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So You Want to Be A Marine Biologist

Posted by michael on from the free-willy dept.

daviddlewis writes: "Some humorous thoughts from a marine biologist on why you should/shouldn't be one. The "shoulds" apply to all geek professions."

4 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Another reason... by oo7tushar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    to be a marine biologist:
    The CTO at a company where I worked (and still do once in a while) was a marine biologist. Like the article said: you get to do what you want. You get the expertise and learn more about the creatures living in the ocean, but if you're bright, you can be the CTO for a successful business.

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    internet like monkeys'
  2. How about living in exotic locations? by thogard · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You know places like Fiji, Floridia Keys, Tahiti, Red Sea...
    I'm still looking for a nice tech job where I can dive ever other day and will pay for toys.

    Most of the Marine Biologist I've meet seem to have fun like Paddy who gives daily lectures to scuba divers at Reef Teach. If your going diving off the Great Barrier Reef, you should see his show first.

    If anyone cares, I've got a list of places I've been diving here. BTW, I learned to dive in Missouri...

  3. Other marine science/tech careers by hey! · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So you love the ocean. There's other ways to make a career as an ocean geek with better job prospects than marine biology. For example ocean engineering, or environmental consulting.

    Exactly how much on the short end of the job prospect lever are marine biologists? My wife has a MS in physical oceanography and beat out over 250 marine biologists for her current position, including many Phds(they already had plenty of marine biologists). Not to denigrate her abilties (physical oceanography is extremely difficult), but it probably wasn't coincidental she was the only physical oceanographer, and the outfit had plenty of marine bioligists and ecologists but nobody with physical oceanography knowledge.

    I also happen to know a number of marine biologists, but they ALL got their current positions through nontraditional (e.g. not tenure track academic). Some came to their jobs from moving between government regulation/research and private industry in mariculture (ocean farming); some moved between working at educational institutions like museums or environmental NGOs and environmental consulting companies. One even got to do research by landing a job as dive master for a university and moving up by being useful.

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  4. ah, the eternal dolphin question by jearbear · · Score: 2, Interesting

    First off, as a longtime reader and marine biologist, let me express my glee that we finally get something in /. - we're geeks too! heehee.

    Secondly, on the dolphin note.....well, funny y'all should mention this, as recently, a few marine bio friends and i were having a discussion on just this topic...It all started from how saying you were a marine biologist interested in learning the secret language of dolphins could be a great pickup line at a bar... The smell... well, isn't that what colgne is for!

    Hey, my girlfriend didn't my dead rockfish aroma TOO much....at first..