It's What You Know

There's a saying that recently I've had to modify to fit my current life.

"It's not what you know, but who you know. But once you know them, you better as hell know what you're doing!"

This seems to describe my current situation at the Government.

Let me start at the beginning.

TM is a grad student that was working in the same lab as me during my honours, and her co-supervisor is a researcher for the Government of Canada in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). When I was dramatically overemphasising my lack of work this summer (although at the time the plan was to sit around for 4 monhts...), she suggested I contact him and ask if he needed any assistance this summer.

I kicked it into gear and emailed him. I got a meeting, and left his office with a volunteer position in hand.

So you see? If I didn't know (and somewhat impress) TM, I would have never thought to really contact (name dropping helped) Dr. F and I wouldn't have gotten the position.

It's who you know.

But that's not the end, silly people...

I started editing photos of orcas for photo-ID. Then I reformatted their orca sightings database to fit the form of the East coast database. Then when that was all done, I made a narwhal sightings database and range map.

Then they figured they had the money to pay me casual (*happy face!*).

Now, I have found myself as the primary developer of a beluga ice entrapment database, which will be the basis of some kind of proposal and paper and I have no clue what else (because it's not my official project, I'm just the head of the work),

And they want to put me on contract work for it. And maybe pay me more (I didn't ask, because I'm not in it for the money).

And all this because it turns out I make a pretty good looking database and some pretty nifty maps (like the one I put here, because I <3 it).

Yeah, that's all me...

So it turns out, it is what you know. But also who you know. This year I discovered that I am completely shameless when it comes to using connections and name dropping like it's no tomorrow ( I even opened an email in Hebrew to a researcher I know is Israeli to get on her good side. It may have worked).

So my advice?? Know what you are doing, but don't be afraid to connect and name drop at all times. You never know who is going to come in handy!

Generation Z

I spent last week working at the Museum day camp to make a little extra cash this summer, on top of all the research (it's a busy summer!). While being fun and active, it's also a pretty educational camp, especially when you have a newly graduated biologist on Animal, Arctic and Alien day.

So I feel like I spent most of last week pushing environmental and conservation concerns onto the malleable minds of children.

Animal day: Humans are top predator in all habitats. We kill more animals in any environment than any predator anywhere. All we do is destroy.

Arctic day: Climate change is all our fault (sorry Dad!) and we are destroying our Earth and atmosphere (I added a bit on the Ozone layer). Everyone should stop driving and become vegetarians.

Alien day: The 'aliens' in our oceans are way better than the aliens that might be in space. Thank goodness NASA cut their shuttle program.

Okay, maybe I exaggerated (but not by much, I'm afraid), but it's pretty clear. I don't think I was lying (although my Dad might disagree with me re: climate change), but was I right in making and teaching these claims to kids?

I think I was. I mean, kids get smarter every generation with better access to information, and really, they are the ones that are going to make all the difference in the world ('Kids are the future' and all that).

I could go on, but I think this one is going to be a short post (tomorrow's will be longer, I'm sure!). More cliché lines of "plant the idea and grow the knowledge" or whatever, but this is what I leave you with.

I do believe that we have to teach the kids and work up from there. Even if one of those kids asks their parents to stop idling their car (like I do to my dad), it's a small step to a potentially healthy planet.

To Zoo or not to Zoo

Just a note, I really wish I hadn't used the title "Do's and Don't's" because  I wanted to do "Zoo's and Don't's" for this one... but I can't, so I won't. Oh well.

I am working for FA this summer. She is a grad student looking at infrasound in peacocks. Now you might be asking "You are in Canada eh? Where are you getting peacocks to study?" Well I'll tell you.

The city zoo.

I feel like the biology/zoology world is torn in two on whether zoos are good or bad. Obviously there is the issue of animals not being in the wild, being in cages too small, being bored and not learning key survival skills. Aquariums are on the same stand. Being forced to perform, in tanks where they can't swim at natural speeds etc....

And of course there are the accidents. People get lax around caged animals, so keepers are mauled by lions, Orcas (NOT killer whales!) drown their trainers and so many patrons injured by close encounters.

So with all the negative things that happen, why are zoos still open?

Well back back back in the day, when zoos were for entertainment only with no consideration for animal care, I would have to agree, with animals in mind, they were horrible. But times have changed. Exhibits are larger and more accurate, enrichment objects are better, and animal care protocol in general continues to raise the bar. So all in all, the animals themselves are not in the worst of conditions.

But Gaby, isn't it STILL better for them to be in the wild?


Yes, but you are missing one crucial part of most zoos and aquariums....

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS!


Without zoos and aquariums, how could we efficiently teach the public about the importance of conservation? Zoos and aquariums donate tons of money to conservation programs and many have conservation programs built in. And they are the best way to scream endangered and extirpated into the faces of people that have power to change things.

So zoos and aquariums.... conservation and public awareness. Maybe you may think it's cruel to make dolphins perform three times a day, but all of a sudden an audience of 200 know how intelligent these animals are; and if you tell them that these animals are being caught as bycatch in shrimp fisheries... just maybe we'll see a change. Plus all donations from the show goes to dolphin research and conservation.

So maybe zoos are bad and maybe they are good. I'm not here to change your mind, because it's hard for me to make mine up. Doing research at my city's zoo has me thinking they aren't that bad. And I'll admit I like a dolphin show because it's a show of intelligence, and maybe the dolphins are having a bit of fun. Who knows.

Maybe I'll ask my followers... Zoos/Aquariums: condemn or keep?

More About Me!

I just realized that I have been spouting out all this "wisdom" about becoming a marine biologist, without answering the question "What makes you qualified to tell me anything?"

The answer: I'm not. But I have been around the block at least once so far. And that makes me think I know a little something about nothing.

But just in case, here's a little more about me.

I am a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba. I have a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences with a focus in Evolution and Biodiversity. My degree is an honours degree and I wrote my thesis on sex-biased parasitism in Richardson's ground squirrels. It's not nearly as fancy as it may sound.

I was never told what it would take to be a marine biologist until my 2nd/3rd year of University. Oh, and it only took me 3 years to do my 4 year degree because my high school let me take my 1st year courses with them. So I was pretty much oblivious until it was almost too late.

Instead of working in a lab or offering my services to field work, I worked as a swimming instructor, camp counsellor and Museum Youth Programs worker. Instead of burying myself in the books in order to get all the A+'s, I had fun with friends and learned to swing dance.

So I am a little bit ahead and a little bit behind. But this has given me the chance to put off Masters for a little bit and an excellent opportunity to ask for a lot of help and advice from grad students and profs alike.

As for my future, it's a little blurry and a little clear. the exact details are blurry, I'm not sure when I'm getting my Masters or if I'll need a PhD (but "Dr." in front of my name is pretty tempting) but I do know what I want to research for the rest of my life (or as long as I possibly can).

And that is acoustics in blue whales. Particularly infrasonic communication in blue whales. infrasound is low frequency sound (less that 20 Hz) and for the most part only large animals can produce it vocally. Like blue whales. We know they make it but we don't know why or when and THAT"S what I want to find out.

So now my entire life is focused around getting to that goal. This summer I am working on marine mammal databases for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as a field assistant for a grad student working on infrasound in peacocks (who produce it with their train rather than vocally). One step closer....

Speak Loud!

Do's and Don't's

Here are the do's and don't's (I don't know if that's a real word....) of becoming a marine biologist

Do take all the best math and science classes you can in high school
Don't neglect your English class! Having good, clear and concise writing skills will come in handy (hence why I am struggling)

Do care about your grades starting as early as you can. It's about getting into the best university (with as many scholarships as you can).
Don't neglect the extra curriculars. Universities are looking for those!

Do work hard and save lots! Get used to having to earn money on top of school, because grad school doesn't pay much. Having a bit of a safety net is always good.
Don't put off travelling! I have, and I regret it. That being said, my personal goal is to have a career that travels a lot, so I felt like I could hold out for a while. Still on the fence about it.

Do find work in your field!! Something science related, in a lab or as a field assistant or even a data cruncher. I spent my high school/undergrad life doing jobs COMPLETELY unrelated to biology, and I am paying for it now.
Don't be unemployed if you can't find a lab job! Every job has skills that are important to biology, it's all about how you spin it!

Do take all the courses you can to give yourself all the skills and certifications you can! First Aid, Lifesaving, boating licence, scuba diving, etc.
Don't forget to take specific courses. Universities will offer courses like "marine ecology" or "coastal reef biodiversity", and those are what are going to make you stand out. But they cost. A lot. Just go to a university that offers a marine biology undergrad degree.

Do make 'friends' with your biology profs in University. If they know your name and know you are interested in their field, they will make GREAT connections and can be extremely helpful in progressing your career.
Don't believe that "C's get degrees"!!! Get the BEST grades you can, and if you need help ASK FOR IT!! Peers, profs, TAs, older friends, anyone who knows what they are doing can help YOU know what you are doing!

Do get an honours degree. While you are at it, do a co-op too. A general degree is 3 years, a honours is 4 but a honours co-op is six years but it has to be the best idea in the entire world!! I wish I had thought of it.
Don't be in any rush!! If research is what you want to do with your life, then any time you spend doing some is worth it, even without letters after your name (but those are pretty sweet). So do the volunteering, take the co-op, take almost any job offered to you and don't worry about how long it takes between degrees!

That's all I can think of for now. Learn young Jedis. Learn from all my mistakes and you will make it better than I will... wait a moment... damn.

It started with a dream....

No one seems to agree on when I wanted to become a marine biologist. My dad says it was when I was three and I saw a scuba diver feeding sharks and fish at an aquarium in Disney World. My mom might say it was when I was seven and made a diorama of a clown fish. I remember when I was eleven and read A Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L'Engle which is about a marine biologist and decided I wanted to work with dolphins. Or maybe I read it because I wanted to work with dolphins. Who knows.

All I know is that for longer than I can remember, I wanted to be a marine biologist. Sure, I thought about becoming a doctor, and yes I considered going into teaching, but through it all, marine biology has won out.

When you are a kid, "marine biology" meant playing with dolphins. When you are in middle school, it meant training dolphins. In high school, it means researching dolphins while scuba diving.

University dashes all those into pieces.

Now it means field work you can't afford, followed by hours and hours or sitting in front of a computer begging for money and crunching numbers, being rejected over and over for publishing and when you are finally accepted, you are torn apart limb from limb and scrutinized. Then you are published. Then repeat.

I still want it. So badly.

But nobody told me what I needed to do in order to be a marine biologist. So I wasted my high school away with extra circular activities and fun. And now, I am just trying to make my dream come true the hard way.

Join me in my adventures!