Marine Biology?
The Canon
am 26, have a degree (and career) in Computer Animation (web sites,
interactive presentations, 3d animations, etc.), and am looking into going
back to school to change careers. I am very interested in Marine Biology
and I am trying to gather as much information as I can before I make the
decision to go back to school for that. Does anyone have any good info that
would help me? Things like: What is a good school to go to? What kind of
job can I expect to get when I finish school? What is the salary range I
can expect? And any other answers that you think would help. Again, I
don't know if this is the right group to be asking this. If not, I
apologize.
--
"Temet Nosce"
-Jason Fincanon
http://fincanon.com
R. Martin
IMO you will make more money in what your doing now than in marine
biology, all other things being equal. I would surmise you are
considering this career move because you don't like your present job.
If so, perhaps you should consider getting a different job doing
more or less what you are now, just to see if it is the particular
job, and not the field, you're dissatisfied with. You might even
find a job doing computer animation related to marine biology.
If you've already decided it is the field that you don't like,
then realize you'll probably be doing it for the love of the
work because most areas of science are not particularly good these
days in terms of long term career prospects, especially considering
the effort it takes to get a Ph.D. (if you want to go that far).
However some areas have good job prospects (there is always
uncertainty whether they still will when you've finished school),
and perhaps someone more familiar with the field can tell us whether
marine biology is hot at the moment. Just my relatively uniformed
opinion, since I only have peripheral contact with marine biology and
computer animation. Good luck whatever you decide.
Regards,
Russell
The Canon
to, if I wanted to look further into doing computer animation for marine
biology? Also, If I did that, how much do you think it would help if I went
ahead and went back to school for Marine Biology (or just Biology for that
matter) and tried to combine the two degrees somehow? The thing is that I
am one of those people that is always searching for new things to learn and
fill my head. I have always been interested in, and extremely amazed by,
the ocean and everything in it but, until now, thought that it would be too
hard to learn and apply.
--
"Temet Nosce"
-The Canon
http://fincanon.com
ja...@fincanon.com
R. Martin wrote in message <39A8C9...@wdn.com>...
R. Martin
>
> Thank you, very helpful. Do you know where I might go, or who I might talk
> to, if I wanted to look further into doing computer animation for marine
> biology? Also, If I did that, how much do you think it would help if I went
> ahead and went back to school for Marine Biology (or just Biology for that
> matter) and tried to combine the two degrees somehow? The thing is that I
> am one of those people that is always searching for new things to learn and
> fill my head. I have always been interested in, and extremely amazed by,
> the ocean and everything in it but, until now, thought that it would be too
> hard to learn and apply.
>
It is kind of hard to say. Jobs that are interdisciplinary in
nature are often hard to track down. Just some ideas of where to look:
1. Aquariums - you might end up working at one of these if you
become a marine biologist anyway. See if any of them have websites.
Check if they are looking for web people, especially one who could
jazz up their site with nifty, educational animations. The ones
I've been to have computers with educational games, etc. as well
as tanks full of sea life, so there would be work in that area, too.
Check out the National Aquarium in Baltimore, New England Aquarium in
Boston, Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, I believe there is a big
new one in Houston and a couple of more going up (maybe Atlanta and New
Orleans?). Also Sea World and other such places.
2. Scripps, Woods Hole, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center,
other research organizations - Again they might love a good web person
who is interested in helping them get their message out in a visually
appealing, yet factually accurate, way.
3. NOAA - Government jobs don't pay real well, but the benefits are
good.
4. Disney Studios - I don't know, it might be worth a shot. Like I
say, this kind of job is not what you'd generally find in the Sunday
job ads. You could end up doing the animated "Free Willy VI" or
something. Just a thought.
You'll probably improve your employability in marine biology if you
get a degree in it. It is just a question of whether the payback,
monetarily, intellectually, emotionally, etc., is worth the effort and
sacrifices of going back to school. It is a good time to do it while
you're young (although people do so at all ages). I took a second
crack at grad school when I was 28. The toughest part was giving up
the affluent lifestyle I had become used to while working ;-) and going
back to living like a student.
Regards,
Russell
Grzegorz Odor
> Thank you, very helpful. Do you know where I might go, or who I might talk
> to, if I wanted to look further into doing computer animation for marine
> biology? Also, If I did that, how much do you think it would help if I went
> ahead and went back to school for Marine Biology (or just Biology for that
> matter) and tried to combine the two degrees somehow? The thing is that I
> am one of those people that is always searching for new things to learn and
> fill my head. I have always been interested in, and extremely amazed by,
> the ocean and everything in it but, until now, thought that it would be too
> hard to learn and apply.
>
Have you checked www.marinecareers.com ?
There is plenty of stuff about different fields in marine related jobs.
Grzegorz