To become a marine biologist, start by developing an interest in marine life and taking math and science classes in high school. Look for a college with a marine science program and gain field experience through internships. Specialize in a particular aspect of the field and pursue additional education to become more employable. Marine biologists work in various roles, including research, education, and consulting for industries and conservation organizations.
There are many steps in the process of becoming a marine biologist, and many people start very young, laying the groundwork for their university studies. The first and most important step is an interest in marine life and the oceans, as being a marine biologist would not be very pleasant if you were not interested in the subjects of study.
Marine biologists study ocean life, ranging from huge whales to tiny planktonic organisms. They have access to some of the most interesting places in the world, including hydrothermal vents, which are home to bizarre organisms that use chemosynthesis to obtain energy. The ocean is largely uncharted territory, which means there’s a lot of work to be done in marine biology, from monitoring commercial fishery populations to studying global ocean temperature and its effects on marine life.
If you want to get a job as a marine biologist then you should start as early as possible because there is a lot of math and science to absorb. In high school, attending math and science classes is a huge help, and if you can access marine biology courses at your school or a local college, you should definitely consider them. You might also want to see if you can intern with a marine biologist or spend your summer working in a marine biology lab, to get an idea of the hands-on work required.
For college, if you want to become a marine biologist, you should select an institution with a marine science program, and ideally, you should find a school that is affiliated with a research center. This will give you the opportunity to gain real field experience and allow you to work in a wide variety of facets of marine biology to see what interests you most. After graduating with a marine biology degree, you may be able to find work in the field, but you may want to pursue graduate work to become a better qualified marine biologist. Additional education will expand your depth of knowledge and make you more employable.
You may find that when you become a marine biologist, a particular aspect of the field interests you, such as microscopic organisms, marine mammals, marine habitats, coral reefs, or any number of topics. Many marine biologists discover what they want to specialize in when they work with experienced biologists in the field, getting a feel for what day-to-day work is like. You might, for example, find that while you are fascinated by ocean life in deep-sea trenches, you dislike working remotely to study organisms of interest. Or that you’re drawn to education, the zoo, or a variety of other careers in marine biology.
Marine biologists work as field and laboratory researchers, educators, and consultants. Oil companies, military and fisheries need marine biologists to monitor their operations and provide suggestions for increasing efficiency and environmentally friendly practices. Marine biologists also work with conservation organizations, wildlife advocacy groups, zoos and national governments, among others, so there is plenty of room for employment in this field.
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