Saturday, June 23, 2012

Immerse Yourself In The Deep Blue Sea With A Career As A Marine Life Technician

Immerse Yourself In The Deep Blue Sea With A Career As A Marine Life Technician


Are you one of those people who have a fascination for the underworld? Do you enjoy strapping on scuba gear and plunging down into the ocean's depth to commune with marine life? Many people find life under the sea a lot more interesting than life on dry land.If your dream is to have a career involving the ocean, you may want to consider earning a marine technician Associate's degree.Marine life techs typically work under the tutelage of marine biologists.The marine biologist's job is to study living organisms inhabiting the oceans.Consequently, the responsibilities of the technician is to assist the biologist by studying marine life with the purpose of finding answers to some of the biggest problems in the world, including new food and energy sources, medicines, and new methods of weather control.Responsibilities of the technician do not begin and end in the depths of the ocean.They complete a variety of tasks and work in the laboratories where they assist marine biologists with studying ocean life and the environmental conditions that affect it.For example, they may be charged with testing samples of seawater to determine temperature, saltiness, and pollution levels.Some techs work in a lab that specializes in certain forms of life.For example, in an oyster lab, a one might study oyster larvae to determine if it could be produced commercially in a laboratory setting.The same experiments might be conducted in similar laboratories with an emphasis on a specific marine species to produce cancer-fighting agents.Besides ocean and laboratory duties, a marine life technician might be a specialist on a fishing boat or fish-processing ship, where he or she might gather and process organisms that are used for research or biological specimens.These individuals may also be tasked with photographing specimens in their natural habitats through photomicrography (microscopic photos).Technicians are required to use a variety of equipment including microscopes, pH meters, spectrophotometers, and other analytical instruments.Preparation for becoming a marine life technician should begin early on.First, you must have a genuine interest in the field.Reading related books and watching documentaries would offer insight into the field.High school hopefuls should take as many math and science classes before entering a college program.Two years of study at a community college or enrolling in a biological science degree program will prepare a person for a career as in this field.Foundational college courses for this profession are biology, chemistry, zoology, and marine botany.Students should be aware that the employment outlook in this field is highly competitive.The need for marine scientists and technicians far exceeds the demand, and the number of government jobs (significant employers) is limited.So, you should be very sure this is the field of study you want to pursue.The median salary for a biological technician is just above $25,000, not the largest salary but can be totally worth it if you enjoy the ocean.

Immerse Yourself In The Deep Blue Sea With A Career As A Marine Life Technician



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