Wanna be a Marine Biologist?
“When I grow up I’m going to be a marine biologist!” These were the words that I, like many tweens and teens, expressed when asked: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Back then, the internet world was a much, much smaller place and basic information gathering about this field was more difficult. I didn’t know anyone who had a relative, a friend or even a friend of a friend in this field, so most of my research about this field focused on looking for universities that offered marine biology, marine science and environmental science programs. It was a good first step back then, but today we have plenty of information about this career field, how to prepare and obtain degrees in this field and what employment opportunities are available once you complete your degree(s). Not going to lie, I’m truly envious of how accessible this all is now.
To help you in your research about this field and point you to some reliable, no-holds-barred and tell it like it really is type resources, I’ve created this list that covers things like what marine biology is and isn’t, what kind of courses you’ll need, other opportunities to think about, career paths and lots of other helpful resources. Happy researching!
1. So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist, by the Love Lab at UCSB
2. So You Want to Be A Marine Biologist: Deep Sea News Edition, by Deep Sea News
3. Wanna Be a Marine Biologist? Here’s How, by National Geographic
4. Becoming a Marine Biologist, Stony Brook University
5. Careers in Marine Biology, by NOAA
6. Schools that offer marine biology programs, Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence
7. Internships and Scholarships, by Marine Advanced Technology Education
8. Listing of internships and job postings, by Florida Sea Grant (updated weekly)
One final note, I’ll leave you with this last graphic by Jarrett Byrnes. While it’s a jaded view of marine biology, it’s also fairly accurate. So, which picture most closely resembled your image of being a marine biologist?
