College and careers

[HoldenOn]

Hey all,
I have to start preparing for college soon . I really didn't like anything at all till I started keeping fish and doing research on the way our tanks work. It's probably one of the most interesting things I can think of. Anyways, I was wondering what career paths there are in terms of marine biology/aquatic husbandry, and what they would entail. Thanks.

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

So depends on what you want to do but there is a wide range of opportunities for a degree in marine biology.

The most common one being aquaculture. But I have friends who did their MB degree with me and are now doing coral restoration in Aus, Marine mammal surveys, many work in Aquariums around the world, some consult for oil companies and make big money, some went into commercial diving, a lot work for government agencies monitoring endangered habitats.
There is a whole load you can do.
But my advice to you is if you are really interested in aquatic/marine biology do it, it doesn't close any doors when it comes to the wider biology field (as most techniques and processes are the same) Plus I always like to joke that 97% of all life is in the oceans thus statistically doing marine biology means you know everything

It is a good solid science subject which opens up the whole science job market, plus you can go on a do PhD's should you be interested pursuing a research career.
If you don't want a research career you can stop at a BSc and get a decent job from there.

the way you make the most of these things is to take advantage of every opportunity you can that the Uni or wider group offers. Like in many cases if you do the bare minimum you wont get the best outcome. But if you volunteer, do extra courses, network, find avenues of information you will really get ahead.

Now I wont publicly go into specifics about my MB career ( for certain reasons), but if you want to know more about what I did for my career after a BSc in MB drop me a message.

 

[Colin_T]

Biology or marine biology.

If you want to do aquaculture, that can normally be done in TAFE or its equivalent in other countries. TAFE is more hands on where college is more study at university.

 

[HoldenOn]

I really think I found a career I would actually like. That is all very helpful info. I like to think I work pretty hard, so doing extra really just sounds like fun with this subject matter . I'll definitely PM you when I get home.

 

[HoldenOn]

I think I could get into UCSD, which is a really good marine biology school in my country. Hypothetically if I were to take a marine biology course, how would I get involved in projects like your friends doing coral restoration.

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

If you want to do aquaculture, that can normally be done in TAFE or its equivalent in other countries. TAFE is more hands on where college is more study at university.

Yeah there is a few similar things available in the UK, Places such as Sparsholt but from my experience employers in Aquaculture don't tend to prefer one over the other.

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

I think I could get into UCSD, which is a really good marine biology school in my country. Hypothetically if I were to take a marine biology course, how would I get involved in projects like your friends doing coral restoration.

Yeah Scripts is a good place to go. have a look around as different institutions specialise in certain areas.

Well best thing to do is to try and work with people doing that sort of research at the institution you go to. So you should be able to find faculty and their specialities and research interests. For example here are the people at Scripts who do the work on that. https://scripps.ucsd.edu/research/topics/coral-reef-biology-and-ecology
If you go there on Day 1 after all the introduction and stuff. Talk to them about your interest and enquire if they need undergrad help on any projects ongoing or in the future. PhD's often need help in the lab ect.
But don't limit yourself to one thing, go to a few people who's work you are interested in and ask if they need help.
Eg when I did my undergrad I helped with Diving surveys, lobster culture, jellyfish culture, evolution and climate change experiments, fish nutrition trials, environmental surveys, public outreach. As well as so many lab techniques.
Try and get a wide base of experience which you can build on in the future.

 

[HoldenOn]

Yeah Scripts is a good place to go. have a look around as different institutions specialise in certain areas.

Well best thing to do is to try and work with people doing that sort of research at the institution you go to. So you should be able to find faculty and their specialities and research interests. For example here are the people at Scripts who do the work on that. https://scripps.ucsd.edu/research/topics/coral-reef-biology-and-ecology
If you go there on Day 1 after all the introduction and stuff. Talk to them about your interest and enquire if they need undergrad help on any projects ongoing or in the future. PhD's often need help in the lab ect.
But don't limit yourself to one thing, go to a few people who's work you are interested in and ask if they need help.
Eg when I did my undergrad I helped with Diving surveys, lobster culture, jellyfish culture, evolution and climate change experiments, fish nutrition trials, environmental surveys, public outreach. As well as so many lab techniques.
Try and get a wide base of experience which you can build on in the future.

Thanks so much . That's great advice!

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

Thanks so much . That's great advice!

It's ok, I had to figure it all out when I was doing mine. So if you have any questions just ask

 

[ClownLurch]

Thanks so much . That's great advice!

Sounds it to me.
Careers are as much about who you know as what you know. Whatever road you go down the more contacts you have the wider a road it’ll be. Don’t forget us back here though.

 

[HoldenOn]

Sounds it to me.
Careers are as much about who you know as what you know. Whatever road you go down the more contacts you have the wider a road it’ll be. Don’t forget us back here though.

I'll make sure to mention you in my entrance essay lol.