Subject: Career in Marine Mammal Science
Lindsay J Porter (h9390327@hkucc.hku.hk)
Sun, 5 Apr 1998 21:31:41 +0800 (HKT)
>I would like to know what would be a good field of work to go into if I want
>to have hands-on experience and work with marine mammals, especially whales
>and dolphins. I would also like to know where some good schools are located
>in the US that I could study at for this type of work, and what degree I
>should seek.
>
Dear Jessica
I paste below a reply I have used for similar questions to yours. I am
afraid that I am unsure of which schools offer what in the US (having never
had anything to do with studying there).
'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science',
Society for Marine Mammalogy's website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm
There are two types of voluntary work you could apply for - one where you
pay nothing (a true volunteer) or one where you actually pay to join a
research programme (as a type of adventure holiday). I shall include some
places which may take on volunteers and email addresses for those that are
paying holidays. These 'paying' volunteer projects also have various
overseas expeditions.
Paying Research
Earthwatch The website has lots of information on all projects, I have
listed the sites specific to marine mammals
http://www.earthwatch.org/
680 Mt. Auburn St.,
P.O. Box 403,
Watertown,
Massachusetts 02272;
email: info@earthwatch.org
http://www.earthwatch.org/x/Xkoelsch.html MANATEES Florida
http://www.earthwatch.org/x/Xbalcombo.html ORCAS Washington
http://www.earthwatch.org/x/Xwellsr.html BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS Florida.
This is a very good programme. I know several people who have taken part and
all comments have been very positive and enthusiatic (to contact this
laboratory direct: Dr. Randy Wells
Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Thompson
Parkway, Sarasota, FL. 34236)
Whalewatching website. This site has a lot of information on all aspects of
whale watching, research, education and related groups.
http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/
email: lauhakangas@phcu.helsinki.fi
Oceanography www site list This site lists many institutes that conduct
research and includes those that require volunteers
http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/oceano.html
email: lauhakangas@phcu.helsinki.fi
Prof. G.A.J. Worthy
Director, Physiological Ecology and Bioenergetics Lab
and
Director, Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
This is one of the largest and most successful Marine Mammal stranding
programmes. Volunteers are always require although I believe that all
summer interns are either University or college level.
Texas A&M University,
5001 Avenue U, Suite 105
Galveston, TX 77551 USA
(409) 740-4905 fax
http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/
>
Centre for Coastal Studies
All year round whale and dolphin cruises and research, which take summer
interns of all ages
http://www.provincetown.com/coastalstudies
The Center for Coastal Studies
Box 1036,
Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-3622
email: ccswhale@wn.net
Additionlly, there is the Green Guide - website listing projects which need
volunteers - found on
http://www.greenvol.com.
Lindsay J Porter
email h9390327@hkucc.hku.hk
Dolphin Research Group
The Swire Institute of Marine Science
The University of Hong Kong
Cape d'Aguilar
Hong Kong
website: http://www.webdivers.co.uk/dolphin/index.html