ocean engineering - teacherpage ocean engineering 17 gaceengineer 18 carmen g. bordachitect 18...

National Sea Grant College Program 1

2 IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction3 Marine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine Biology 3 Shannon Atkinson, marine biologist 3 Kevin McAllister, baykeeper 4 Tracy Leigh Karmuza, marine mammal specialist 5 Russell Hill, marine biotechnologist 6 Janice Sessing, marine biologist 7 Stephen Truchon, marine ecologist 7 Deborah A. Bouchard, aquaculture microbiologist 8 Derrick R. Toba, shellfish biologist9 OceanographyOceanographyOceanographyOceanographyOceanography 9 Jonathan H. Sharp, chemical oceanographer 10 Dawn Wright, geological oceanographer 11 Peter C. Griffith, biological oceanographer 12 Kay T. Ho, chemical oceanographer 13 Anders W. Andren, aquatic chemist 13 Rick Mohammed, physical oceanographer 14 Carol J. Zimmerman, marine geophysicist 15 Frank R. Hall, geological oceanographer

17 Ocean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean Engineering 17 Langley R. Gace, ocean engineer 18 Carmen G. Borda, naval architect 18 William Childress Green, environmental analyst 20 Joanne McCaffrey, ocean engineer 20 Hanumant Singh, ocean engineer 21 Joseph H. Comer III, marine architect 21 Heidi Nepf, environmental engineer 22 John Buck, electrical engineer23 Related FieldsRelated FieldsRelated FieldsRelated FieldsRelated Fields 23 Sonya Wood Mahler, environmental educator 24 Bill Lovin, underwater filmmaker 25 Carmen M. Márquez-Marín, environmental lawyer and marine archaeologist 26 Kurt Byers, environmental communicator 27 Eleanor S. Uhlinger, marine information specialist 27 Stuart E. May, aquarium curator 28 Faith A. McGruther, resource manager 28 Myron J. Kebus, aquaculture veterinarian29 Career OutlookCareer OutlookCareer OutlookCareer OutlookCareer Outlook33 Sea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant Programs

Marine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science Careers

Marine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science CareersMarine Science Careers2

Students thinking about careers in themarine sciences often picture themselvesworking with marine mammals. Within themarine science fields, however, only a fewscientists specialize in that area. This secondedition of Marine Science Careers willintroduce you to a wide range of marinecareer fields and to people working in thosefields. In addition, it will give those men andwomen a chance to tell you what they likeand dislike about their careers, what they seefor the future in their fields, and much more.This publication will also provide you withsome experts’ views on what the futureholds for marine science careers. Before we get to that, though, we’d like tointroduce Sea Grant, the publication’s spon-sor. A component of the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),the National Sea Grant College Program is afederal-state partnership. It supports marine-related research, education, and extensionactivities. These activities help us learn moreabout our marine resources and improvehow we use them. Sea Grant operatesthrough a network of academic and researchinstitutions located in our ocean and GreatLakes states as well as in Puerto Rico. Thestate and regional Sea Grant programs (listedinside the back cover) are good sources ofmarine-related information. Don’t hesitate tocontact them.

• What is your current job and what does itentail?

• What was the key factor in your careerdecision?

• What do you like most about your career?• What do you like least about your career?• What do you do to relax?• Who are your heroes/heroines?• What advice would you give a high school

student who expressed an interest inpursuing a career in your field?

• Are career opportunities in your fieldincreasing or decreasing and why?

• What will you be doing 10 years fromtoday?

Welcome to Marine Science CareersWelcome to Marine Science CareersWelcome to Marine Science CareersWelcome to Marine Science CareersWelcome to Marine Science Careers

As noted earlier, Sea Grant operates in theGreat Lakes states as well as in the oceanstates. This publication reflects that byincluding profiles of several people whosecareers involve those lakes rather than theoceans. Because the Great Lakes and theoceans have many similarities, scientistsstudying them face similar challenges. The people featured in Marine ScienceCareers cover a wide range in many ways.Some work at colleges and universities;others work for the local, state, or federalgovernment. Others are with marine-relatedindustries, research laboratories, indepen-

dent organizations, or consulting firms. Theycome from around the country and representa variety of educational backgrounds. Someare in the early stages of their careers whileothers are well established in theirs. We asked each a set of questions designedto meet the information needs of studentswith an interest in marine careers. Wepresent their answers here, allowing them toprofile themselves. Before you go off to explore the publica-tion, we have a few words of advice to offer.First, be flexible. It’s fine to opt for a marinescience career at an early age, but it’s amistake to decide your exact specialty beforeyou’ve had a chance to explore your options.Second, take advantage of the opportunitiesthat exist to get hands-on experience throughmarine education programs. Third, take asmany math, science, and computer coursesas you can in school. Also, pursue relatedstudies as part of independent studiesprojects. Fourth, don’t expect preparing for amarine science career to be easy. Fifth, don’tgive up. Good luck.

Steve AdamsNH Sea Grant

Tracey CragoSheri DeRosaWHOI Sea Grant


The field of marine biology — the study ofmarine organisms, their behaviors, and theirinteractions with the environment — is consid-ered one of the most all-encompassing fields ofoceanography. To understand marine organismsand their behaviors completely, marine biologistsmust have a basic understanding of other aspectsor “disciplines” of oceanography, such as chemi-cal oceanography, physical oceanography, andgeological oceanography. Therefore, marinebiologists and biological oceanographers studythese other fields throughout their careers,enabling them to take a “big picture” approach todoing research. Because there are so many topics one couldstudy within the field of marine biology, manyresearchers select a particular interest andspecialize in it. Specializations can be based on aparticular species, organism, behavior, technique,or ecosystem. For example, marine biologistsmay choose to study a single species of clams, orall clams that are native to a climate or region. One area of specialization, the emerging fieldof marine biotechnology, offers great opportunityfor marine biologists. Marine biotechnologyresearch presents a wide range of possibilitiesand applications. One focus area is the biomedi-cal field, where scientists develop and test drugs,many of which come from marine organisms. Anexample of an application of biotechnologyresearch can be seen in industry or defense,where researchers have developed non-toxiccoatings that prevent the build-up of foulingorganisms, such as barnacles and zebra mussels.Such coatings are useful for ships and intakepipes used in power plants. Molecular biology is a related area of special-ization in this field. Researchers apply molecularapproaches and techniques to many environ-ments, from coastal ponds to the deep sea, andmany different organisms, from microscopicbacteria, plants, and animals to marine mammals.For example, molecular biology can be used toidentify the presence of a specific organism in awater sample through the use of molecular

Marine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine BiologyMarine Biology

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Shannon AtkinsonShannon AtkinsonShannon AtkinsonShannon AtkinsonShannon Atkinson — marine biologist

B.S. and M.S., animal science, Univ. of HawaiiPh.D., veterinary sciences, Murdoch Univ.

current job: I am an associateresearcher at the Institute of MarineBiology of the University of Hawaii. Iconduct research on a variety ofspecies from corals to seals andwhales. The research focuses onreproductive and growth biology. Ialso advise graduate students.

key factor: I enjoy research and I loveworking with animals. I debatedabout becoming a veterinarian ordoing research; research keeps my mind active and italways poses new challenges and interesting topics.

like most: I love working with animals and understand-ing how and why nature works the way it does. I feel intouch with the world around me and enjoy watchinganimals in a natural setting and trying to figure out whythey do what they do.

like least: I dislike the increasing volumes of paper-work, especially for endangered species research.

relax: I enjoy my family, hiking, swimming, and beingin remote places. All of these activities provide relax-ation and time to contemplate the meaning of life.

heroes/heroines: My mother is my biggest heroine.

She is smart and calm,and has always beensupportive.

advice: Study hard, stayin science, and bepersistent.

career opportunities: Isee increasing need tounderstand the biology ofindividual species andecosystems. With thehuman populationincreasing, we are puttingincreased pressures onecosystems and theorganisms within them.

10 years: Probably thesame thing, but life holds

surprises and one should never take it for granted.

Kevin McAllister Kevin McAllister Kevin McAllister Kevin McAllister Kevin McAllister — baykeeper

A.A.S., natural resources conservation, State Univ. of New York at MorrisvilleB.A., biological sciences, Florida Atlantic Univ.M.S., coastal zone management, Nova Southeastern Univ.

current job: I am the Peconic Baykeeper on the eastend of Long Island, N.Y. The Peconic BaykeeperProgram is part of a fast-growing grassroots environ-mental movement, the Water Keeper Alliance. Iregularly patrol the bays to monitor shoreline activities


You Say “Marine Biology,”You Say “Marine Biology,”You Say “Marine Biology,”You Say “Marine Biology,”You Say “Marine Biology,”I Say “Biological Oceanography”I Say “Biological Oceanography”I Say “Biological Oceanography”I Say “Biological Oceanography”I Say “Biological Oceanography”

Throughout this publication, you will comeacross the terms "marine biology" and"biological oceanography," often usedinterchangeably. One distinction that has been madebetween the fields of marine biology andbiological oceanography is this: marinebiologists study the plants, animals, andprotists of our estuaries, coasts, and oceans,ranging from whales to microscopic algaeand bacteria, and biological oceanographersstudy marine organisms and their biologicalprocesses within the context of their naturalenvironment. In that sense, marine biologycould be considered a subset of biologicaloceanography. Another way of looking at it, says LarryHarris, a professor of zoology at the Univer-sity of New Hampshire, is "marine biologyis biology with salt added. You can do manykinds of biology and be a marine biologistas long as you are working with marineorganisms or marine systems." While it istrue that some marine biologists have littleor no training in oceanography, especially atthe undergraduate level, others have a greatdeal of oceanography background. In any case, don't let the terminology getyou confused! Instead, read the profilesfeatured here to meet people working in acareer area, specialty, or field that interestsyou, and use their experiences and back-ground as a guide. Remember, there aremany paths available to you and manychoices you can make to get to where youwant to be.

and toidentifypollutionproblems. Indoing this, Iwork closelywith thecommunity(residents,businesses,and govern-ment) tofind solu-tions toenvironmen-tal problems in the estuary.

key factor: I was introduced to the marine environmentat an early age. Growing up close to the bay, I had theopportunity to spend countless hours on it, in it, andalong its shores. Through these experiences, I knew itwas my calling to work in environmental protection.

like most: Smelling the roses. Spending time on thewater patrolling the bays and experiencing the naturalbeauty of the estuary.

like least: The politics and hidden agendas that oftencompromise the integrity of the decision-makingprocess involved in environmental protection issues.

relax: I enjoy all water sports: rowing, surfing,sailboarding, swimming, diving, etc. However, thegreatest enjoyment I have is when I’m introducing myson to new adventures where I’m able to live vicari-ously through his eyes.

heroes/heroines: I really haven’t any. Although, I willsay that I admire and respect Robert F. Kennedy Jr. forall he has given of himself in the effort to protect ournation’s waterways.

what advice: Get involved by volunteering withorganizations to get some practical experience. Whenyou’re qualified for employment you’ll have a leg up.Most importantly, most of us enter the field for reasons

other then making the big bucks, so staytrue to yourself and your passion for thework.

career opportunities: I believe theopportunities are increasing. Work hardtowards getting the appropriate educa-tion and get involved.

10 years: I believe in 10 years the WaterKeeper Alliance will be a powerful forcethroughout the nation, representing thepublic’s inherent right to clean water, andI fully expect to be part of the team.

Tracy Leigh KarmuzaTracy Leigh KarmuzaTracy Leigh KarmuzaTracy Leigh KarmuzaTracy Leigh Karmuza — marine mammal specialist

B.A., psychology, Florida Institute of Technology

current job: I am an animal care specialist with theOcean Futures Society working to return a whale namedKeiko (a.k.a. Free Willy) to the wild. I am responsiblefor the daily care of this killer whale in a field situation. Icurrently live in Iceland and work on a floating bay pen.

key factor: I have always been fascinated with theocean and all types of sea life. I knew I wanted to workin the marine science field. I was lucky in that I metwonderful people who helped me attain my goal.

like most: Caring for live animals is always an excitingjob. We are also conducting research studies on othermarine mammals in the North Atlantic. The educationaspect is very important to me, and I enjoy being ableto answer the questions the public has about the livesof these magnificent animals.

like least: The politics of working with a live animal arealways frustrating. You’re always on call, becauseworking with a marine mammal is not a 9-5 job.

relax: I enjoy all water sports, especially warm waterscuba diving. I also enjoy reading, hiking, and traveling.


Russell HillRussell HillRussell HillRussell HillRussell Hill — marine biotechnologist

B.S., biological sciences/microbiology and plant physiology, Univ. of Natal, Durban, South AfricaPh.D., microbiology, Univ. of Cape Town, South Africa

current job: I am an associate professor at the Centerof Marine Biotechnology, University of MarylandBiotechnology Institute. My research is on variousaspects of marine microbiology, especially the study ofmarine bacteria that may be important sources of newbioactive compounds, such as antibiotics.

heroes/heroines: My mother, who taught me to nevergive up on my dreams. All educators, who give theirtime to teach the public and try to make a difference inthe world.

advice:Intern orvolunteerand get asmuchexperienceas possible.Be persis-tent, workhard, andnever giveup.

careeropportuni-ties: I believe that they are increasingdue to the expansion of marine facilitiesand the heightened awareness of oureffect on the marine environment.

10 years: I will be working in the marinescience field, caring for animals andeducating the public on marine life andthe oceans’ importance.

key factor: The first important step was deciding tostudy microbiology. My move into the marine environ-ment came later in my career, after I had finished my

Ph.D. I joined the laboratory of Dr. RitaColwell because of her interest in marinemicrobial ecology. I loved the marinework and am now lucky enough tocombine two great interests, microbiol-ogy and the marine environment.

like most: I enjoy spending time at seaand have had the opportunity to dive intwo research submarines, the RSV Alvinand the Johnson Sea-Link. I like actuallyworking in the laboratory, playing with

my bacteria.I appreciatethe freedomthat I haveas aresearcherto set myown goalsand followmy ownresearchinterests. Itis also greatto havemanyopportuni-

ties to travel and to work with people from differentcountries.

like least: Writing grants and working on budgets.

relax: I work out at the gym and enjoy doing practicalthings such as gardening and maintaining my own car.I enjoy photography and visit photographic exhibitions.I used to do a lot of sailing, but don’t find the time for itnow. I want to start sailing again because it is theultimate relaxation for me.

heroes/heroines: Nelson Mandela, for having thecourage of his convictions and for his role as astatesman in South Africa and the world. The men and

probes. This is very useful when the organism inquestion is microscopic or similar to otherorganisms. The study of disease in organisms hasalso been aided by the use of molecular tech-niques. Researchers have developed antibodiesthat are specific to a particular virus, so thatwhen the virus is present in the organism,detection and diagnosis is easier and faster.Likewise, new molecular techniques help scien-tists identify whether or not an animal has beenexposed to pollutants and, in some cases, candetermine the source of those pollutants. Thefield of molecular biology is growing and willcontinue to see significant advances. Aquaculture, the farming of finfish, shellfish,and seaweeds, is another field that has beenaided by marine biotechnology and moleculartechniques. Aquaculture is gaining importance inthis country as consumer demand for fish andshellfish becomes greater than can be met bytraditional commercial fishing. At the same time,technological advances have made aquaculturemore economically feasible. In one example,researchers developed a “triploid” oyster, whosemeat remains firm and sweet throughout theentire spawning season (May to August). Byextending the harvesting and marketing seasonof the oyster, its economic value increased. Marine researchers are also experimentingwith ways to administer drugs to diseasedpopulations of farm-raised fish. Disease can wipeout an entire crop of farm-raised fish or shellfishdue to the confined setting in which they areraised. One technique involves exposing a pen offish to ultrasound (high frequency sound thatcannot be heard by humans). This causes theouter layers of the fish tissues (skin and gills) tobecome more permeable, making the fish morereceptive to a vaccine or antibiotic drug that isreleased into the water. Other popular areas within the field of marinebiology are environmental biology and toxicol-ogy. Both of these areas have direct applicationsand implications for our society. Examples ofspecialities in environmental biology and toxicol-ogy include water quality research and the study


Janice SessingJanice SessingJanice SessingJanice SessingJanice Sessing — marine biologist

B.S., marine science and biology, Univ. of MiamiM.S., animal sciences, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa

current job: I work for the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA). I am an interna-tional relations specialist with the National Environmen-

women who serve as crew on research vessels,persevere under difficult conditions, tolerate sometimesdifficult and eccentric scientists, and keep marinescience moving forward.

advice: Develop a strong academic background. Makesure that you study molecular biology if you want towork as a marine biologist because molecular tech-niques are becoming increasingly important in allaspects of biology. Work in manydifferent areas of biology while you areat high school and college. Manyresearchers will take on volunteers overthe summer and this is a great way toget experience and find out whichaspects of marine biology are the mostenjoyable for you.

career opportunities: Increasing. Thereis a growing awareness of the impor-tance of microbiology in all marineprocesses. Marine biotechnology as afield is also growing in importance.There are many practical applications ofmarine biology and biotechnology indrug discovery, aquaculture, and monitoring forpathogens in the marine environment.

10 years: I hope to still be running my own laboratory,as a tenured professor. I will be supervising a fairlysmall but active group of graduate students and post-docs. We will be making a major contribution to theisolation of novel microbes that produce importantpharmaceuticals and industrially important enzymes.

tal Satellite, Data, Information Service (NESDIS). Iapply my scientific training as a marine biologist tosupport NESDIS’ goals of acquiring and processingsatellite data and disseminating derived products tosupport a number of oceanic, terrestrial, and atmo-spheric applications by domestic and global customers.

key factor: The opportunity to get paid to go to thebeach. Seriously, I wanted to make a difference in an

emergingfield and themarinesciencesprovided anopportunityto do that.

like most:Beinginvolved inprojects andprogramsthat involveocean,coastal,

terrestrial, and atmospheric issues at local, national,and international levels. I work for an agency that hasallowed me the opportunity to work in differentpositions. Some of my experiences include working inHawaii to develop a national marine sanctuary toprotect the humpback whale and its habitat, represent-ing NOAA on government delegations to a number ofUnited Nations and other international meetings, andworking with a task force to develop a federal frame-work for aquatic nuisance species in the marineenvironment. My current position allows me to workwith remote sensing specialists involved in makingtechnology that seemed too “high-tech” a few yearsago useful for ocean and coastal management.

like least: The oftentimes slow process of changewithin a government bureaucracy.

relax: Travel (domestic and foreign), pottery, theater,reading, volunteer work.

of contaminants or pollutants in the coastal ormarine environment. Laws, regulations, andcleanup measures designed to protect the envi-ronment will ensure that marine and environ-mental biologists and consultants continue toplay an important role in our society. Another field of research within marine oraquatic biology involves organisms that havebeen around for billions of years: protists. Protistsare singled-celled organisms that include proto-zoa and microalgae. They range in size fromabout two micrometers (.00008 inches) to justunder an inch. Their importance as a group liesin the fact that microscopic algae serve as foodfor animals in aquatic food webs, earning themthe title “primary producers.” And since primaryproducers are mostly microscopic species, theorganisms that consume them are often single-celled, microscopic species as well. If somethinghappens to somehow alter populations of pri-mary producers, the entire food web could beaffected. Probably the topic most often asked aboutwithin marine biology is research involvingmarine mammals, including cetaceans (whalesand dolphins) and pinnipeds (sea lions, seals,and walruses). The reality is that research jobsinvolving marine mammals are extremely hard tocome by for a number of reasons, including thepopularity of the field, the fact that working withmarine mammals is highly regulated (mostresearch is done using tissue samples of sick,stranded, or dead animals and not on live,healthy animals), and because funding is verycompetitive. Two popular fields of research involvingmarine mammals are bioacoustics and vocaliza-tion (the study of marine mammal sounds), andpopulation dynamics (studying marine mamma-lian behaviors and responses to environmentalconditions as they impact population). As fornon-research employment options involvingmarine mammals, most positions would exist ataquaria, museums, and national and interna-tional conservation groups, though these are alsohighly competitive.•


heroes/heroines: People who are at the forefront ofmaking a positive change at all costs, and who havedemonstrated personal and professional integrity andcommitment to their cause.

advice: Every experience, good and bad, is a goodteacher. Get a solid foundation in the sciences, espe-cially calculus, physics, and biochemistry. Find amentor and apply yourself to achieve your goals.Pursue internships, fellowships, and other opportuni-ties, even if they are outside your field of interest. Youwill learn something from each one.

career opportunities: There are increasing opportuni-ties for scientists, especially those in interdisciplinaryareas such as the marine sciences. The opportunitiesexist to implement the recent global environmentalagreements and programs within a number of UnitedNations specialized agencies, such as the EnvironmentProgramme, International Oceanographic Commission,and World Meteorological Organization.

10 years: I do not know, but am open towhatever presents itself.

Deborah A. BouchardDeborah A. BouchardDeborah A. BouchardDeborah A. BouchardDeborah A. Bouchard — aquaculture microbiologist

B.S., microbiology, Univ. of Maine

current job: I am the president and co-owner of MicroTechnologies Inc., an aquaculture diagnostic laboratorylocated in Richmond, Maine. The aquaculture diagnos-tic workload consists primarily of performing fishhealth inspection and certification procedures oncultured species for aquaculture companies locatedthroughout New England and the Maritime Provinces.Fish health inspection work is performed in order toestablish the health status of cultured aquatic speciesand to avoid the possible dissemination of disease to

Stephen TruchonStephen TruchonStephen TruchonStephen TruchonStephen Truchon — marine ecologist

B.A., biology, Plymouth State CollegeM.S., zoology, Univ. of New Hampshire

current job: I am a marine ecologist withExponent, a consulting and engineeringfirm in Boston. Most of my work involvesevaluating habitats and aquatic biota incontaminated marine and estuarineecosystems. Generally, I spend 75 percent of my timein the office and 25 percent in the field. The office workincludes writing proposals, managing projects,analyzing data, and writing reports. The fieldworkincludes evaluating habitat quality and resource value,and sampling surface waters, sediments, and biota ofboth contaminated and uncontaminated sites.

key factor: I have always loved the ocean. When I was17, I took a scuba diving course that exposed me to theocean and the interesting life in it. I wanted to knowmore about what I was seeing, so when I enteredcollege I took as many marine biology courses aspossible.

like most: I enjoy the challenge of designing andconducting a focused environmental sampling pro-gram, analyzing the data using statistical methods, andwriting the results and conclusions. Essentially, it's myinvolvement in a project from start to finish that I enjoythe most.

like least: Most of the time the work is very stressful,with tight deadlines and slim budgets. As a result ofthese constraints, it is sometimes harder to enjoy thefact that I am actually getting paid to collect sedimentcores in the marshes of Maine, conduct fish communitysurveys on a coral reef in Puerto Rico, or lead a habitatassessment in the tidal creeks of Georgia.

relax: I liketo play withmy children(Sarah andNicholas),go out todinner withmy wife(Elizabeth),run on thebeach,scuba dive,golf, or reada goodunderwaterespionagebook by

Clive Cussler. Recently, I read The Perfect Storm bySebastian Junger — I highly recommend it!

heroes/heroines: Richard Truchon (my father), RichardFralick (a Plymouth State College professor), LibbyHyman (invertebrate zoologist), and those who givetheir time and effort to bettering the lives of children.

advice: Try to get some experience in the marinesciences by working as a library assistant, laboratoryassistant, or teaching assistant. Ask your scienceteachers or guidance counselors if they can help youfind such an opportunity at local colleges, governmentagencies, or private firms. You might be able to find ajob sorting biological samples, prepping labs, conduct-ing computer searches, entering data, or even assistingin fieldwork. Whatever you can do now will only helpyou when you apply to college.

career opportunities: In environmental consulting,opportunities for marine scientists are growing,particularly for those with an M.S. or Ph.D. Marinescientists with technical abilities in photoimageryanalysis, biostatistics, sediment toxicology, and othersuch areas are frequently sought after and tend toassume more of a role in the decision-making processof research projects. Also, individuals who can serve inmore than one capacity — as a manager, a technicalspecialist, and on a field crew, for instance — are moremarketable than those who cannot.

10 years: I will probably be a principal scientist for anenvironmental consulting firm. As I get closer toretirement, I would like to shift the emphasis of mycareer towards teaching biology at the high school orcollege level.


naturalresources.I am acertifiedfish healthinspectorfor boththe UnitedStates andCanada.

key factor:Myexperi-ences as astudent inthemicrobiol-ogydepart-ment at theUniversity of Maine.

like most: I work both in an outdoor environment andin the laboratory. I enjoy working at the aquaculturemarine sites and hatchery locations. It is a pleasureinteracting with the clients in a hands-on situation. Ialso enjoy performing the technical microbiology testsat the laboratory.

like least: At present, my position involves a somewhatunpredictable work schedule controlled by factors suchas weather and fish life cycles. These factors can resultin 15-hour work days with no rest the following daysbecause of testing procedures.

relax: I enjoy dancing, photography, weight lifting,walking, and reading novels.

heroes/heroines: I really admire people who stand upfor what they believe in and live by their convictionseven in the face of obstacles.

advice: There are many courses of study you canchoose from to pursue a career in marine sciences.Choose the one that interests you the most. Enjoy your

Derrick R. TobaDerrick R. TobaDerrick R. TobaDerrick R. TobaDerrick R. Toba — shellfish biologist

B.S. and M.S., fisheries, Univ. of Washington

current job: I work as a shellfish biologist for theTulalip Tribes of Washington. I work as a tribal repre-sentative on multi-jurisdictional committees andworkgroups discussing all aspects of shellfisheriesmanagement and resource conservation. This includesworking on management agreements with stateagencies and other tribes, serving on regional commit-tees and attending conferences on exotic species andshellfish sanitation, and reviewing and commenting onshoreline applications as they impact tribal resources. My responsibilities include providing technicalsupport and advice regarding shellfish matters, harvestmanagement of the shellfish resource, shellfishenhancement projects, and water quality issues relatingto shellfish bed degradation. I am also responsible forthe implementation of tribal policy relating to shellfish.Part of my time is spent in the office and part in thefield. Field studies include collecting biological informa-tion on crab and shrimp, as well as collecting water andshellfish samples to determine shellfish sanitation andto check for marine biotoxins.

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Because of limited funds and efforts, the Tribes needto work closely with the state and local governments,non-profit organizations, and area residents to managetheir resources properly.

key factor: There were two factors. The first wasspending a lot of time near the ocean growing up inCalifornia and during summers spent with family inHawaii. I was interested in the intertidal pools along theCalifornia shore and the reef systems in Hawaii. I wasdrawn more toward the invertebrates than the fish. Thesecond factor was my major professor and mentor atthe University of Washington, Dr. Ken Chew. Hisspecialty in molluscan aquaculture was a positiveinfluence in directing my career to shellfish. Hecontinues to be my mentor and guide me along.

like most: I like the variety of species and projects thatI work on. Different fisheries are managed in variousways, ranging from passive to active management. Inaddition, I have the opportunity to participate inaquaculture-related enhancement efforts. I also workon non-shellfish related projects, such as non-nativeaquatic weeds and water quality issues. I am fortunatein that I have the opportunity to work with my counter-

parts withthe otheragenciesand tribes.

like least:Most of mytime isspent in theoffice, atmeetings,or onconferencecalls. Iwouldprefermore fieldwork. It is

college years. Leave all your options open and volun-teer for every source of work experience possible.

career opportunities: Opportunities are increasing inthe area of aquatic animal health. Aquaculture is a newand expanding field. As the type and number ofcultured organisms increases, so will the demand foraquaculture support and health specialists.

10 years: It’s difficult to determine what I will be doingin 10 years. My career has changed and progressed. Ileave all options open. As a company owner I will focuson new business possibilities and growth. MicroTechnologies Inc. started with two employees workingout of one room and now, two years later, has fiveemployees with a fully equipped lab. A little hard workgoes a long way.


A narrative that attempts to cover three majordisciplines of oceanography — marine geologyand geophysics, physical oceanography, andmarine chemistry and geochemistry — should beprefaced with the explanation that these sub-fields of oceanography are related. Oceanogra-phers and others involved in these disciplinesoften work together to unravel the mysteries andunknowns of ocean science. In many govern-ment-sponsored research efforts, preference isgiven to projects that integrate the separatedisciplines of oceanography and incorporateimportant principles from each to better under-stand a system, phenomenon, event, or process. As a growing global population stresses theability of our society to produce food, water, andshelter, we will continue to look to the oceans tohelp sustain our basic needs. Advances intechnology, combined with demand, will im-prove our ability to derive food, drinking water,energy sources, waste disposal, and transporta-tion from the ocean. It will be up to this andfuture generations to build upon our existingknowledge of the ocean and its potential to helpmeet the needs of the world and its inhabitants. In reading about each of these sub-fields, keepin mind that some of the most important oceano-graphic discoveries have been made as a result ofan integrated, multidisciplinary approach, ofteninvolving geologists, chemists, biologists, physi-cal oceanographers, and engineers. The 1977 discovery of active hydrothermalvent communities illustrates the benefits of thismultidisciplinary approach. At these activehydrothermal vent sites, oceanographers ob-served thriving populations of hundreds of“new” species, including tube worms and giantclams. “Black smoker” chimneys also wereobserved, venting hot, metal-rich fluid thatgenerates from within the Earth’s crust and canreach temperatures as high as 350°C. Just outsidethese chimney-like structures, the water is muchcooler — about 2°C — and has a higher pH.When these fluids meet, a reaction takes placeand forms black “smoke.” Although the vent sites are located at the

OceanographyOceanographyOceanographyOceanographyOceanographyJonathan H. SharpJonathan H. SharpJonathan H. SharpJonathan H. SharpJonathan H. Sharp — chemical oceanographer

B.A., biology, Lehigh Univ.M.S., biochemistry, Lehigh Univ.Ph.D., oceanography, Dalhousie Univ.

current job: I am aprofessor of chemicaloceanography at theUniversity of Delaware. Myresponsibilities includeresearch, teaching, andservice. My research isprimarily involved withbiogeochemical studies ofthe beginnings of foodchains in oceans andestuaries. Specifically, wetry to better understand theinterchange of carbon,nitrogen, phosphorus,oxygen, and silicon between the water and microscopicalgae and bacteria. I teach general oceanography at theundergraduate level, but most of my teaching is withgraduate classes in chemical oceanography andthrough advising M.S. and Ph.D. students. I am alsoinvolved with resource managers in development andimplementation of coordinated monitoring and man-agement plans for estuarine and coastal waters.

key factor: As a child, I was interested in nature and theenvironment. As I studied science in high school andcollege, my environmental interests grew with empha-sis in the oceans. In contemplating graduate studies, Irealized that my interests were multidisciplinary ratherthan being in a single science discipline. That ultimately

led me into oceanography, a field where multidisciplin-ary research has been encouraged for many years.

like most: I like the thrill of working on researchproblems that are on the edge of “new frontiers” inscientific understanding. We know so little about thereal “workings” of the marine environment that our

research constantly shedslight on new concepts andon new paradigms. I alsolike the fact that applica-tion of our research canhave real-time relevanceto societal problems.

like least: Perhaps themost frustrating aspect ofmy career is that there aremany fascinating researchquestions that I would liketo investigate, but time islimited and it is difficult toobtain the funding to

pursue many of the problems.

relax: I enjoy the out of doors and love skiing andsailing when I can find the time. I enjoy music, mainlyclassical, and live theater.

heroes/heroines: Thomas Jefferson and BenjaminFranklin. Both had amazing inquiring minds and werevery creative thinkers and researchers.

advice: Study basic science and math and excel inwhatever you do. Marine science is a composite ofvarious applied sciences. However, in order to do wellin the applied areas found in oceanography, one musthave a solid science and math background.


bottom of the ocean floor where there is no light,life is plentiful. Scientists discovered that thechemistry of the water at these vent sites pro-vides energy for bacteria to grow by chemosyn-thesis, in much the same way sunlight providesenergy for plants to grow by photosynthesis.

MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS As many interesting geological features asthere are on land, nearly as many exist within,under, and at the boundaries of the oceans.Mountains, valleys, volcanoes, islands, plains,canyons — all exist in similar form in the marinerealm. In fact, Earth’s largest continuous moun-tain chain is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, stretching forover 40,000 miles and rising above the surface ofthe water in a few places, such as Iceland. TheMariana Trench, located in the central PacificOcean, is deeper, by about a mile, than thehighest point of Mount Everest. Active deep-seavolcanoes, located along mid-ocean ridges,supply rich mineral deposits and new rockformations on the seafloor. Marine geologistslocate the underwater volcanoes by using sonarand acoustic techniques that bounce soundwaves off rock formations. They also use remotesensing technology to map the ridges andvalleys. It has been written that the ocean bot-toms are the most active places on Earth, from ageological perspective. Conditions at many of these sites make itdifficult for marine geologists to visit and study.Before the technological advances of only a fewdecades ago — piloted submersibles, remotelyoperated vehicles (ROVs), and programmableacoustic instruments attached to ships — ocean-ographers could only speculate about the veryexistence of underwater geological features. Suchadvances have not only proven the existence ofunderwater features, they have made it possibleto develop accurate maps and detailed, 3-Dcomputer models of the seafloor. Geological oceanographers study the forma-tions, composition, and history of the seafloor.They examine sediments, including physicalcharacteristics such as size, shape, color, and

Dawn WrightDawn WrightDawn WrightDawn WrightDawn Wright — geological oceanographer

B.S., geology, Wheaton CollegeM.S., oceanography, Texas A&M Univ.Ph.D., geography and marine geology, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

current job: I’m a professor atOregon State University where I’mresponsible for teaching four orfive courses a year in my special-ties: oceanography, geographicinformation systems (GIS), andgeneral earth science. I alsomaintain a strong researchprogram in seafloor mapping,seafloor tectonics, and GIS; adviseundergraduate students; and helpmaster’s and Ph.D. studentscomplete their theses and disser-tations. In addition, I performvarious kinds of professional anduniversity service (serving onmany committees, reviewingarticles and proposals, etc.)

key factor: Growing up in Hawaiiand watching Jacques Cousteauon Sunday nights! Seriously!

like most: Going to sea on big research ships and

career opportunities: I feel that career opportunities inoceanography are increasing and potentially increas-ingly dramatically. We are currently facing and will faceeven more serious environmental problems in the 21stcentury. We need individuals with strongmultidisciplinary training to attack these problems;research-oriented training in oceanography is an idealbackground for such attacks.

10 years: I plan to be continuing my research andteaching with enthusiasm.

working with the equipment at sea. I’ve also met someextremely interesting and fascinating people from allover the world.

like least: Sometimes it takes forever (i.e., months toyears) to get your ideas funded and then later publishedin a reputable journal. Both processes can be verylaborious and difficult. But it is definitely worth it!

relax: I love cycling, watching cartoons with my dog,and going to movies with friends. I also never turndown an opportunity to ride a roller coaster.

heroes/heroines: I am a big fan of Sylvia Earle, notonly because of her many scientific accomplishmentsbut also because she is so captivating as a speaker andmotivator to the general public. I also greatly admiremy mother, as well as Winona LaDuke, Lani Guinier,Amy Grant, Miguel Indurain (five-time winner of theTour de France), Billy Graham, and Julian Bond. Myfavorite historical figures are W.E.B. DuBois and Chief

Joseph of the Nez Perce.

advice: Once you decide on whatyou would like to do, pursue it withgreat passion! This will tide youover during the difficult times. Finda hero or heroine to inspire you andfollow their work/accomplishments.Don’t shy away from math andcomputer programming! Get somehands-on experience at sea, suchas a short internship or “semesterat sea,” if at all possible. And if youreally want to lead a fulfilling life asan oceanographer, you shoulddefinitely think about going tograduate school.

career opportunities: Unfortu-nately, opportunities seem to bedecreasing at the moment, particu-larly for oceanographers withPh.D.s. The number of scientists

has steadily increased over the last 10 years or so, withnot as many of the older scientists retiring.


weight; chemical characteristics, such as compo-sition and how sediments interact with theenvironment; and other factors, includingsediment age, origin, distribution, and transport.By combining their knowledge of marine chemis-try and physical oceanography, marine geologistshelp piece together information about how theEarth formed and how the movement of platesand continents results in events such as volca-noes and earthquakes. Also, marine geologistswork with biologists and chemical oceanogra-phers to learn more about historical climaterecords and animal and plant life by examiningsediment and rock cores for fossils and analyzingsediment composition using radiocarbon datingand other methods. Some of the major areas of specializationwithin the field of geological oceanography aredescribed below:

Seismology Marine seismologists map the Earth’s interiorstructure by looking at changes in the way soundtravels through the planet’s various layers. Thesesound patterns appear as “waves.” Seismicenergy travels as an elastic wave, meaning that itcan be reflected from the seafloor (“reflection”) orit can penetrate through the seafloor and thelayers within the Earth’s interior and be bent as ittravels (“refraction”). An important tool used bymarine seismologists to “read” patterns of soundwaves is the seismogram. You have probablyseen examples of seismograms, which depictmeasurements of earthquake patterns. Theinstrument that records these measurements iscalled a seismometer. Though it’s hard to imag-ine, there are thousands of microearthquakesbeneath the ocean floor each day! Althoughmarine seismology has told us many things aboutthe Earth’s surface and interior over the lastcouple of decades, more work is needed toanswer important questions such as: What domid-ocean ridges, fracture zones, and continentalmargins look like in 3-D, and how did they form?What is the Earth’s deep interior really like?What are structures in the upper mantle of the

Peter C. GriffithPeter C. GriffithPeter C. GriffithPeter C. GriffithPeter C. Griffith — biological oceanographer

B.S., botany and zoology, Duke Univ.M.S., marine, estuarine, and environmental science, Univ. of MarylandPh.D., ecology, Univ. of Georgia

current job: I work in industry, at acompany called North American Collec-tion & Location by Satellite. We usesatellites to measure and observe thenatural environment and the activities ofhumans all over the world. My job title isgeneral manager. This means I have twotypes of responsibilities. With regards tothe work we do for our customers, I getto talk to scientists and business people about how mycompany can solve the problems that they are facing,using the technology that we already have or that wecan develop. My other responsibilities are to see thatour personnel have the resources they need to get theirjobs done, and that the company operates withinbudget. From my office in Landover, Md., I can tap into avirtual sea of information that includes the currentlocation of a manatee taking a long summer swim fromFlorida to Long Island, the latest catch by fishing fleetsin Peru, the number of volcanic earthquakes in Mexico,and the arrival of a tank container of hazardouschemicals in Chicago. We use our satellites in spaceand our computers on the ground to give our custom-ers the information they need to achieve their scientificor business goals.

key factor: I grew up on a lake in Florida. If I wasn’t

10 years: I expect to be doing pretty much the samekind of work, although I don’t expect to be going to seaanymore. My interests are moving more toward dataprocessing, visualization, and archiving, particularlywith regard to the world wide web.

snorkeling or looking for frogs, gallinules, and alliga-tors, I was probably inside reading the latest issue ofPopular Science from cover to cover. I learned toscuba dive during high school and loved the feeling offreedom as I floated among the creatures of the reefs.When I got to college, I was astonished to discover thatI could actually study marine biology and biologicaloceanography. Spending eight months as an under-graduate student at the Duke University MarineLaboratory, surrounded by the marshes and islands ofcoastal North Carolina, convinced me to make this my

life’s work.

like most: Iparticularlyenjoyhashing outa problemwithsomeone,learningfrom themwhat theyconsiderimportant,and

devising a solution that is both technologically effectiveand economically feasible.

like least: It sometimes takes years to take a good ideaand turn it into a fully realized, marketable product orservice.

relax: I play with my kids, play jazz piano, read, swim,fish, or ride my bike. I’ve given up flying ultralightairplanes and I only occasionally get to scuba dive, butI do still teach race car driving.

heroes/heroines: I admire most those men andwomen, famous and unknown, who devote their bestefforts to love and work.

advice: Learn as much as you can about how we thinkthe universe works. This means studying math,physics, chemistry, computers, and biology. Learn atleast one foreign language and learn how to write


Earth like, and what is their role in plate interac-tions?

Ocean Drilling The international Ocean Drilling Program(ODP), successor to the Deep Sea Drilling Project(DSDP) begun in 1968, is a partnership of scien-tists and governments created to explore theEarth’s origin and evolution beneath the seafloor.Aboard the drill ship JOIDES Resolution,researchers from around the world gathersamples of sediment and rock from below theocean floor. (The “JOIDES” part of the ship’sname stands for Joint Oceanographic Institutionsfor Deep Earth Sampling.) Important discoveries made by the ODPinclude a new understanding of the causes andhistory of ice ages, the evolution of the continen-tal margins, Earth’s tectonic processes, marinesedimentation, and the origin and evolution ofoceanic crust. Investigators involved in the ODPmay specialize in sedimentology (the study ofmatter that settles to the bottom of the sea),paleontology (the study of fossil plants andanimals and of the rock formations in whichthese fossils are found), petrology (the study ofthe origin, occurrence, structure, and compositionof rocks), geochemistry, geophysics, andpaleomagnetics. As one might expect, these discoveries haveled to new research questions. Drilling andsampling ocean sediment and crust will remainimportant to the field of oceanography. ODPofficials predict that the program will assist andbecome more integrated with other earth scienceprograms, such as the international program ofmid-ocean Ridge InterDisciplinary GlobalExperiments (RIDGE), the Ocean Seismic Net-work, and the work of hydrologists andgeochemists worldwide. In years to come, oceandrilling will tell us even more about earthquakes,global change, sea-level rise, climate, and oceanhistory.

Ocean Mining, Oil and Gas Exploration Ocean manganese nodules — small, dark, and

Kay T. HoKay T. HoKay T. HoKay T. HoKay T. Ho — chemical oceanographer

B.S., environmental toxicology, Univ. of California, DavisM.S., environmental toxicology, Cornell Univ.Ph.D., chemical oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island

current job: I work as an environmentalresearch scientist at the EnvironmentalProtection Agency laboratory inNarragansett, R.I. I develop methodsfor identifying toxic compounds inmarine sediments. In sediments thereare thousands of compounds, butusually only a few of them are toxic.Once we identify the compoundscausing toxicity, we can then use thatinformation to determine the source ofthe toxicants, prevent further pollution,and remediate the toxic sediments. Ialso work on methods to measure theecological effects of toxicants.

understandably, expressively, and persuasively. Askquestions all the time. Challenge assumptions. Remem-ber, science is an exploration of a universe that isstranger than we can imagine.

career opportunities: Opportunities are always therefor the bright, strongly motivated individual. It may takeyou another 10 years to school yourself to enter thescientific or technological workforce, and no one canpredict what conditions will be at that time. Don’texpect to find an easy, guaranteed career path. So, beflexible and innovative and do what you love to do.

10 years: In another 10 years I expect to be managinga team of engineers and business people who areworking to devise solutions to environmental problems.

key factor: Finding an undergraduate program inenvironmental toxicology. It showed me there was away to combine my scientific knowledge with myinterests in the environment.

like most: I like to think that what I do might make adifference in environmental regulation in this country.

like least: Bureaucracy, red tape, and how long it takesanything to happen in the government.

relax: I run, bodysurf, windsurf, garden, cook, knit,listen to music, and have big, late dinners with fero-cious political arguments.

heroes/heroines: Rosa Parks for refusing to give upher seat on the bus. Georgia O’Keefe for painting sobeautifully. Joni Mitchell for her voice and her lyrics.

advice: If you want to stay in the sciences and youwant to have any control over the work you’ll be

performing, think aboutgoing all the way to aPh.D.

career opportunities: Ibelieve there will beopportunities in environ-mental sciences. Unfortu-nately, we (as a society),have a long way to gobefore we have a cleanand healthy environment.

10 years: I think the bigshift in the future will beto link our knowledge ofwhat happens in the laband at the organism levelto what happens in thefield. I think there will alsobe major changes in theway we relate information(Internet, etc.).


round-shaped nodules that contain manganese,nickel, copper, cobalt, and other minerals — arefound along the floor of the Atlantic and Pacificoceans. The nodules were first discovered on thefamous oceanographic Challenger expedition ofthe 1870s. Steel production requires millions oftons of manganese annually. Though oceanmining for manganese nodules has generated agreat deal of interest, several factors have servedas obstacles, including the difficult ocean terrain,the high cost, and political and internationaldifficulties relating to its legality. Similar problems associated with oil and gasexploration have caused international andnational debate. While no one knows the exactextent of the oil and gas deposits in the ocean,oceanographers have made important discover-ies about these potential reserves. The cost ofexploring these sites is high. And, even if oil orgas reserves are found, recovering the resourcesis not always pursued due to the high cost ofdeveloping the site or other reasons. Partnershipsbetween scientists and industry are important inthe area of oil and gas exploration; oil companiesconstantly seek new reserves, while sciencemakes it possible for companies to locate, ana-lyze, and reach the resource. Current productiontakes place in the oceanic areas of continentalmargins, such as the Gulf of Mexico and theNorth Sea.

Coastal Geology An increasingly important area of marinegeology is coastal geology. Throughout history,the human population has shown a tendency tosettle along the world’s 273,000 miles of coastline.The effects of humans inhabiting our shores andcoastlines have become increasingly apparent.Coastal pollution and waste disposal are creatingproblems and costing government and industrybillions of dollars in research and remediationefforts. Although the percentage of people livingon the coast is expected to remain fairly constantover the next few decades, total numbers areexpected to increase as population continues toincrease.

Anders W. AndrenAnders W. AndrenAnders W. AndrenAnders W. AndrenAnders W. Andren — aquatic chemist

B.S., chemistry, Upsala CollegeM.S. and Ph.D., chemical oceanography, Florida State Univ.

current job: I am professor of waterchemistry in the Department of Civil andEnvironmental Engineering at the Universityof Wisconsin-Madison, where I teach and doresearch on aquatic chemistry. I am alsodirector of the University of Wisconsin SeaGrant Institute. The Institute is involved inresearch, outreach, and educationalactivities related to our nation’s Great Lakesand oceans.

key factor: An early interest in sciencecombined with a fascination with the aquaticenvironment.

like most: Having the opportunity to work with theworld’s best scientists to better understand our oceansand Great Lakes. Having a chance to influence how ourresources, both intellectual and financial, are used toprovide guidance to the wise use of ocean and GreatLakes resources.

like least: That I don’t spend more time out in the fielddoing research with my graduate students.

relax: Spend time with my family, play music (guitarand piano), cook gourmet foods, play sports (golf andtennis).

heroes/heroines: My mom and my dad.

advice: Science is a great and rewarding career. Get agood undergraduate degree in a basic science, such asmath, physics, chemistry, biology, or geology. Whenyou’re in college, try to get a part-time job during theschool year or summer in the laboratory of a professorwho is in the field.

career opportunities: Atthe moment, we areseeing a slight decline innumbers of job openings.However, I believe this tobe temporary as we moveinto the 21st century. Thesupply and demand willalways be cyclical, justlike in other science andengineering fields.

10 years: Teaching,research, and administra-tion. I cannot think of abetter situation wherethese opportunities exist.

Rick MohammedRick MohammedRick MohammedRick MohammedRick Mohammed — physical oceanographer

B.S., mathematics, Univ. of South CarolinaM.S., meteorology and oceanography, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey (candidate)

current job: My job as a Navy meteorology and ocean-ography (METOC) officer is to provide safe and accurateweather routing and forecasts for ships at sea. Addition-ally, METOC officers provide oceanographic data suchas fronts, eddies, temperature vs. depth profiles, anda myriad of other services to ships and commandsrequesting them.

key factor: My interest in the ocean. I initially joined theNavy so that I could take advantage of the GI Bill andget money for college. I ended up going to college andgetting my bachelor’s degree while on active duty.

like most: The travel. The Navy allows one to visit manyplaces. Also, I get to work with front-running technol-ogy and keep up to date on the latest advancements.


Carol J. ZimmermanCarol J. ZimmermanCarol J. ZimmermanCarol J. ZimmermanCarol J. Zimmerman — marine geophysicist

B.S., physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteM.S. and Ph.D., oceanography and limnology, Univ. of Wisconsin

current job: I am a geophysical associatewith Exxon Exploration Company inHouston, Texas. I do special data process-ing, modeling, and interpretation tosupport the oil exploration effort offshoreof West Africa.

key factor: As an undergraduate, I studieda good, basic science — physics. Ienjoyed learning the fundamentalprinciples that make our world tick. Later,

I decided toapply thoseprinciples tothe oceanenviron-ment. Ibecameinterested inexploring formineraldepositsunder thesea, then alargelyunexploitedresource.

like most:After enjoying many years of travel, I have settled downto family life in Houston. Now, I enjoy my work themost when I have played a key part in drilling asuccessful well. There always is much excitement whena well is going down, and there is usually a big celebra-tion when a discovery is made. I also enjoy attendingprofessional society meetings and learning about thenew technology in my field.

In addition to human effects on our shores,natural coastal processes such as rising sea level,erosion, and sediment transport, and storm-related events such as flooding, severe erosion,and storm overwash make our coastal areasdynamic environments. Often, humans react byattempting to protect structures situated alongthe coast, including homes, businesses, androads, even when these structures are located onland forms, such as barrier beaches, that are“temporary” in a geologic sense of time. Toprotect these structures, coastal engineers havedeveloped and constructed seawalls, jetties,groins, and bridges. More recently, natural or“soft solutions” such as constructed wetlandsand salt marshes have been developed to slowthe effects of coastal processes. Coastal geologistsand coastal engineers, working with oceanogra-phers from each of the disciplines, will be instru-mental in forming policy and managementoptions to minimize the conflicts between coastaldevelopment and natural processes.

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY Most oceanographers try to think of theworld’s oceans as one giant system, collectivelyknown as the global ocean. But before spacetravel and the invention of satellites, it was veryhard to actually observe the oceans on such alarge scale. Pictures of the global ocean fromspace have given oceanographers importantinformation about ocean currents, temperatures,and other properties. Satellites collect informa-tion around the clock and feed it back to earth —and individual laboratories and classrooms — inreal time. This innovation has revolutionizedoceanography and given researchers importantinformation about weather and climate, circula-tion, and environmental problems, such as globalwarming, global circulation, the world’s fisheriesdecline, and harmful algal blooms. Perhaps more than any other group of ocean-ographers, physical oceanographers have ben-efited from satellite technology. Because theystudy the movement of the oceans and the forcesthat cause motion, such as winds, waves, and

like least: I’ll never know everything there is to knowabout my field. There isn’t a finite end to the knowledgethat can be gained about the ocean and atmosphere.

relax: I enjoy music, movies, reading, scuba diving,and art.

heroes/heroines:Gen. ColinPowell.He’s a manwhostartedfromhumblebeginningsandbecame agreat leaderand aninspirationto ourcountry.

advice: Take a lot of math courses.Mathematics will prove to be one of themost valuable tools required for anyscience. It is never too late to start takingmath courses no matter what your levelis. Even if you’re a senior in high schoolgetting ready to graduate, the first courseyou should sign up for is a math course.

career opportunities: As a naval ocean-ographer, the opportunities for a careermove up and down with the emphasis that is put on themilitary at the time. I believe that naval oceanographywill always have a future. There are too many lives thatare dependent on the job and service that we providefor us to go away.

10 years: I expect to still be supporting the US Navyand other navies throughout the world by providing themost accurate data available and thus assisting them tomake safe tactical decisions.


tides, they must look at the ocean from a “bigpicture” perspective. Shipboard measurementsand the development of instruments such ascomputer programmable buoys that can be left atsea for long periods of time were huge advancesfor the field of physical oceanography andcontinue to be important tools, but satellites offerperspectives that early oceanographers maynever have dreamed of. Imagine the discoveriesBenjamin Franklin, the first person to plot thecourse of the Gulf Stream, could have made ifhe’d had access to satellite data! Physical oceanographers study the interactionbetween the ocean and its boundaries — land,seafloor, and atmosphere — and the relationshipbetween the sea, weather, and climate. Questionsabout how the oceans work in a physical senseinclude investigations into water qualities suchas temperature, salinity, density, and influentialfactors such as wind speed, air temperature,tides, and interaction with nearby land andunderwater formations. Physical oceanographers seek to understandwhy, where, and how water moves, on all spaceand time scales. They are interested, too, in theconsequences of these movements. Some physicaloceanographers are theoreticians and use com-puter models to answer questions and formhypotheses about oceanographic processes.Others use observations and, increasingly,satellite observations. Understanding the globalocean requires a close partnership betweentheory, observations, and experiments. Often, physical oceanographers work withtheir biological, chemical, and geological col-leagues. Understanding the way the oceanworks, physically, supplies oceanographers in thebiological, geological, chemical, or engineeringdisciplines with important details they need toanswer questions. The physical properties of theocean are intimately linked to the biology andchemistry of the ocean, and vice-versa. For example, physical oceanographers arecurrently working with biological oceanogra-phers and ocean engineers in a multi-institution,multi-agency research initiative known as

Frank R. HallFrank R. HallFrank R. HallFrank R. HallFrank R. Hall — geological oceanographer

B.A., earth science, Kean Univ.M.S., geology, Lehigh Univ.Ph.D., oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island

current job: I am an assistant professor in the Depart-ment of Geology and Geophysics at the University ofNew Orleans in Louisiana. My title is “geoscienceeducator.” In this role, I work with pre-service and in-

like least: Sometimes I am not able to do the job aswell as I would like before the deadline hits. There canbe a lot of stress because of changing priorities. On theother hand, it can be exciting not knowing what willhappen next.

relax: I do aerobic dance exercises and soothe myaching muscles afterwards in a hot tub. Keeping fithelps me stay sharp mentally and also alleviates thestress of juggling a career and family life.

heroes/heroines: Oil and gas exploration is a riskybusiness. I meet people every day who could beheroes/heroines. These are people who are not afraid totake calculated risks.

advice: You will need at least a master’sdegree in geology or geophysics. Go for it.Learn all you can and stay focused onyour goals. Don’t give up. Persistenceoften wins out over innate talent.

career opportunities: Increasing, defi-nitely. There is a serious shortage oftrained people in the field.

10 years: Although I will be eligible forretirement from Exxon by then, I may notwant to retire when the time comes. I maystay within Exxon as a geophysicaladvisor, or I may choose to be a consultant for thelarger geophysical community.

service teachers who are interested in teaching science,especially earth science. This is a position that I findpersonally satisfying as I feel that I am making adifference in the education of future generations ofscientists. I am also active in research. My research involvesthe examination of particles that fall to the seafloorthrough the ocean. Mainly, I focus my research in theCanadian Arctic, an area influenced by both the oceansas well as by icebergs that originate on land.

key factor: I find my present work as an educator to bevery challenging. I come from a family of teachers. Myfather was a college professor and my mother was a

junior highschoolteacher. Iwas raisedwith theidea thateducationis veryimportant.Whengiven theopportu-nity tomake adifferencein prepar-

ing teachers, it was a challenge that I could not turndown.

like most: I like the opportunity oceanography hasgiven me to meet and work with scientists from manyparts of the world. I especially like having the opportu-nity to visit them in their homes and learn about theirculture and customs.

like least: Scientific research requires money. To be anactive participant, one must be able to raise funds. Thatis often very difficult. Part of the process of raisingfunds requires the review of your proposals by anony-mous colleagues. They can at times be unkind, makingthis part of being a scientist frustrating.



ECOHAB (short for ecology of harmful algalblooms). The Gulf of Maine portion of theECOHAB project is seeking to determine thesource and distribution of Alexandrium cells(Alexandrium is the organism that causes paralyticshellfish poisoning, PSP, and is considered one ofseveral harmful algal blooms, once referred to as“red tide.”), and the role of ocean currents andplumes in transporting the cells to nearshoreareas where they “bloom” and become toxic,poisoning shellfish. The role of physical oceanog-raphers is to assist with oceanographic andsatellite measurements, computer modeling, andinstrument design, deployment, and recovery.The collaboration continues, with the ultimategoal of, one day, being able to predict toxic bloomevents.

CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY The ocean has been referred to as a “chemicalsoup” because it contains many chemical com-pounds, elements, gases, minerals, and organicand particulate matter. While water is the mostplentiful ingredient, salts are among the mostimportant. Amazingly, despite the major changesthat have taken place on Earth throughouthistory — continental collisions, land formations,glaciation — the basic composition of seawaterhas remained relatively constant for millions ofyears. Chemical oceanographers, also called marinechemists, marine geochemists, or even marinebiogeochemists, may study one or a combinationof the following: formation of seawater andseafloor sediments, relationships betweenchemical compounds (both organic and inor-ganic), how chemical inputs to the ocean (includ-ing pollution) affect it, and how the chemistry ofthe ocean affects or is affected by biological,geological, and physical factors. As with theother disciplines of oceanography, chemicaloceanographers rely on and interact with re-searchers from the other disciplines. One important aspect of chemical oceanogra-phy is the study of pollutants. This work maylead chemical oceanographers to the deep ocean,

coastal bays and estuaries, or inland rivers,streams, and lakes. Sources of pollutants rangefrom the obvious (sewage, oil or fuels, oceandumping) to sources that are harder to detect ortrace (agricultural or lawn runoff containingchemical fertilizers, leaking septic systems, roadrunoff, or storm drain overflows). Chemicaloceanographers study the impact of such pollut-ants by examining how they interact withseawater, marine life, and sediments. Chemicalsand pollutants introduced to a marine environ-ment may behave very differently depending onenvironmental conditions such as salinity, wind,rainfall, temperature, and transport methods.Transport methods include land-based (forexample, surface runoff or groundwater), water-based (rivers and streams), and atmosphere-based (rain and dust). The study of carbon and its role in globalclimate change has captured the attention ofchemical oceanographers for decades. Since theindustrialization of the 18th century, researchersestimate that the amount of carbon dioxide in theatmosphere has increased by 25 percent. Al-though the scientific debate continues overwhether the increase in atmospheric carbondioxide has caused global warming or vice versa,it is generally accepted that modern society hasadded to the amount of carbon dioxide in theatmosphere. What does all this mean? Since carbon dioxideabsorbs infrared radiation (heat), an increase incarbon dioxide in the atmosphere would keep theheat from escaping into space. This would causethe Earth to warm up just as a greenhouse holdsheat, thus the popular term “greenhouse effect.”Chemical oceanographers are working to under-stand the ocean’s role in this and other theoriesrelated to global climate change. Modern society’s rapid technological ad-vances, including the development of complexchemical compounds and processes used toproduce and manufacture energy, food, clothing,medicine, and other products, have created aneed for chemical oceanographers. In the questfor bigger, stronger, faster, more, the costs of

“improvements” often get overlooked. Forexample, the disposal of waste that results fromproducts and by-products can be a problem initself. Who would have thought that householdcleaning products, fertilizers, pesticides, boatpaints, and leaded fuel — all products that savedtime, worked better, and often cost less — couldhave contributed to the degradation of manymarine and coastal areas? Fortunately, research-ers in many oceanographic disciplines andrelated areas, including marine chemists, haveworked together to improve our understandingof such impacts, which has, in turn, led toimproved controls, regulations, testing methods,and ultimately, safer products. The work of chemical oceanographers willcontinue to provide answers to importantquestions. For example, the use of the oceans forwaste disposal and as a source for drugs andminerals will require cooperative researchbetween ocean chemists, biologists, and geolo-gists. It is the work of marine chemists that aidsocean engineers in the development of instru-ments, vessels, and ocean vehicles that, in turn,improve the ability of researchers of all oceano-graphic disciplines to go to sea, collect data, anddiscover previously unknown formations, marinelife, and phenomena. As the population discovers new ways to usethe oceans — be it for food, transportation,energy, or waste disposal — chemical oceanogra-phers will play an important role in improvingour knowledge about the impact of these activi-ties on the ocean and its ability to sustain them.•


The field of ocean engineering provides animportant link between the other oceanographicdisciplines such as marine biology, chemical andphysical oceanography, and marine geology andgeophysics. Just as the interests of oceanogra-phers have driven the demand for the designskills and technical expertise of ocean engineers,the innovations in instrumentation and equip-ment design made by ocean engineers haverevolutionized the field of oceanography. This isespecially true within the last three decades. The invention of thousands of oceanographicinstruments and devices has changed the wayoceanographers study the oceans and coasts.Examples include: computer- and satellite-linkedbuoys and floats, sediment traps, ocean seismom-eters (instruments that measure seafloor move-ment in a manner similar to the way seismo-graphs measure earthquake activity on land),underwater video equipment, acoustic measur-ing devices (instruments that make it possible to“sense” underwater objects and seafloor forma-tions), and underwater vehicles, includingsubmersibles and remotely operated vehicles(ROVs). Information that once took years tocompile, and that frequently involved samplingin harsh weather conditions, can now be accom-plished in minutes, often from remote locations,including ships and laboratories. The innovationsof ocean engineers have enabled oceanographersto travel farther offshore and deeper into the sea,and to stay there for longer periods of time.Because of ocean engineers, major oceanographicdiscoveries — including hydrothermal vents,ocean volcanoes, thousands of miles of underwa-ter mountain chains, “new” species, and biologi-cal, chemical, geographical, and physical pro-cesses and phenomena — have been made. Ocean engineering is actually a combination ofseveral types of engineering: a mix of mechanical,electrical, civil, acoustical, and chemical engineer-ing techniques and skills, coupled with a basicunderstanding of how the oceans work. Theimportance of working in partnerships withoceanographers from other disciplines is critical,as the challenge of working in the ocean environ-

Ocean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean EngineeringOcean EngineeringLangley R. GaceLangley R. GaceLangley R. GaceLangley R. GaceLangley R. Gace — ocean engineer

B.S., physics, Bates CollegeM.S., ocean engineering, Univ. of New Hampshire

current job: I am an ocean engineer at Ocean SparTechnologies on Bainbridge Island, Wash. Our com-pany develops and sells high performance offshoreaquaculture cages to customers world-wide. Most of my time is spent develop-ing computer models of cages andlearning how they will behave in theoffshore environment. I also spend someof my time out at sea inspecting ourproducts after they have been installedand visiting potential sites for raising fishwith customers.

key factor: The ocean has alwaysfascinated me. Ocean engineeringseemed like the perfect way to combinemy love of the sea and my physicsdegree from college. Also, my greatuncle Athelston Spilhaus, who helpedstart Sea Grant, was an ocean engineer.While growing up I would hear about the marvelousprojects he was working on, so it seemed quite naturalfor me to head in this direction.

like most: The fact that we are producing a product thatultimately provides food to the masses and doing it inan environmentally conscientious fashion.

like least: The industry’s lack of vision sometimesfrustrates me. Fish farmers are very wary when itcomes to trying new ideas.

relax: I love to go sailing. I also enjoy golf and workingaround the house and garden with my wife.

heroes/heroines: I have two heroes. One I have men-tioned: Dr. Athelston Spilhaus. His creativity was simplyamazing. My other hero is anyone who goes out andmakes the very best of each day despite circumstances.

advice: Don’t go directly into ocean engineering. Get amechanical or civil engineering degree first. It is there

that youlearn thebasics.Though Iwas aphysicsmajor, I tookthe basicengineeringcoursesbefore Iwent to gradschool andthat madeall thedifference.

career opportunities: The job potential in aquacultureis strong for engineers. As the demand for offshorerather than nearshore cages has increased, so has theneed for talented engineers to build structures that willsurvive out there.

10 years: I would still like to be involved in offshoreaquaculture in some capacity. I hope that the industrywill have matured some by then so that there will bedifferent challenges.


ment requires a range of backgrounds and skills. The expertise of ocean engineers is invaluableto oceanographers interested in measuring orstudying various aspects of the ocean. Forexample, programmable buoys that can remain atsea for long periods of time have helped physicaloceanographers study currents and weather inmany locations at once. In addition, the datagathered by these buoys can be relayed back to alaboratory located on a ship or on land, givingthe researcher “real-time” data. This is especiallyimportant for marine meteorologists. Not only do ocean engineers design and buildinstruments that must stand up to the wear andtear of frequent use, they must design instru-ments that will survive the harsh conditions ofthe ocean environment. Salt water is highlycorrosive to many materials, and high winds,waves, currents, severe storms, and marine lifefouling (such as barnacles) must also be factoredinto design plans. It has even been said that themarine environment is more hostile than outerspace! In addition to ocean engineers, techniciansplay a key role in maintaining and preparing theequipment. It is the responsibility of techniciansto make sure that instruments are functioningproperly, that they are recording the measure-ments they were designed to, and, in some cases,that the information being recorded is beingrelayed back to satellites or computers that maybe hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Coastal engineering has become an increas-ingly important part of ocean engineering. Withmore and more people living or working at ornear the world’s coasts, problems associated withcoastal development, such as pollution and wastedisposal, will require the expertise and innova-tion of coastal engineers. For example, increasingthe capacity of a coastal community to handle thesewage and garbage generated by a growingpopulation requires careful attention to the effectdisposal methods will have on the adjacent waterbodies. What may work for an oceanside commu-nity may not work for a lakefront or riverfrontcommunity. Also, waves, rising sea level, and

Carmen G. BordaCarmen G. BordaCarmen G. BordaCarmen G. BordaCarmen G. Borda — naval architect

B.S., civil engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ.

current job: I am a naval architectworking at the Naval Surface WarfareCenter Carderock Division in Bethesda,Md. This is a Navy research and develop-ment facility with large towing basins,water tunnels, and wood and metalshops. My job entails planning, organiz-ing, implementing, and supervisingfundamental and applied researchprojects. The projects with which I amassociated include the model scaleevaluation of designs of ships, subma-rines, and other craft as well as theassociated propulsion systems.

key factor: While in high school, I didexceptionally well in the higher level math and scienceclasses. My father, an engineer, talked me into pursuingan engineering degree in college. This was verydifficult, but I also found it challenging and exciting.

like most: I like the challenge of devising an experi-mental or analytical method of evaluation. It requirescreativity. I am continuously thinking and learningbecause of the diversity of projects.

like least: I do not like meetings.

relax: I have two school-aged children engaged in avariety of activities, so I don’t do a lot of relaxing.However, I always make time to exercise and read. Weenjoy vacations at the beach, swimming, biking,picnics, camping, hiking, and ethnic foods.

heroes/heroines: My heroes are my parents, becausethey provided me with a sense of self importance,dignity, moral and spiritual values, and direction. Theytaught me that through hard work I could achievewhatever I desired.

advice: Read in your spare time. Take as many mathand science classes as you can. Never be afraid to ask aquestion. Strive to do your best, because the harderyou work the more choices you will have. A goodeducation is the key to a world of opportunities.

careeropportuni-ties: We willalways needintelligent,well-educatedindividualswithtechnicalcollegedegrees.

10 years: In10 years Iwill be two

years away from retirement. Then I expect to spend alot more time relaxing with my family. I will spend mytime reading, traveling, swimming, biking, and exercis-ing. I hope to buy a house close to the beach.

William Childress GreenWilliam Childress GreenWilliam Childress GreenWilliam Childress GreenWilliam Childress Green — environmental analyst

A.A.S., marine biology and oceanography, Southern Maine Tech. CollegeB.A., biology, Univ. of South FloridaM.S., environmental studies, Yale Univ.

current job: I serve as environmental analyst forGuilford, Conn. With that title comes a myriad ofresponsibilities. My primary job is to administer the town’s WaterPollution Control Program. I gather and analyze surfaceand groundwater samples for certain contaminants,track pollution sources, and assure that they areabated. As part of Guilford’s Pollution Control Program,


storms have a significant impact on coastlines,often causing erosion and loss of coastal property.In efforts to protect coastal structures, coastalengineers are tasked with designing and creatingways to lessen the impact of storms and othernatural shoreline processes. The oil industry, military, and marine naviga-tion fields also require ocean engineering skills.Each of these sectors directly impacts our lifestylein some way, be it a source of energy, transporta-tion, or our nation’s defense. The work of oceanengineers plays an important role in each of theseemployment sectors. Because technology iscentral to the field of ocean engineering, futurecareer prospects seem promising. And, as the roleof the ocean continues to gain the interest ofbusiness, government, and the private sector, thedemand for ocean engineers should grow. Experts in the education and engineeringfields regard ocean engineering as a very sys-tems-oriented field because of its interdiscipli-nary nature. Without the expertise of oceanengineers, oceanography would be many yearsbehind in terms of what we know about theocean system and its impacts on our daily lives.

it is my responsibility to monitor coastal water qualitytrends. I conduct annual surveys of commercial/industrial and residential properties to assure compli-ance with state and local health and water pollutionregulations. In my capacity as an environmental official, I oftenact as an advisor to our local Inland Wetland Commis-sion. When requested by the Commission, I respond tomatters that entail a review and comments on wetlandassessments/statements, proposals, etc. presented tothe Commission by land developers. In addition, I assist the town’s departments andcommissions with technical aspects of applicationswhen they apply for permits from local, state, andfederal agencies.

key factor: As a midwestern high school senior, mycareer inclination was to be a wildlife biologist. How-ever, my interest quickly changed when I visited NewEngland for the first time. The marine environment wasmysterious and so different from myfamiliar freshwater surroundings that ittriggered within me an interest I had topursue.

like most: I truly enjoy being directlyinvolved with, and responsible for,changes that make a positive differencein our natural environment.

like least: What I have the mostdifficulty with is the frustration of notbeing able to do all that should be done.There aren’t enough hours in a day.

relax: Fishing, shellfishing, playingbilliards, and gardening.

heroes/heroines: I have numerous personal heroes/heroines. The first would have to be my father, whotaught me to appreciate nature. Several professors of mine I would also considerheroes, particularly Bob Goode, Southern Maine; LarryBrown, South Florida; and Tom Siccama and KarlTurekian, Yale. Their knowledge and accomplishmentsare inspiring to me. Their dedication to students and to

their own work has made an impression on me. Last and by no means least, two more greatinfluences on my life’s work are Eugenie Clark andRachel Carson.

advice: Get involved now! Sign up for, attend, andparticipate in seminars related to your interest. Useresources such as local, state, and national organiza-tions; private companies; the Internet; and any otheravenues available to become informed, connected, andexcited about what is going on in your potential field.Have fun, keep an open mind, meet people who areinvolved in your area of interest and pick their brains.

career opportunities: Career opportunities are increas-ing. Development pressures/encroachments onsensitive coastal and upland areas, habitat loss, andpoint and non-point sources of pollution are adverselyaffecting environmental quality almost everywhere. Ibelieve the demand for environmental scientists will

increase asthe com-plexity ofour environ-mentalproblemsincrease.

10 years: Iwill besemiretired,however Ianticipatebeing anactivevolunteer inmy commu-nity, working

with environmental groups and helping students, muchthe same as I do now.

•


Joanne McCaffreyJoanne McCaffreyJoanne McCaffreyJoanne McCaffreyJoanne McCaffrey — ocean engineer

B.S., ocean engineering, US Coast Guard AcademyM.S., ocean engineering, Univ. of Rhode Island

current job: I’m the facilities engineer forthe Coast Guard Integrated SupportCommand in Portsmouth, Va. I have astaff of 44 military and civilian carpen-ters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers,environmental specialists, and groundsmaintenance personnel responsible forthe care and upkeep of the 187-acre/19-building facility and its extensive water-front. My job is to supervise the facilitiesengineering staff, ensure they have thetools and guidance they need to succeed,and prioritize their work.

key factor: Although I did not doexceptionally well in math in high school,I began to excel in it when I went tocollege at the US Coast Guard Academy. Iliked the idea of applying math to solvepractical problems, so I looked into theengineering majors offered at theAcademy. Ocean engineering soundedvery interesting and I thought it would pose a realchallenge. Pursuing a degree in engineering was toughbut I’m glad I did it.

like most: Being a Coast Guard officer is fascinatingand very challenging. I am assigned to a new job in anew place every three to four years! My family and Ihave lived in four different states and I have had a wideand varied array of assignments.

like least: Working with people who would rathercomplain than look for the good in a project or assign-ment.

relax: I have three busy children so I don’t do a lot ofrelaxing! My husband and I are active in ourcommunity’s youth sports programs and really love

coaching and watching our children play sports andgrow.

heroes/heroines: My parents are my heroes. Theyalways had time for me and my three siblings. My momtold me I could do or be anything I wanted. She was the

one who told me theservice academies wouldbe accepting women forthe first time in 1976 andencouraged me to applyto be in the first class ofwomen.

advice: Always work hardat all that you do. Whenyou get good grades inhigh school, you decidewhere to go to college. Ifyou get mediocre grades,you have to go to theschool that accepts you.The harder you work, the

morechoices youhave.

careeropportuni-ties: TheCoast Guardhas plentyof openingsfor qualified people. You can become an officer afterattending college or you can apply to the Academy. TheAcademy is difficult to get into, but well worth theeffort. The opportunities for women in the military arefantastic.

10 years: I will probably be retired from the Coast

Hanumant SinghHanumant SinghHanumant SinghHanumant SinghHanumant Singh — ocean engineer

B.S., computer science/electronics and computer engineering, George Mason Univ.Ph.D., oceanographic engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program

current job: I am an assistant scientist at the WoodsHole Oceanographic Institution. I work in the DeepSubmergence Laboratory, which was founded byRobert Ballard, the scientist best known for finding theTitanic. I work with underwater robots — specificallyusing underwater robots to do imaging. I often go outto sea with my robots to map out ancient shipwrecks,

hydrothermal vent structures, and otheroceanographic phenomena of interest.

key factor: The amount of fun I can havewhile making a difference to the quality oflife for everyone on this planet. I go tosea with my robots and use them to dowork that makes a difference in ourunderstanding of the oceans andultimately our planet. It’s extremelysatisfying.

like most: I have the freedom to doexactly what I want. Nobody can tell mewhat to do. I choose to work on mattersthat I deem interesting. I also think

teaching and working with students is immenselysatisfying and fun.

like least: The freedom I have is based on my ability toconvince funding organizations that what I am doing isrelevant and important to society. This job is not easyand I have to write a lot of proposals so that I can keep

Guard (you can retire after 20 years of service). I’llpursue a second career in engineering or teaching. I’mhoping to travel and spend more time “smelling theroses.”


Joseph H. Comer IIIJoseph H. Comer IIIJoseph H. Comer IIIJoseph H. Comer IIIJoseph H. Comer III — marine architect

B.S.E., naval architecture and marine engineering, Univ. of Michigan

current job: I am Vice President of Production Engi-neering at the Halter Marine Group Inc. in Gulfport,Miss. I am responsible for departmental managementof the development of designs for various marinevehicles. Our group enters the design spiral at any point

Heidi Nepf Heidi Nepf Heidi Nepf Heidi Nepf Heidi Nepf — environmental engineer

B.S., mechanical engineering, Bucknell Univ.M.S. and Ph.D., civil and environmental engineering, Stanford Univ.

current job: As a professor of environmental engineer-ing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Iconduct research and teach courses in environmentalhydrodynamics (the study of water motion). My oceanwork mostly deals with flow through and aroundaquatic vegetation like salt marsh grasses and eelgrass.I examine how the plants impact water motion. I workin collaboration with an eelgrass biologist who studieshow the water motion affects the plants.

key factor: Because I enjoyed science and mathemat-ics, my father and grandfather encouraged me topursue an engineering degree. During my sophomoreyear I took a course in fluid mechanics where we did alot of experiments. The professor was very enthusias-tic, and I really loved working in the laboratory — using

my hands and brain together.

like most: I love designing experimentsto answer scientific questions because Ilike solving puzzles. Creating a goodexperiment takes a lot of creativity. Iespecially enjoy using dyes or fluores-cent particles to help me see how thewater is moving.

like least: I hate meetings. Some of mycolleagues can be long-winded.

relax: I enjoy mountain biking andhiking, going to the movies, and takinglong walks. I also like mystery novels.

heroes/heroines: I admire strong women who leadelegant and interesting lives without reservation orhesitation, including Eleanor Roosevelt, KatharineHepburn, Marie Curie, and Isak Dinesen.

my own research (and that of my engineers andstudents) funded.

relax: I windsurf, I write, and I run. Windsurfing is agood way of understanding the interactions at thewater-sea interface. I write fiction as well as articlesabout my expeditions and research. I run to keep fit andbecause it helps me focus my thoughts. I ran theBoston Marathon in 1994 and one of these years planon completing a marathon in under three hours.

heroes/heroines: Leonardo da Vinci for the breadth ofhis genius and Mahatma Gandhi for showing the worldthe path of non-violence.

advice: Study hard with an emphasis on the fundamen-tals associated with the physical and mathematicalsciences.

career opportunities: They have remained roughlyconstant over the last five years. With 70 percent of theplanet covered with water and with our growingunderstanding of the role of the oceans in governingclimate, our field will definitely maintain its importance.

10 years: Having even more fun! I hope that mystudents will be distinguished scientists, engineers, andprofessors all working together in related fields. Ourwork will provide a crucial insight into importantquestions such as those to do with global warming aswell as insight into engineering questions on autono-mous behavior and systems.

from contract design to the preparation of detailedproduction drawings. We utilize many aspects of CAD/CAM technology to produce these designs.

key factor: At a very early age I fell in love with thesaltwater environment and boating. As I got older thisinspired the desire to live and work near coastal areas.

like most: Living in a lovely coastal area where mypersonal enjoyment of marine activities and myprofessional goals are synonymous. Being constantlyinvolved with the production of marine designs.

like least: The pressures of time and budget andapplying those pressures to our employees.

relax: Reading, sailing (both in competition and forpleasure), water skiing, duck hunting, fishing, and justmessing around with boats.

heroes/heroines: Frontiersmen, seamen, adventurers.The people, even today, who are willing to go the extramile to accomplish a goal or task.

advice:Find out asmuch asyou canabout themarineindustry byvisitingcompaniesand relateduniversities,observingmarineproducts,andreading.

career opportunities: The sea is our last great frontier;naval architects and marine engineers will lead the way.

10 years: Sailing!


advice: Get a goodbackground inmath and science,especially labora-tory subjects. Tolearn more aboutenvironmentalscience/engineer-ing you canvolunteer with alocal river or parkassociation.

career opportuni-ties: We willalways needenvironmentalexperts, especiallyones with a goodunderstanding ofhow society canand should balance its need for development againstthe needs of environmental protection.

10 years: I will still be active in field and laboratoryresearch. I love research. The ideas and activities arealways evolving and changing. And I love environmen-tal research, because its goals are ultimately to protectour natural resources and benefit society.

John BuckJohn BuckJohn BuckJohn BuckJohn Buck — electrical engineer

B.S., electrical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyB.S., English literature, MITM.S. and Ph.D., electrical engineering and oceanography, MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program

current job: I am an assistant professor of electricaland computer engineering at the Dartmouth campus ofthe University of Massachusetts. I am also an associatefellow of our campus’ Center for Marine Science and

one of its components contains enough challenges andproblems that it could be a full-time job in itself. Thingscan be very hectic at times, especially when deadlinesfrom two different aspects of my job collide, such ashaving to get a paper to a journal during the last weekof the semester.

relax: I enjoy playing sports to relax, mainly ice hockey,lacrosse, jogging, swimming, and ultimate frisbee.Finding time for some sort of physical exercise almostevery day is important for my health and sanity. Dartmouth is only about an hour from Boston, so Iam able to enjoy the cultural benefits of the city. Someof the events I attend frequently are the BostonSymphony Orchestra, the Boston Baroque ensemble,and rock shows in local clubs. I also try to make time toread good books.

heroes/heroines: Two of my heroes are St. ThomasBecket and St. Thomas More. Both were men with themoral courage to stand up for their beliefs in the face ofpublic opinion.

advice: You can’t learn enough math. No matter whatfield you are in, math will always be useful. Two other

veryimportantskills arethe abilityto writewell andthe abilityto pro-gram acomputer.I think in10 yearsit will bevery hardto doresearchin most

of marine science without being able to program acomputer at some level.

Technology (CMAST), an interdisciplinaryoceanography lab. During the school year I teachundergraduate and graduate courses in electricalengineering, as well as supervise graduatestudents. In addition to guiding them in doingtheir thesis research, I try to teach them theprocess of doing research in general, so they willbe prepared to pursue their own projects whenthey graduate. In my own research, I study how soundtravels underwater and how best to analyzeunderwater sounds, whether they are made byhumans or marine mammals. My largestresearch grant is from the National ScienceFoundation to study the sounds made bydolphins and whales and to develop new tools tohelp biologists track and identify these animalsunderwater.

key factor: UMass Dartmouth is a good fit for meprofessionally in several ways. The campus has a

history of strong undergraduate education, whichmatches well with my interest in teaching and workingwith students. In addition, our department has a historyof research in marine-oriented applications of electricalengineering.

like most: I find oceanography an excitingfield because it combines intellectualchallenges with physical adventure. I alsoenjoy the practical aspect of the work. Theocean is always the ultimate provingground — a concrete test for our ideas.Good ideas work, bad ones send you backto the drawing board. I like the freedom and responsibility inchoosing my own work in the academicenvironment. I can choose the problems Iwant to study, the students I want to workwith, the classes I want to teach, etc. Thismeans that I spend almost all of my timedoing things I enjoy doing, and that I amdoing them because I want to do them.

like least: There is too much of it. As I said above, Ireally like almost every part of my job. However, any (continued on page 32)


There are many jobs in the field of marinescience that do not fit into the categories ofmarine biology, oceanography, or ocean engi-neering. Instead, these jobs may fit more thanone category, or they may overlap other fields,such as education, communication, economics,seagoing careers, or business. Many of these jobs are highly specialized andrequire very different educational backgrounds,experiences, and skills. Some of the jobs may beunique to the people who do them. In otherwords, they may have started their own busi-ness or created their position because theyperceived a need for their expertise. Some characteristics shared by people invirtually all marine-related careers include alove of the marine environment, a respect for theway the ocean works, and a sense of curiosity.Many people in the marine sciences describe afeeling of accomplishment or satisfaction abouttheir work, knowing that being involved in theirfield has or will make a difference for presentand future generations. Others like the sense ofpioneering discovery, given the fact that muchremains to be learned about the way the oceanworks and the organisms that inhabit it. There are countless possibilities for a marine-related career: marine educator, science writer,filmmaker, photographer, ecotourism guide,park ranger, beach superintendent, maritime orenvironmental lawyer, coastal or ocean policyexperts, aquavet (veterinarians that specialize inmarine or aquatic animals), economist, marinearchaeologist, marine historian, fundraiser orspokesperson, aquaculturist, manager of anagency specializing in marine or freshwaterissues, marina manager, ship’s captain or mate,environmental planner, manager of a landconservation organization or land trust, bota-nist, computer specialist with a marine orenvironmental organization, ecologist, hatcheryspecialist, landscape or maritime architect, andso on. While we certainly won’t attempt to list all ofthe possibilities, it’s probably safe to say thatyou can combine your interest in the ocean or

Related FieldsRelated FieldsRelated FieldsRelated FieldsRelated FieldsSonya Wood MahlerSonya Wood MahlerSonya Wood MahlerSonya Wood MahlerSonya Wood Mahler — environmental educator

B.S., marine biology/physics, Auburn Univ.B.S., secondary science education, Auburn Univ.M.S., environmental education/natural resources, Univ. of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

current job: I am a marine extensionagent for Florida Sea Grant. My office isin Pensacola, but I work throughoutEscambia and Santa Rosa counties. I’m amarine biologist with a twist. I do a littleresearch and a lot of education. Workingwith both adults and youth, I coordinate avariety of marine and coastal programs.This includes organizing beach cleanupsand underwater cleanups, marinemammal rescues, sea turtle monitoringefforts, manatee dive trips, the fishingline recycling program, 4-H marinecamps, estuary canoe trips, and aprogram for coastal residents called When the Gulf isYour Backyard. I distribute a quarterly marine educa-tion newsletter entitled Turning the Tide and other SeaGrant and Extension Service publications.

key factor: I wanted to work with the marine andcoastal environment. I grew up on the Gulf coast and Iwanted to help other residents appreciate and protect it.That was far more important to me than how much Iwould make. I worked in marine mammal research andtaught high school marine biology before finding thisperfect niche for me called marine extension. I bringthe research to a wide audience in a way that they canunderstand it and use it.

like most: The tremendous flexibility and variety. Theopportunity to develop programs and projects to meetthe needs of the community. I get paid to do what I loveto do and live in Paradise!

like least: This is definitely not a nine-to-five job. Iwork a lot of nights and weekends because that is when

theaudiencesareavailable.There aremany 60-hour weeks.

relax: Bikeriding,kayaking,windsurfing,waterskiing.I do a lot ofphotogra-phy, both

underwater and above. I enjoy travel, theater,Samoyeds, blues and country music, shrimp, and darkchocolate.

heroes/heroines: Edward Abbey, Bev Doolittle, JacquesCousteau, Sylvia Earle, Charles and Ann MorrowLindbergh, Richard Wilke, and my parents, Frank andFrankie, who are outstanding educators.

advice: Get lots of field experience (on weekends, inthe summer, as a volunteer) to make sure this is whatyou enjoy and to develop your skills. Also, get experi-ence in public speaking, writing, computers, graphics,photography, lab work, scuba or skin diving, and theidentification of coastal creatures and native plants.


freshwater with many other fields, hobbies, orspecialties to design a potential career. As many different career opportunities asthere are in the marine field, especially the“related fields,” there are almost as many differ-ent pathways to achieving such a career. Under-water filmmaker Bill Lovin’s career path is oneexample. His advice to aspiring underwaterfilmmakers: “First, learn to be the best diver youcan be, completely at home in the water. Second,don’t major in film or television in college. Takemarine biology or journalism or even business.Learn a lot about a lot of things. . . You will haveto make your job because there are few (perhapsno) jobs out there at any given time.” Similar advice is offered by William Spitzer,director of education at the New EnglandAquarium, who was trained as an academicscientist and holds a Ph.D. “In working inscience education,” he says, “it really does helpto understand science from the point of view ofa scientist. However, I also had to learn a lot ofstaff and project management skills along theway to be effective in my job. I created my owncareer path based on my interests in science,social and community service and education,and the environment. My advice is to followyour heart; find ways to pursue what you caremost about and create your own path.” If you like to write and you have a love forthe water, ocean, or environment, a career inenvironmental reporting, science or technicalwriting, communications, or public relationsmay be worth exploring. If you are a “peopleperson,” enjoy teaching and public speaking,and don’t mind working long hours, a career inmarine education may be for you. Even in thefield of education, you can choose betweenformal education (a classroom or academicsetting) and informal education (for example,aquaria, museums, nature or science centers,parks, or wildlife refuges). If you love fish and have considered a careeras a doctor, perhaps you should considerbecoming an aquavet or an aquaculture veteri-narian, as Myron Kebus of Wisconsin did (read

Bill LovinBill LovinBill LovinBill LovinBill Lovin — underwater filmmaker

B.A., journalism, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

current job: I produce naturalhistory, educational, environmental,and entertainment films and videosabout the marine world for televi-sion and for the classroom. I havemy own company and do a little ofeverything — diving and shooting,editing, writing scripts. I live 150miles from the coast in Chapel Hill,N.C., but my work takes me all overthe world.

key factor: Realizing that it waspossible. Lots of people think thiswould be a wonderful thing to do,but most think that it isn’t possiblefor them. You have to decide thatyou can do it and be willing to put inthe work and time required.

like most: Filmmaking is an art and like any artist, I getsatisfaction from the act of creating something I believein.

like least: The need to sell myself. I hate to self-promote and wheel and deal with “suits.”

relax: I work all the time. This is not a career for well-rounded people who like to balance their careers withfamily and friends.

career opportunities: The number of positions likemine with federal and state agencies has decreasedslightly. I think the future will see increasing competi-tion for positions in environmental fields.

10 years: I hope to be working with Sea Grant in somecoastal state as an agent or specialist.

heroes/heroines: Thomas Edison was a boyhood hero— a hard working and unrestrained thinker. AlsoWerner von Braun, the German rocket scientist whohelped start our space program. Currently, I would haveto say that I most admire Dr. Sylvia Earle, whosecontributions to life cross many disciplines.

advice: Deciding you want to be an underwaterfilmmaker is a little like deciding you want to be a rockstar. Many are called, few are chosen. First, learn to bethe best diver you can be, completely at home in thewater. Second, don’t major in film or television incollege. Take marine biology or journalism or even

business. Learn a lot about a lot ofthings. Take up still photographyand learn all you can on your own.Then buy a movie camera or videocamera and go out and shoot. Learnto critique and edit your own work.You will have to make your jobbecause there are few (perhaps no)jobs out there at any given time.Becoming a self-supportingunderwater photographer orfilmmaker is possible, but difficult.Always have a second careeroption!

career opportunities: Being anunderwater filmmaker is differentthan being an underwatervideographer. Filmmakers produceproducts, a videographer goes outand shoots something. There are nojobs in this world for underwaterfilmmakers, you work for yourself

and sell your shows. However, with more cablechannels and more interest in the environment, thereare more outlets for your work. There may be a few jobs for underwatervideographers with oil companies or hull inspectionservices, with tourist operations, or even with researchoutfits. But not many and they may not be full time.

10 years: I hope to be doing exactly what I’m doingnow. I hope to be doing it smarter and better. Diving


about his job on p. 28). Or, if you’re torn between your interests in lawand the marine field, consider a career in envi-ronmental or maritime law, or coastal or oceanpolicy. As the number of environmental regula-tions continues to grow, the need for people whounderstand the science behind the regulationswill increase. Science — and an understanding ofthe way science works — is crucial to determin-ing the success or failure of regulations orpolicies designed to protect the environment.Education plays a critical role as well, and canserve as the link between the need for suchregulations with the outcomes and benefits, or,conversely, the need to update, revise, or doaway with regulations that prove ineffective. Margaret Goud Collins works in policyoverseeing the US involvement in an interna-tional non-governmental research organization.“As the world becomes more technically orientedand population and development pressures pushthe limits of the natural order. . . the need andrelevance for scientific input is growing,” sheexplains. “The capacity to model natural, social,and economic systems is making predictivecapability more useful for policy makers [and]globalization is opening opportunities around theworld,” she says. When thinking about careers, work environ-ment is an important factor to consider. Marine-related job opportunities exist in virtually everysetting: within government, private industry,academia (schools, colleges, universities), busi-ness, and non-profit organizations, to name afew. The positions available may be similar, butthe actual day-to-day responsibilities can differgreatly, depending on which avenue you choose.For example, a ship captain could choose to workfor the federal government commanding a USNavy ship, for a private oceanographic researchinstitution commanding a research vessel, or fora museum or aquarium commanding a visitorstour boat. While the job title may be similar, thejob description could vary greatly. Another thing to consider is where you’d liketo work. Not all marine-related jobs require you to

can take a physical toll on a person and my hope wouldbe that no diving accident would prevent me fromdoing what I love in the future.

Carmen M. Márquez-MarínCarmen M. Márquez-MarínCarmen M. Márquez-MarínCarmen M. Márquez-MarínCarmen M. Márquez-Marín — environmental lawyer and marine archaeologist

B.S., anthropology, Univ. of Puerto RicoM.S., nautical archaeology, Texas A&M Univ.J.D., law, Univ. of Puerto RicoM.S., environmental law, Vermont Law School (candidate)

current job: At present I am specializing inenvironmental law at Vermont Law School. In thelast two years I have been working as a triallawyer in Legal Services, a nonprofit corporationin San Juan, P.R. I also operate my own business,Archeo Marine Research, where I work as aconsultant and researcher in maritime archaeol-ogy. My clients are mostly developers andgovernment agencies that must comply withgovernment requirements in order to be able tobuild structures on the shoreline or in the sea.

key factor: The decisive factor was definitely mypassion for the sea, which I developed during myearly childhood. My curiosity regarding humanbehavior also influenced my decisions.

like most: I like having the opportunity to combinemy interest in human behavior and my love of thesea while studying how human beings haveinteracted with the marine environment at differenttimes in history.

like least: This field is relatively new, and it can befrustrating to deal with people who do not understandits importance. Even worse is running into treasurehunters with no respect for history.

relax: Mostly, I go to the beach. I love sail sports:windsurfing, sailboating. I enjoy diving and being

submerged for long periods of time, but I always followthe recommended decompression guidelines. On land, Ienjoy horseback riding, the movies, and the theater.

heroes/heroines: I don’t have a particular hero, but Iadmire the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart,and all the other determined, creative, and courageouswomen who were not afraid to make career choiceswhen there were very few opportunities and lots ofrestrictions and limitations for them.

advice: Persevere and make your dreams come true.Maritime archaeology and environmental law are

fabulous disciplines.The work is hard, butthe effort is worth-while. These are theprofessions of thefuture.

career opportuni-ties: Opportunities inthe fields of maritimearchaeology andenvironmental laware definitely on therise. Environmentallawyers are becom-ing indispensable toprotect naturalresources and toestablish controls toglobal commercialdevelopment.

10 years: I’llprobably be working as a lawyer specializing inenvironmental law. This branch of law includesmaritime archaeology and also provides the tools fordeveloping legislation to protect archaeologicalfindings. I hope to continue offering consulting servicesthrough Archeo Marine Research. My most preciousdream is to create a nonprofit maritime archaeologyresearch institute in Puerto Rico in order to explore andinvestigate the territorial waters of the island and theCaribbean.


live at the coast, though many opportunities willbe near it. Locations around freshwater, such asrivers and lakes, also offer similar career oppor-tunities. And, don’t forget, the best job will be one thatcombines your interests and skills. Considerwhat makes you happy. Do you like: workingindependently or do you prefer being aroundothers? working at your own pace or in a morestructured environment? flexible hours or atypical work day with a lunch hour, paid vaca-tions, and sick time? traveling or staying close tohome? supervising and leading others or report-ing to a supervisor? working in a team setting?being outdoors in all weather conditions, insideat a desk, or a combination? Having a career that makes you feel goodabout yourself and your responsibilities is veryimportant. After all, it wouldn’t be enjoyable toget up and go to work every day if you didn’tlike what you were doing. As one marine educa-tor states, “I studied marine biology in college,but I found that my interest did not lie in thehard-core science aspect of this field. I begantaking courses in education and I discovered thatworking with people was of much greaterinterest to me than working in a laboratory. Iinvestigated museums and aquariums, andfound that most of them have education depart-ments that teach about the marine world. This isthe perfect setting for me. I have the opportunityto share my delight and interest in marine sciencewith people while at the same time being sur-rounded by the animals and environment that Ihave always loved.” Just as learning about the different fields ofoceanography is important to scientists andtechnicians who conduct marine research andstrive to understand how the oceans work,learning all you can about the marine environ-ment is important in marine-related careers aswell. A career in any aspect of marine scienceinvolves a life-long learning process. Becauseoceanography is a relatively new science, there isa great deal yet to be discovered and understood.What an exciting field to be in!

Kurt ByersKurt ByersKurt ByersKurt ByersKurt Byers — environmental communicator

B.S., natural resources/environmental communications, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor

current job: As communications managerof the University of Alaska (Fairbanks)Sea Grant College Program, I assesspublic information needs pertaining tocoastal and ocean resources and workwith university faculty, my five-memberstaff of communications professionals,and others to decide what kind ofinformation needs to be provided to ouraudiences. We produce books, pam-phlets, newspaper and magazine articles,fact sheets, web sites, a radio program,exhibits, presentations, and publicevents, all aimed at sharing knowledgethat will promote conservation and wiseuse of the seas.

key factor: In returning to college at age 30 after adecade in private business, I decided I wanted to honemy creative talents — writing, photography, and art —and apply those skills with my business sense in acareer that would promote wise stewardship of ournatural environment.

like most: I get great satisfaction knowing I’ve found acareer that allows me to combine my conservationethic, empathy for challenges business people face, andcreative skills in a way that contributes to maintainingthe integrity of our marine environment.

like least: The day-to-day demands of managing acommunications program prevent me from devoting asmuch time and effort as I would like to the hands-oncreative aspects of communications, such as writing,photography, and graphic design.

relax: I’m addicted to music with a special affinity forswinging jump blues. I’m an avid student of ballroom

and swing dancing, and like to play golf, shoot hoops,and throw the football. I also like to photograph themany interesting locales I visit. I enjoy carpentry andlandscaping, and read a lot — news magazines,newspapers, and novels.

heroes/heroines: My only real hero is my father, asteadfastman ofgreatcharacterwho, aftersurvivingthe perils ofWorld WarII as adecoratedfighterpilot,teamedwith mymother tobuild the

house I grew up in, provide a stable and supportiveenvironment for me and my four sisters, and instill astrong work ethic and social values.

advice: Identify your skills and your interests, thensearch out an educational path that will lead you to acareer that taps your unique combination of skills andinterests.

career opportunities: As long as people are concernedabout conserving our marine environment, there will bea need for highly trained and motivated professionalenvironmental communicators who can synthesize,translate, and disseminate important information aboutmarine resources and the effects of human activity onthese resources.

10 years: I expect I will be a communicator or educatorin the field of natural resources, or perhaps teachingothers how to become effective communicators.

•


Eleanor S. UhlingerEleanor S. UhlingerEleanor S. UhlingerEleanor S. UhlingerEleanor S. Uhlinger — marine information specialist

B.A., environmental, population, and organismic biology, Univ. of Colorado at BoulderM.L.I.S., Univ. of Washington at Seattle

current job: I am the director of MarineSciences Information Services at theUniversity of Rhode Island (URI) inNarragansett, R.I. My day-to-day activitiesfocus on the leadership and administra-tion of three University units: the PellMarine Science Library, the National SeaGrant Depository library, and the Coastal Data andInformation Center. Based at URI’s Graduate School ofOceanography, my staff and I primarily serve faculty,researchers, and graduate and undergraduate studentsin the fields of oceanography, marine, and environmen-tal sciences. My three units provide access to theinformation and data resources our students andscientists need for their research and academicprograms. I am also responsible for identifying,managing, planning, implementing, and promotingaccess to new types of data and information resourcesand technologies.

key factor: My interest in an oceanographic careerbegan when I was 13 years old and attended aweeklong special course at the University of Delaware’smarine laboratory in Lewes. Although I did not liveclose to the ocean, this opportunity and televisionshows like Sea Hunt, Flipper, and Jacques Cousteaustimulated my interest in the sea!

like most: I love working at the cutting edge of marinescience. I feel that librarians play an important role inthe scientific process as we help researchers find theinformation they need to design experiments, comparetheir results with other datasets, analyze those results,and finally, publish the results for others to review. Ialso like to work with students or the general publicwho may be investigating a topic for the first time.

Stuart E. MayStuart E. MayStuart E. MayStuart E. MayStuart E. May — aquarium curator

B.A., environmental studies, Gettysburg College

current job: I am the husbandry curator at the NorthCarolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. I supervise thehusbandry staff, including aquarists who maintain the

aquatic exhibits, a lab tech who monitors waterchemistry, and several summer interns. We areresponsible for all aspects of animal care. We buildsome of the aquariums, construct the life supportsystems, collect the animals, feed them, and takecare of them. A part of my duties includes assisting with themarine mammal and sea turtle stranding networks.The aquarium is available to help transport andrehabilitate injured mammals and turtles.

key factor: An aquarium is a very stimulatingplace. I enjoy working with the animals as well aswith the mechanical systems.

like most: I enjoy designing and building newaquarium systems. The technology has advanceddramatically over the past 20 years and it is achallenge to incorporate the new technology intoan old facility.

like least: Working with the state bureaucracy.

like least:As I’vemoved upthe ladderto a moreadministra-tiveposition,I’vebecomemoreremovedfrom theday-to-dayscientificenterprise.Now I

spend way too much time in meetings and pushingpaperwork. I would prefer to spend more time attend-ing scientific seminars and meeting scientists in theiroffices and laboratories.

relax: Reading, Scottish country dancing, traveling andexploring, helping restore an 18th century farmhouseand grounds.

heroes/heroines:Writers! I admireanyone who cansuccessfully putideas into a cohesiveunit — be it a work offact, fiction, or ascientific treatise.

advice: Take as manyscience, math,grammar/composi-tion, and computerclasses as possible. Astrong background ina basic science willprepare you well forany career in marinescience.

career opportunities: Positions in library and informa-tion science are definitely increasing. The amount ofinformation being generated is doubling at an alarmingrate. Technological advances brought on by the Internethave made it easier to access remote information, butlibrarians still serve a critical role by organizing andfacilitating access to this distributed information.

10 years: Good question! I hope to be moving into anew library building that I’ll be planning and building inthe years ahead. The new library will include spaces forpeople, information in all its shapes and forms, andwhatever technology we’re using in the decades ahead.


Faith A. McGrutherFaith A. McGrutherFaith A. McGrutherFaith A. McGrutherFaith A. McGruther — resource manager

current job: I am the executive director ofthe Chippewa/Ottawa Treaty Fishery Manage-ment Authority (COTFMA), an organizationresponsible for managing, enhancing, andregulating the natural resources of theportions of the Great Lakes covered by theTreaty of 1836. Under the terms of the treaty,the tribes harvest whitefish and lake trout aswell as some chubs, salmon, and walleye. Atthe present time, four tribes are members ofCOFTMA: the Bay Mills Indian Community,the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, theGrand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians,and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

key factor: There was never a defined “career decision”per se as my career went forward. The more I learned

Myron J. KebusMyron J. KebusMyron J. KebusMyron J. KebusMyron J. Kebus — aquaculture veterinarian

B.S., biology, Michigan State Univ.M.S., aquaculture, Univ. of Wisconsin at MadisonD.V.M., veterinary medicine, Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison

current job: I am the state aquaculture veterinarian forWisconsin. I work closely with fish farmers to addressissues of fish health. Roughly, I spend equal portions oftime in the office, in the field, at meetings, and in thelaboratory.

relax: I play soccer and racquetball. I coach mydaughters’ soccer teams. I enjoy camping and recre-ational scuba diving. I also enjoy astronomy andstargazing as well as watching and playing Jeopardy.

heroes/heroines: My parents, Audrey and Semuel May,who kept me on the straight and narrow. AustinWilliams, my fifth grade teacher, who introduced me toscience. Robert Barnes, a college professor who taughtabout invertebrates. Rosa Parks, who stood up to becounted.

advice: Try to get as much job training as possible.Aquariums need experienced employees. Most of thedetailed aquarium knowledge is learned on the job.

career opportunities: New aquariums are opening allover the country.

10 years: I hope to be director of operationsand husbandry here at the North CarolinaAquarium.

about treaty fishing, the more intrigued I became withwhat was happening in the fishery. It is the type of workthat is always challenging and never boring. Also, I lovethe Great Lakes, their beauty, and all natural resourceson Mother Earth.

likemost: Ihavereallyenjoyedmeetinglots ofnew andinterest-ingpeople.

Some of them — HelenHornbeck Tanner, SenatorJohn Glenn, SenatorDaniel Inouye — havereally impressed me. Ihave also made somemarvelous friendsthrough the years. I also would like tobelieve that what I amdoing is making adifference in the GreatLakes in helping to makesure there is a fishery forfuture generations.Fishing has been a part ofour way of life from the

beginning and should be able to go on as part of ourheritage.

like least: Traveling. I hate to fly.

relax: I love to spend time with my grandchildren. Also,

I like to garden. I get so engrossed in what I am doingthat I don’t think about all the things I was stressedabout.

heroes/heroines: One of my heroes is John F. Kennedy.I think he really tried to do what was best for this

country. Another is my sister, who hasalways been there for me and supported meno matter what I did.

advice: The best thing any high schoolstudent could do today, no matter what fieldthey are going into, is to go to college andget a degree. I regret not doing so most ofall. Learn how to be comfortable speaking infront of people and meeting new people.

career opportunities: I believe that, moreand more, women are becoming important inevery field. I believe jobs within the naturalresource field will increase even though rightnow, with the budget crunches, it is prettylevel.

10 years: I will be retired and volunteering my time ontribal committees. That way I will still be involved insome way with the natural resources of my tribe.



As you have seen in this guide, the marinesciences offer many educational and employmentopportunities. But what are the chances offinding a job in your field of choice? Your ability to land a job in the marine sci-ences will depend on many factors. And, whilesome of those factors will be out of your control,it’s important to prepare yourself as best you can.Throughout this publication, a few key messageswere repeated by several of the people featured.Their advice (see page 30) is based on experience,so you may want to heed their advice as youmake important educational and career decisions.

RESEARCH CAREERS Students interested in pursuing a researchcareer may find opportunities in academia,industry, government, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, consulting firms,and owning their own businesses. Many factorsinfluence job opportunities in these areas, includ-ing the economy, funding, and distribution ofgovernment support.

Researchers in Academia Within an academic setting, there are basicallythree possibilities for employment: research andtraining, teaching and research, and teaching andmodest research. Most positions require at least amaster’s degree, and preference is generallygiven to those holding a Ph.D. While a research career at a university (con-sisting of research and training) was once consid-ered the “traditional” career path for Ph.D.graduates in the marine sciences, changes in theacademic world coupled with funding uncertain-ties have made this path far less predictable. Anincreasing number of Ph.D. graduates are work-ing in colleges where teaching is the focus of theposition and research is secondary or minimal.Such settings include four-year colleges, juniorcolleges, and community colleges. A study commissioned by the NationalAcademy of Sciences (NAS), found that Ph.D.graduates are finding non-academic jobs moreeasily than academic research positions. Accord-

Career OutlookCareer OutlookCareer OutlookCareer OutlookCareer Outlooking to the study, that includes jobs in nontradi-tional occupations — patent law, science policyand administration, the media, investment firms,and novel educational settings. Also noted: agrowth of employment in medical researchindustries including biotechnology, researchsupplies, and pharmaceutical companies. While academia is still the largest employerfor Ph.D. recipients, statistics may be misleading.The NAS study identified a recent trend that maybe boosting employment figures for graduates:the “postdoc” or postdoctural position. Traditionally, a postdoc is the first job taken bya Ph.D. graduate in a research or academicinstitution. Some graduates find that they have totake back-to-back postdoc positions to stayemployed. And postdocs, once seen as a fall-backjob, are getting harder to come by. That has been Laura Magde’s experience.Magde, a marine geophysicist who earned herPh.D. in 1997, discovered that pursuing a careerin the academic research setting is so difficult shemay be forced out of the field. After her postdocposition ran out, she interviewed for several jobs,including additional postdoc opportunities, to noavail. “There are simply way too many people forfar too few jobs,” she states. Dr. Susan M. Henrichs, professor of marinescience and department head at the University ofAlaska’s School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciencesin Fairbanks, has spent her entire career inresearch and teaching in academia. She believesthat the outlook for a career like hers “willremain about the same.” Her forecast is based onthe status of research funding. “Because the trendis to stagnate state and federal funding of bothresearch and higher education,” she explains,“growth of my field seems unlikely.” Her advice

to students: “get some research experience as anundergraduate; find out if you actually likeresearch before you commit to graduate school.” So what can students interested in pursuing acareer in the ocean sciences expect? According tothe experiences of graduate school alumni fromConsortium for Oceanographic Research andEducation (CORE) institutions, obtained througha 1995 survey, the following:• Graduates will hold a number of jobs in avariety of sectors.• Most graduates can expect to change jobs often.• Many funding mechanisms, such as intern-ships, externships, traineeships, teaching assis-tantships, and research assistantships, providethe vehicles for educational experiences that areuseful in postgraduate careers.

Researchers in Industry Research careers in industry are very diverse,and “industry” is difficult to characterize.Nicholas Basta, in his 1992 book EnvironmentalJobs for Scientists and Engineers, writes, “in theoverall job market, there has been a trend amongPh.D. scientists and engineers toward working inindustry and a corresponding decline to theirworking in academia. . . The grand summation ofthese trends is that the scientific enterprise isbecoming increasingly interwoven with theeconomic enterprises of the United States.” Dr. Jay W. Gooch is an environmental scientistwith Procter and Gamble. In his position, Goochhelps provide the company with the tools andexpertise necessary to ensure that its products aresafe. “While some people find careers in industrythat are hard to distinguish from an academiccareer — that is, mostly research — others find ablend of research and product-oriented problem-


solving and management,” he says. Numerous opportunities for research careersin industry exist within environmental depart-ments and R&D divisions of large corporations.Within industries such as pharmaceuticals,biotechnology, construction, manufacturing,energy production, and resource exploration anddevelopment, scientists and engineers provideimportant data to company managers. Thisresearch can be used to create new products,improve existing products, or discontinueineffective products. As a rule, industry tends to be dependent onexternal factors such as the economy and con-sumer-driven market demand. Other characteris-tics of industry research careers are regular hoursand the importance of teamwork. Because teamwork is important, communica-tion skills and the ability to relate to and interactwith peers are highly valued by employers.“Unlike many independent academic researchers,successful industry scientists have a strong focuson ‘what’s best for the company,’” said Gooch. Other opportunities exist in nontraditionalprivate industry, outside the realm of R&D.Insurance companies rely on oceanographers topredict and understand weather-related hazardsand natural disasters. Transportation-relatedindustries, such as airlines and shipping compa-nies, also rely on advances in oceanography andengineering — weather forecasting and naviga-tion technologies, for example — to run theirbusinesses efficiently and safely. Human health-related industry is anotherlarge employer of scientists and technicians.Bruce Altrock, an independent consultant andformer vice president of research at a largebiotechnology company, predicts strong growthin research that relates to new therapeutics.“[N]ew information and technology coming outof current research sets the stage for the develop-ment of novel therapeutics to address a variety ofhuman diseases,” he explains. “Interestinglyenough, many leads in the search for these novelcompounds will undoubtedly come from marinesources as they have in the past.”

Researchers in Government As with research jobs in industry, those ingovernment are difficult to generalize. Jobs forscientists and engineers exist in governmentresearch labs or departments and in areas such aspolicy and management. These jobs exist at thefederal, state, and local levels. With the currentpush to downsize the federal government, manybelieve opportunities at the city, local, and stategovernment levels will increase, while federalopportunities will decrease. Being a government scientist differs frombeing a scientist employed by a university orprivate research facility. Dr. Kathryn Sullivan,former chief scientist at the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA), oncedescribed the difference as a trade-off. “Government scientists,” she said, “performresearch that is relevant to the missions of theiragencies. While this research may still be in areasof fundamental science, the agency must be ableto envision an eventual societal benefit and maysometimes require the individual to direct his orher inquiries in a certain field. In return for this,government scientists are granted certain free-doms, most notably a certainty that they willindeed be employed in research.” Dr. Steve McCormick, a research physiologistwith the National Biological Service of the USDepartment of the Interior, agrees. “Certainly, acharacteristic that differentiates governmentresearch jobs from jobs in academia is not alwaysneeding to write grants to secure funding. But, onthe down side, you don’t have the freedom topursue your real research interests becauseyou’re often constrained by the agency needs.” McCormick adds that the emphases of govern-ment agencies change as the government re-sponds to changing research needs. He cites theNIH as a symbol of success in government-sponsored research. “The core mission of NIHhas remained the same over the years, butindividual focus areas and priorities change all ofthe time. This is necessary and important.” In addition to his government position,McCormick has an affiliation with a university, a

Advice from the Experts

• Take as many math and science courses asyou can, starting in high school and continu-ing throughout your undergraduate years.This is important for students interested inresearch and non-research careers becausethe math and sciences provide a solid base ofknowledge about the way things work andhow to solve problems. Computer and writingskills are important too.• Do not specialize too early! Keep youroptions open. Even if you think you want topursue a postgraduate degree, hold off onselecting a specialty area as an undergradu-ate. This could limit your options later.• Be flexible! One course, professor, book,experience, or adventure could open youreyes to a career you might never haveconsidered. Remember: very few peoplecurrently employed in oceanography or themarine sciences get to their positions bytaking the same path.• Be persistent! Worry less about job fore-casts and more about working at what youreally want to do in life. With hard work,enthusiasm, and creativity, you can achieveyour goals.• Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Start youngand never pass up an opportunity to getexperience in an area that interests you.Volunteer opportunities, internships (paid andunpaid), fellowships, camps, mentoringprograms, science clubs, and independentresearch projects will give you a taste of whatthe field is like and may give you an edgeover someone who lacks experience.


combination he considers a real benefit. Such anaffiliation, which can involve teaching andadvising students, is generally feasible forgovernment researchers and is fairly common. Dr. Alexander Shor is a program director inthe National Science Foundation’s (NSF) OceanSciences Division, where he manages funds thatwill be distributed through NSF’s research grantprograms. Because federal government is in adown-sizing trend, Shor doesn’t see careergrowth in his field, though he does see increasingopportunities for scientists to serve in temporarypositions, something he recommends. If workingat a federal research agency is something thatinterests you, Shor suggests getting researchand/or teaching experience in that specialtybefore planning to shift into the funding realm.

Researchers in Non-profitand Non-governmental Organizations Non-profit and non-governmental organiza-tions provide additional career options forscientists and engineers, in addition to the manyopportunities they offer non-researchers. Some of these groups are similar to academiain their research-based missions [for example, theWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI),the largest independent oceanographic institu-tion in the world, is a private, non-profit researchfacility, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Re-search Institute is a part-science, part-engineeringinstitute that develops instruments, systems, andmethods for scientific studies of the deep oceanand specializes in exploration with remotelyoperated vehicles]. Other non-profit organiza-tions concentrate more on environmental advo-cacy (well-known examples include the NatureConservancy, the World Wildlife Foundation,Greenpeace, and the Sierra Club). A non-governmental organization (NGO) isgenerally defined as a nonprofit group or associa-tion organized outside of institutionalizedpolitical structures. Many NGOs have socialobjectives, while others serve particular constitu-encies. NGO activities range from research,information distribution, training, local organiza-

tion, and community service to legal advocacy,lobbying for legislative change, and civil disobe-dience. NGOs range in size from small commu-nity groups to huge organizations with nationalor international memberships. Because there are so many non-profit and non-governmental organizations, there are manychoices in terms of specialty area, size, andgeographic location. A concern for many in thesesectors is funding pressure and competition, therelatively small number of pure research posi-tions available, and the salaries, which tend to belower than in industry or academia.

Researchers in Consulting Firmsor Private Enterprise Environmental consulting is another careeroption for research scientists. Consulting compa-nies range in size and scope from large, interna-tional, multi-specialty firms to small companiesspecializing in one field. Consulting careers haveoffered researchers many opportunities in thepast. Whether or not this trend will continue ishard to predict. The field is highly competitiveand, as such, often requires competent presenta-tion skills. Keep in mind that most consultantshave prior experience in some aspect of researchor teaching before venturing out on their own orjoining a consulting firm. An increasingly attractive option for manyscientists and engineers is starting a business.This allows for flexibility and may be a way tocombine a part-time teaching position withindependent research and “research for hire.” Onthe down-side, one should be willing to put inlong hours and a fair amount of unpaid work inorder to get established.

Summary In addition to being good scientists andengineers, today’s researchers must also be goodwriters and speakers. Not only do researchersneed to submit proposals to funding sources inan attempt to get financial support for theirresearch, they must also present their results tocolleagues, decision-makers, students, and

funding sources. As Gregory Johnson, a NOAAoceanographer with the Pacific Marine Environ-mental Laboratory states, “Science does no goodunless it is communicated to others.”

NON-RESEARCH CAREERS A research career is certainly not the onlyoption for students interested in the exciting fieldof marine science. In fact, the possibilities for anon-research career are as varied as one’s desiresand imagination. Changes in the economy and politics canimpact non-research marine careers in much thesame way they impact the research community. Acommon example is federal support for educa-tion, which, in times of budget cuts, generallytranslates to cuts at the state and local levels.Eventually, federal budget cuts reach the small,community-based programs such as after-schoolscience clubs, science museums, and naturefacilities as well as educational programming onscience or the environment. With projections for the US labor marketfavoring the information, service, and technologysectors, what will this mean for students inter-ested in a marine-related career? For one thing,more opportunities in the information and masscommunication sectors seem likely, as do oppor-tunities in marine industries, such as marineelectronics, aquaculture, environmentally basedrecreation and tourism, engineering, hydro-geology, water quality management, and envi-ronmental education and communication. According to Dr. Judith McDowell, seniorscientist and associate dean of the educationprogram at WHOI, the overall outlook for acareer in the marine sciences is bright. “New jobsin marine sciences are expanding in many sectorsdue to continuing advances in technology and agrowing appreciation for the importance of theoceans to all life on earth,” she says. “The nextdecade should bring an even greater array ofchallenges and careers than we see at present.The future is exciting.”•


relax: I like to exercise, especially lifting weights. I liketo go on long walks with friends and family. And I liketo read. But mostly, I enjoy being in the company ofpeople I love, especially my wife, Carol.

heroes/heroines: My main hero is my father. He is anAfrican American who went on to be a scientist at atime when that was a difficult thing to do. He neverattained his doctoral degree, but he instilled in me adesire to learn and to question.

advice: Never be afraid to ask questions, never beafraid to learn, and read, read, read. There are manyopportunities opening up for young people in marinescience. Find out about them, and don’t be afraid. Weare here to help you.

career opportunities: There are presently not manyopenings in academia. However, within industry, the jobmarket has improved. The petroleum industry has beenhiring more young people with degrees in marinescience, as have environmental and engineering firms.

10 years: I hope to be working closely with teachers. Ihope to be an educator until I retire.

career opportunities: I think marine mammal scienceis demonstrating a slow increase in career opportuni-ties. People are realizing all the time that we still have alot to learn about these animals and how they live andcommunicate in the ocean. In the last five years I haveseen a modest increase in funding for researchactivities in this area.

10 years: I think I will still be working both in signalprocessing and acoustics research, and teaching bothundergraduates and graduates. One long term goal Ihave is to write a book on signal processing and marinemammal communications, but I think there are still alot of things I need to learn before I write that book.

Toba/Toba/Toba/Toba/Toba/marine biology Hall/Hall/Hall/Hall/Hall/oceanography Kebus/Kebus/Kebus/Kebus/Kebus/related fields

Buck/Buck/Buck/Buck/Buck/ocean engineering

key factor: I have always enjoyed fish. I was deter-mined to be a veterinarian. Becoming a fish veterinariancombined the two and has been an interesting journey.

like most: Working with fish farmers. They want to do agood job, they enjoy working with fish, and they like tohave fun.

like least: Veterinary professionals struggle to beadequately compensated. This is an important consid-eration for anyone thinking of pursuing a career inveterinary medicine at this time.

relax: Raise koi and goldfish at home. Garden, readnewspapers from anywhere and everywhere, and takelong hikes.

heroes/heroines: My family and friends, and people ineveryday life who demonstrate the courage to do whatis right because it is right and not because they want tobe seen as heroes.

advice: Listen to your heart, work very hard, and don’tallow people to discourage you. Don’t narrow yourfocus. You need a variety of skills — language, math,and economics as well as biology — to be an effectiveveterinarian. Learn by doing.

career opportunities: The opportunities are increasingfor a limited number of properly trained veterinarians.This is very much a career in which you create opportu-nities for yourself and others.

10 years: Several years ago I would not have guessed Iwould be doing what I am doing now. Ten years fromnow I will be involved with aspects of aquaculture that Iam not even thinking about now.

also frustrating to work with a bureaucratic type ofgovernment. Although smaller than the state or federalgovernment, tribal governments have the same politics.

relax: I like to work in my yard and garden. With moreand more of my work being spent in the office, spend-ing any time outdoors is very relaxing.

heroes/heroines: I am of Japanese descent and havethe utmost respect and admiration for not only mygreat-grandparents and grandparents, but also for all ofthe first-generation pioneers who left their homelandfor a new life in the US. They sacrificed much and facedmuch hardship and discrimination. Their efforts pavedthe way for my generation.

advice: Take a variety of classes to get a well-roundededucation. While science and math classes are impor-tant, so are writing, public speaking, social sciences,and the other classes that may not seem that importantto you. Try hard in all your classes, even the ones youmay not particularly like.

career opportunities: Career opportunities in fisheriesare generally increasing. With increasing publicawareness of environmental concerns, the EndangeredSpecies Act, and water concerns, there are more jobsnow than there were 15 years ago. I have a backgroundin aquaculture and the number of jobs in aquaculture isincreasing. Production of aquaculture products in thewestern US has been gradually increasing over the past10 years. As new products are raised and production isincreased, the related opportunities in technicalorganizations, academic institutions, and privatecompanies will also increase.

10 years: I would like to continue to work for theTulalip Tribes in developing the shellfish program.However, the primary goal of the tribe is to provideeducational opportunities to tribal members to fillpositions within tribal management.


National Sea Grant College ProgramNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSSMC3 Room 117361315 East-West HighwaySilver Spring, MD 20910301/713-2431

ALASKAAlaska Sea GrantUniv. of AlaskaP.O. Box 755040Fairbanks, AK 99775-5040907/474-7086

CALIFORNIACalifornia Sea GrantUniv. of California-San Diego9500 Gilman Dr.La Jolla, CA 92093-0232858/534-4446

USC Sea GrantWrigley Institute for Environmental StudiesUniversity ParkLos Angeles, CA 90089-0373213/740-1961

CONNECTICUTConnecticut Sea GrantUniv. of Connecticut1084 Shennecossett Rd.Groton, CT 06340860/405-9127

DELAWAREDelaware Sea GrantUniv. of DelawareRobinson Hall, Rm. 111Newark, DE 19716302/831-2841

Sea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsSea Grant ProgramsFLORIDAFlorida Sea GrantUniv. of FloridaBox 110400Gainesville, FL 32611352/392-5870

GEORGIAGeorgia Sea GrantUniv. of GeorgiaMarine Sciences Bldg.Athens, GA 30602-3636706/542-6009

HAWAIIHawaii Sea GrantUniv. of Hawaii2525 Correa Rd., HIG 238Honolulu, HI 96822808/956-7031

ILLINOISIllinois-Indiana Sea GrantUniv. of Illinois63 Mumford Hall1301 W. Gregory Dr.Urbana, IL 61801217/333-9448

INDIANAIllinois-Indiana Sea GrantPurdue Univ.Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources1200 Forest Products Bldg.W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1200765/494-3573

LOUISIANALouisiana Sea GrantLouisiana State Univ.Sea Grant Bldg.Baton Rouge, LA 70803-7507225/388-6448

MAINEMaine Sea GrantUniv. of Maine5715 Coburn HallOrono, ME 04469-5715207/581-1435

MARYLANDMaryland Sea GrantUniv. of Maryland0112 Skinner HallCollege Park, MD 20742301/405-6371

MASSACHUSETTSMIT Sea GrantMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyBldg. E38, Rm. 30077 Massachusetts Ave.Cambridge, MA 02139617/253-7041

WHOI Sea GrantWoods Hole Oceanographic

Institution193 Oyster Pond Rd.CRL 209Woods Hole, MA 02543-1525508/289-2665

MICHIGANMichigan Sea GrantUniv. of Michigan2200 Bonisteel Blvd.Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099734/764-1118

MINNESOTAMinnesota Sea GrantUniv. of Minnesota, Duluth2305 E. 5th St.Duluth, MN 55812218/726-8106

MISSISSIPPIMississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium703 East Beach Dr.P.O. Box 7000Ocean Springs, MS 39566-7000228/875-9341

NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire Sea GrantUniv. of New HampshireKingman FarmDurham, NH 03824-3512603/749-1565

NEW JERSEYNew Jersey Sea GrantNJ Marine Sciences ConsortiumBldg. No. 22Ft. Hancock, NJ 07732732/872-1300

NEW YORKNew York Sea Grant InstituteSUNY at Stony Brook121 Discovery HallStony Brook, NY 11794-5001631/632-6905

NORTH CAROLINANorth Carolina Sea GrantNorth Carolina State Univ.Box 8605Raleigh, NC 27695-8605919/515-2454

OHIOOhio Sea GrantOhio State Univ.1541 Research Center1314 Kinnear Rd.Columbus, OH 43212614/292-8949

OREGONOregon Sea GrantOregon State Univ.402 Kerr Admin. Bldg.Corvallis, OR 97331-2131541/737-2716

PUERTO RICOPuerto Rico Sea GrantUniv. of Puerto RicoP.O. Box 5000Mayagüez, PR 00681-5000787/834-4726

RHODE ISLANDRhode Island Sea GrantUniv. of Rhode IslandNarragansett Bay CampusNarragansett, RI 02882-1197401/874-6842

SOUTH CAROLINASouth Carolina Sea Grant Consortium287 Meeting St.Charleston, SC 29401843/727-2078

TEXASTexas Sea GrantTexas A&M Univ.1716 Briarcrest Dr., Suite 603Bryan, TX 77802979/862-3767

VIRGINIAVirginia Sea GrantVirginia Graduate Marine Science ConsortiumMadison House170 Rugby Rd.Charlottesville, VA 22903804/924-5965

WASHINGTONWashington Sea GrantUniv. of Washington3716 Brooklyn Ave., N.E.Seattle, WA 98105-6716206/543-6600

WISCONSINWisconsin Sea GrantUniv. of Wisconsin-MadisonGoodnight Hall, 2nd floor1975 Willow Dr.Madison, WI 53706-1177608/262-0905


Additional copies of this publication are available from many of theSea Grant programs listed on page 33 or for $5 a copy from eitherthe Sea Grant Communications Office at the University of NewHampshire (Sea Grant Communications, Kingman Farm/UNH,Durham, NH 03824-3512 — checks payable to UNH) or the one atthe Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI Sea Grant Com-munications, 193 Oyster Pond Road, CRL 209, Woods Hole, MA02543-1525 — checks payable to WHOI).

ISBN 0-9649529-2-0NHU-E-00-001WHOI-E-00-001

Copyright 2000 by the University of New Hampshire Sea Grant Program and theWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant Program.

This publication was made possible by the National Sea Grant College Program ofthe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of any of thoseorganizations.

Marine Science Careers is a publication of theNational Sea Grant College Program and acompanion piece to the Sea Grant web sitedevoted to providing information on careeropportunities in the marine sciences:www.marinecareers.net. The web site includesall of the information in this publication as wellas additional profiles, information on salary levelsfor marine scientists, links to other sources ofinformation on careers in the marine sciences,and a range of other features.

Visit us online at:www.marinecareers.netwww.marinecareers.netwww.marinecareers.netwww.marinecareers.netwww.marinecareers.net

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