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A
Job To Love
Imagine traveling the ocean by ship:
You're standing at the bow, listening
to the gentle waves, and letting the
cool breeze wash over you. Suddenly,
a mother whale and her calf appear in
the distance. You mark the spot with
your GPS (Global Positioning System)
and reach for your camera, focusing
the long lens on the whales' tails as
they dip below the surface. The best
part of this day is that you're at work,
getting paid to track the migration
of Humpback whales.
Marine
Biologists study the relationship
between ocean creatures and their
saltwater environment. They travel
to oceans and seashores around the
world. They work mostly outdoors,
on their own and as part of a team.
Aboriginal marine biologists make
sure that ocean animals remain a healthy
food source for future generations.
Spending
your days on the water can be amazing,
but no job is perfect. As a marine
biologist, you'll work outside no
matter what the weather¾hot
or cold, wet or dry, windy or calm.
There will be times when you spend
weeks living on an uncomfortable ship.
Then again, you might like the adventure
that comes with traveling to exciting,
remote locations.
Job
Description
Marine biologists study marine plant
and animal behaviour, and take samples
of marine organisms to see how they
interact with each other and the physical
environment. They use their findings
to determine how human activity and
environmental concerns affect marine
life. For example, a marine biologist
might measure the effects of pollution
on ocean seals.
Marine
biologists publish their research
findings, and work with other scientists
to protect marine life and environments.
Marine biologists work for ecotourism
companies, environmental agencies,
universities, aquariums, zoos, research
institutes, and the government.
Job
Duties
- Use
field equipment to conduct tests
on marine organisms
- Produce
mathematical models to estimate
the number and kinds of marine life
in a specific place
- Investigate
the interaction between sea anemones
and coral
- Research
the chemical makeup of marine toxins,
both natural (in poisonous sea creatures)
and man-made
- Study
the population fluctuations in different
species of fish
- Assist
in the rehabilitation of damaged
ecosystems
Prepare written reports with conclusions
and recommendations
Fact
The largest octopus in the world,
the Giant Pacific Octopus, lives in
the coastal waters of British Columbia.
The average female weighs 55 pounds,
and the average male weighs 88 pounds.
The largest Giant Pacific Octopus
ever caught weighed about 600 pounds.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, physics,
chemistry, calculus, statistics, algebra,
geometry, geography, and English. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options, such as Latin,
statistics, algebra and calculus.
Look into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a bachelor of science degree
in marine biology or a related field
such as biochemistry, biology, botany,
ecology, microbiology, or zoology. A
master's or post-doctoral degree will
make you more competitive. You'll find
it easier to get a research job and
negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce, some
marine biologists require training in:
- Standard
First Aid
- Orienteering
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) use
- Scuba
diving
- Underwater
photography
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Marine
biologists with a bachelor's degree
make an average of $44,000.00 per
year.
Marine biologists with a master's
degree make an average of $64,000.00
per year.
Marine biologists with a post-doctoral
degree make an average of $78,000.00
per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to marine biologists:
Murdock
C. Smith Scholarship in Marine Biology
$660.00 for third or fourth year students
of Acadia University
Contact: Acadia University, Biology
Department
24 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS
B0P 1X0
Telephone: (902) 585-1334
Fax: (902) 585-1059
Dr. J Murray Beardsley Research
Scholarship in Biology
$2500.00 for third year or graduate
students of Acadia University
Contact: Acadia University, Biology
Department
24 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS
B0P 1X0
Telephone: (902) 585-1334
Fax: (902) 585-1059
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Some
of the best knowledge you'll gain
for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Join your family on fishing
trips and ask your Elders about the
marine life they used to fish and
hunt. Learn to identify ocean animals,
where they live at different times
of the year, and what they eat. The
time you spend on the water will make
your studies easier. Your understanding
of the natural world will appeal to
employers, too.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Fisheries
technologist
- Hydrogeologist
- Water
treatment operator
Regardless
of where you live now, you can learn
more about this job by talking to
a career counsellor; or relate and
interact with marine biologists, by
asking them what they like about their
jobs and how you should get started.
Canadian Federation of Biological
Societies
305-1750 Courtwood Crescent
Ottawa, ON
K2C 2B5
Telephone: (613) 225-8889
website: www.cfbs.org
Vancouver Aquarium
P.O. Box 3232
Vancouver, BC
V6B 3X8
Telephone: (604) 659-3474
Fax: (604) 659-3515
email: information@vanaqua.org
website: www.vanaqua.org
Huntsman
Marine Science Centre
1 Lower Campus Road
St. Andrews, NB
E5B 2L7
Telephone: (506) 529-1200
Fax: (506) 529-1212
email: huntsman@huntsmanmarine.ca
website: www.huntsmamarine.ca
Relate with other students. Most colleges
and universities have Aboriginal student
associations and resource centres.
Visit these centres to find out what
they have to offer. Also look into
community centres, friendship centres,
and multi-cultural centres.
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