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<\/figure>\nHow do you become a marine scientist?<\/h2>\n
Like the sound of studying our seas and oceans to glean invaluable insights into the role they play in our ever-changing world? Perhaps you\u2019ve fallen in love with our animals<\/a> and are keen to work closely with them as a marine biologist?<\/p>\n We can\u2019t tell you that becoming a marine scientist or marine biologist is easy. You\u2019ll need a good head for science and a strong aptitude for learning, not to mention a relevant university degree in a field like marine biology, animal science or zoology. Of course, there are lots of transferable skills required too, including attention to detail, teamwork, observation skills and analytical thinking.<\/p>\n But what we can tell you is that a super rewarding career awaits. No matter how small, every marine scientist and biologist plays a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our seas and oceans \u2013 whether that\u2019s researching water quality or pioneering new conservation techniques.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s your life\u2019s ambition to become a marine scientist, you\u2019ll certainly be in good company. Thousands of talented, knowledgeable and inspirational scientists have devoted their lives to studying our seas and oceans, to the point where we had a pretty hard time narrowing it down to the seven figures listed below.<\/p>\n But with that said, here are the researchers we chose as our leading lights of the field of marine science and biology \u2013 from Rachel Carson to Charles Wyville Thomson.<\/p>\n Credited with huge advancements in the field of marine conservation, US biologist Rachel Carson was one of the figureheads of the 20th century\u2019s environmental movement. Raised in Pennsylvania, Carson spent much of her career working for the US Bureau of Fisheries, a role which gave her unique insights into the health of our seas. Among other accolades, Carson is credited with raising awareness of the dangers of synthetic pesticides, culminating in the ban on DDT in 1972.<\/p>\n Born in Cyprus in 1962, the late, great Ruth Gates would go on to devote her life to the conservation and protection of coral reef systems. Having attended Newcastle University, where she studied biology, Gates later became the first woman to be made President of the International Society for Reef Studies. In her later years, Gates moved to Hawaii where she continued her research in earnest, becoming the Director of the Hawai\u02bbi Institute of Marine Biology \u2013\u00a0one of the world\u2019s most esteemed centres for multi-disciplinary research into our seas and oceans.<\/p>\n The opportunity to swim with sharks at Blue Planet Aquarium<\/a> might not have been possible without the tireless work of legendary marine biologist Eugenie Clark. Born in New York in 1922, Eugenie Clark earned the affectionate moniker of \u201cThe Shark Lady\u201d thanks to her tireless work in helping to raise the profile of these often-misunderstood creatures. A skilled ichthyologist (a fancy term for someone who studies fish), Clark spent much of her career researching sharks and is today credited with helping to rid them of their bad reputation. Interestingly, Clark is also famous for helping to pioneer the use of scuba diving equipment to aid marine research.<\/p>\n An expert oceanographer and explorer, New Jersey-born Sylvia Alice Earle has devoted her life to researching the properties of the sea, and continues to do so to this day. In 1990, Earle became the first woman to be appointed as Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government body responsible for safeguarding the health of the water around the US seaboard. Earle\u2019s work for NOAA coupled with successful expeditions to the Caribbean and the Galapagos led her to be named Hero for the Planet by Time magazine in 1998.<\/p>\n Australian oceanographer Leanne Armand is among a list of scientists credited with invaluable research into the Southern Ocean \u2013 one of the least-studied oceans on our planet. Along with pioneering new techniques on the identification of plankton, Armand became one of the first researchers to raise the question of a correlation between climate change and melting sea ice, devoting much of her later career to studying ocean temperatures. Armand is also recognised for her work in helping other women to enter the field of marine science and biology, having mentored several high-profile researchers who are still working today.<\/p>\n Few names are as synonymous with oceanography and marine science as pioneering French scientist Jacques Cousteau. Born in 1910, Cousteau would go on to have a truly colourful and momentous life, from his time as a naval officer to his filmmaking days in the 1960s. Of course, from a marine science perspective, Cousteau is perhaps best known as the inventor of the \u201caqualung\u201d, the world\u2019s first underwater respiratory device, from which all modern scuba equipment is still derived. If it wasn\u2019t for Cousteau, his aqualung, and his momentous documentaries, the world of marine exploration, discovery and education would be very different.<\/p>\n Knighted for his work in the field of early oceanography, Scottish scientist and historian Charles Wyville Thomson was one of the figureheads of marine research in the 19th century. Having worked in several university lecturing roles early in his career, Thomson was selected to carry out ocean telegraphy work for the Royal Navy, leading to several highly successful expeditions from 1868 onwards. The biggest and most fruitful of these research voyages came in 1872 when Thomson set sail aboard the HMS Challenger on a global expedition of some 68,890 nautical miles, during which Thomson discovered a host of new species and the deepest trench on Earth, the Mariana.<\/p>\n Here at Blue Planet Aquarium, we employ marine biologists to oversee the safety and wellbeing of our animals, whilst also partnering with conservation groups to promote the health of our seas and oceans. From safeguarding sharks with Bite-Back to protecting bees with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust \u2013 be sure to check out all the different ways<\/a> we\u2019re working to help protect our natural world for future generations.<\/p>\n We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this fascinating glimpse into some of our favourite marine scientists. If you\u2019d like to talk to our resident marine experts here at Blue Planet Aquarium, <\/strong>tap here to plan your next visit<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"7 of the world\u2019s most influential marine scientists<\/h2>\n
1. Rachel Carson<\/h3>\n
2. Ruth Gates<\/h3>\n
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<\/figure>\n3. Eugenie Clark<\/h3>\n
4. Sylvia Alice Earle<\/h3>\n
5. Leanne Armand<\/h3>\n
6. Jacques Cousteau<\/h3>\n
7. Charles Wyville Thomson<\/h3>\n
Our contributions at Blue Planet Aquarium<\/h2>\n