering albatross alters its foraging due to climate change
Wandering albatrosses have altered their foraging due to changes in wind fields in the southern hemisphere during the last decades. Since winds have increased in intensity and moved to the south, the flight speed of albatrosses increased and they spend less time foraging. As a consequence, breeding success has improved and birds have gained 1 kilogram.
Can we save the whales by putting a price on them?
Every year, anti-whaling groups spend millions of dollars on activities intended to end commercial whaling. And every year, commercial whaling not only continues, but grows. While protests, education, lobbying and dangerous confrontations on the high seas have saved some whales, the whaling industry shows no sign of shutting down -- or slowing down. Now, an economist and two marine scientists suggest a new strategy that they believe could save whales by putting a price on them.
Fish offspring grow best at same temperature as parents
Fish parents can pre-condition their offspring to grow fastest at the temperature they experienced, according to new research.
World's most extreme deep-sea vents revealed: Deeper than any seen before, and teeming with new creatures
Scientists have revealed details of the world's most extreme deep-sea volcanic vents, five kilometers down in a rift in the Caribbean seafloor. The undersea hot springs, which lie 0.8 kilometers deeper than any seen before, may be hotter than 450 °C and are shooting a jet of mineral-laden water more than a kilometer into the ocean above.
Bycatch-22: Protecting Butterfish
Scientists work to assist fishermen in ways to avoid accidentally hauling in butterfish, a species protected by fishing limits. The researchers develop models to predict where the fish will be.
Paddlefish sensors tuned to detect signals from zooplankton prey
Neurons fire in a synchronized bursting pattern in response to robust signals indicating nearby food.
Harp seals on thin ice after 32 years of warming
Warming in the North Atlantic over the last 32 years has significantly reduced winter sea ice cover in harp seal breeding grounds, resulting in sharply higher death rates among seal pups in recent years, according to a new study.
Fish mimics octopus that mimics fish
Nature's game of intimidation and imitation comes full circle in the waters of Indonesia, where scientists have recorded for the first time an association between the black-marble jawfish and the mimic octopus.
Salt water alone unlikely to halt Burmese python invasion
Invasive Burmese python hatchlings from the Florida Everglades can withstand exposure to salt water long enough to potentially expand their range through ocean and estuarine environments.
'Lost world' discovered around Antarctic vents
Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents. The discoveries include new species of yeti crab, starfish, barnacles, sea anemones, and potentially an octopus.
Molecular mechanism links temperature with sex determination in some fish species
Researchers have found the epigenetic mechanism that links temperature and gonadal sex in fish. High temperature increases DNA methylation of the gonadal aromatase promoter in females.
Sunlight and bunker oil a fatal combination for Pacific herring
The 2007 Cosco Busan disaster, which spilled 54,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay, had an unexpectedly lethal impact on embryonic fish, devastating a commercially and ecologically important species for nearly two years, reports a new study.
Sea cucumbers: Dissolving coral reefs?
Coral reefs are extremely diverse ecosystems that support enormous biodiversity. But they are at risk. Carbon dioxide emissions are acidifying the ocean, threatening reefs and other marine organisms. New research analyzed the role of sea cucumbers in portions of the Great Barrier Reef and determined that their dietary process of dissolving calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the surrounding reef accounts for about half of at the total nighttime dissolution for the reef.
Ocean acidification: Some organisms already experiencing ocean acidification levels not predicted to be reached until 2100
Ocean acidification research is a relatively new study topic as scientists have only appreciated the potential extent of acidification within the last decade. As greenhouse gas emissions have accelerated in the past century, the oceans have taken up about a third of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities. That excess beyond natural levels increases amounts of carbonic acid in seawater. New research shows that some organisms are already experiencing ocean acidification levels not predicted to be reached until 2100.
Belize protected area boosting predatory fish populations
A 14-year study in an atoll reef lagoon in Glover's Reef, Belize has found that fishing closures there produce encouraging increases in populations of predatory fish species. However, such closures have resulted in only minimal increases in herbivorous fish, which feed on the algae that smother corals and inhibit reef recovery.
Help us continue to share the wonders of the ocean with the world, raise awareness of marine conservation issues and their solutions, and support marine conservation scientists and students involved in the marine life sciences. Join the MarineBio Conservation Society or make a donation today. We would like to sincerely thank all of our members and donors, we simply could not have achieved what we have without you and we look forward to doing even more.
