Into The Deep by: Paige

 

 

Marine Biology is the study of marine mammals. Marine Mammalogist have varying jobs. Some tasks that Marine Mammalogist have are daily veterinary care, learning to rescue stranded or hurt animals, and rehabilitating animals so they can be released back into the wild.

 

 

The education process is very detailed and long to become a Marine Mammalogist. The learning process begins in high school. The aspiring marine biologist should take classes including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and Latin. A college with a good liberal arts and sciences curriculum would be preferable to become a marine scientist. As an undergraduate, the student should not sign up automatically for the marine biology degree, but just the basic biology degree. The reason for this is that to be a good marine scientist, the student should first learn to be a good scientist.

 

Once the scientist has a B. S. degree in science, they have the opportunity to have a job that includes animal care specialist, animal trainer, field technician, laboratory technician, or consultant for industry. About 75% of scientists with B. S. degrees were employed, while 20% of them where in graduate school, and the last five percent were unemployed. If they have a M. S. degree, they have the possibility to work with marine mammals by developing management plans, supervising field or laboratory studies, or designing research projects. Ones with a Ph.D. or a D.V.M. have many more opportunities. These include designing and management of field and laboratory research programs, university faculty positions, coordination of government and industry programs, and management positions in oceanaria or museums.

 

 

 

Another thing that helps with the job finding process is scuba lessons. Scuba lessons give the Marine Mammalogist diving experience, for when they do research. Once they become comfortable with scuba diving, they can take large research materials underwater with them. The materials that are used vary from an underwater camera to a machine that records animal communications.

 

Marine biologist jobs are often hard to find. There are very few, but the personal rewards for the job are immense. A Marine Mammalogist usually makes about $30,000-$40,000 a year.