Ocean Related Jobs
The following are “classical” jobs that exist in the ocean. Today, there are many hybrids of these jobs, e.g. that of an ecologist, climatologist, biogeochemist, etc., that combine various disciplines.Physical Oceanographer
A physical oceanographer studies the motion (waves, currents) of the sea, does numerical modelling, collects data at sea, publishes papers, studies the heat flux and volume transport of currents, impact of atmosphere on oceans and vice versa. University subjects: physical oceanography, physics, mathematics, meteorology.
Marine Biologist
A marine biologist studies the living creatures of the sea, like the marine fauna (fish, mammals, lobsters, plankton, etc) and flora (different types of sea weed). The person will collect data at sea using nets and other means (also diving), and classify living organisms in terms of taxonomy. The interaction between different animals in terms of the food chain, the response to external impacts (e.g. fishing, climate change), determine fishing quotas, save endangered species University subjects: (marine) zoology, botany, taxonomy, chemistry.
Marine Chemist
A marine chemist studies the chemistry of the sea, by collecting samples of the sediment or tissue at sea or on the beach, determine the chemical constituents in an analytical laboratory. The outcome will be used to determine the presence of pollutants like heavy metals carried to sea in residential and industrial effluent. flora (different types of sea weed). University subjects: chemistry (organic, inorganic). oceanography.
Marine Geologist
A marine geologist studies the structure of the sea bottom and the earth’s crust. Of interest would be the exploration of minerals on the sea bed, but also for oil and gas in the sub bottom strata. University subjects: geology, geomorphology.
Ocean related Job Descriptions
a few moments with the people…George Branch
Job title: Professor of Zoology
Employed/funded by: UCT
How long?: (Starting from beginning of MSc) Since the Dinosaurs were roaming ...
1965!
Why did you choose this career?: A passionate interest in animal life and the sea.
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
job/field of study? I came on holiday at the age of 15, discovered a new species
of sea-spider (new, according to Frank Talbot, who was then in charge of marine
science at the SA Museum), and got hooked!
What are one or two positive aspects of your job? Unending pleasure of working with
postgraduate students. Continual excitement of communicating science.
What is something you would like to see change or be improved upon in your field
in South Africa and/or iternationally? A few years knocked off my age? Greater cohesion
at MCM between scientists and managers? A more dynamic role by SANCOR: it should
go far beyond having a liaison function? An integrated cross-institutional MSc for
marine management? More acceptance of responsibility among fishers?
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to a young person aspiring to
follow in your footsteps? If you have a passion, follow it. Life’s too short to
drink cheap red wine when you can suck up the fullness of life.
Prof John Field
Posistion/career/job title: Professor Employed/funded by: UCT (retired)
How long?: (Starting from beginning of MSc) A lifetime.
Why did you choose this career?: Love of the sea.
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
job/field of study? I was planning to major in Physics and Chemistry, and did Zoology
as an extra in first year because the Prof was a marine biologist. I liked it so
much that I changed to major in Zoology and Chemistry. After Hons I was offered
a job as a research assistant while I did my PhD. What are one or two positive aspects
of your job? I like the variety of an academic career (teaching and research, and
changing topics) and the opportunity of change through sabbaticals overseas.
What is something you would like to see change or be improved upon in your field
in south africa and/or internationally? A broader based training in all aspects
of marine science.
What is one piece of advice or tip you would like to give to a young person aspiring
to follow in your footsteps? Put your heart into what you do and don't plan your
career too far ahead, but take advantage of opportunities that come your way.
Warren Ryan Joubert
Full name: Warren Ryan Joubert (pictured with his wife Brigitta)
Job title: Researcher in Marine Chemistry and also a Ph.D student in Oceanography
Employed/funded by: CSIR.
How long?: MSC commenced in 2004 Why did you choose this career?: Partly curiosity,
partly opportunities.
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
job/field of study? Having an enquiring attitude (curiosity) regarding how stuff
works made me choose to pursue science at tertiary level, with chemistry as a focus.
Also studying hard to secure a bursary from CSIR for my undergraduate studies.
What are one or two positive aspects of your job? Using state-of-the-art technology
to answer questions about the oceans’ role in interacting with the atmosphere. Going
to sea on international research campaigns to interrogate the ocean. Also interacting
with colleagues globally.
What is something you would like to see change or be improved upon in your field
in south africa and/or iternationally? That sufficient opportunities are created
for young people, including proper mentors, to pursue a career in science.
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to a young person aspiring to
follow in your footsteps?Whatever direction they pursue, hard work and effort will surely be rewarded.
Dr. Sandy Thomalla
Full name: Dr. Sandy Thomalla
Job title: BioGeo Chemist Employed/funded by: CSIR.
How long?: 10 years.
Why did you choose this career?: Originally interested in marine biology, but in
order to understand t he biology you have to get involved with the physics and the
chemistry of the sea and so it began... I also love going to sea and the relevance
of my work within our daily lives.
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
job/field of study? See above.
What are one or two positive aspects of your job? Going to sea and addressing large
scale physical, chemical, and biological processes.
What is something you would like to see change or be improved upon in your field
in south africa and/or iternationally? Greater interaction between various groups
in oceanography in order to address and answer the system scale questions.
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to a young person aspiring to
follow in your footsteps? Speak to people in whatever field you are pursuing , look
at what research opportunities are available and APPLY!
Nicholas Christopher Moyo
Full name: Nicholas Christopher Moyo
Job title: UCT Oceanography Department M Sc in Applied Marine Science and Earth
Systems Science 2009 Employed/funded by: NRF & POGO.
How long?: 1 year.
Why did you choose this career?: Quite interesting to learn how the oceans and the
atmosphere works and their influence on our every day activities.
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
Job/field of study? I am an Agrometeorologist by training and I wanted to expand
my knowledge on ocean dynamics.
What are one or two positive aspects of your job? It is diverse and therefore it
is applicable across my fields of study.
What is something you would like to see Change or be improved upon in your field
in South Africa and/or iternationally? To have more people from different disciplines
studying Marine and Earth systems Science.
What is one piece of advice you would like to Give to a young person aspiring to
follow in Your footsteps? Having science and maths as priority subjects at a tender
age is the key to all scientific fields.
Dr Isabelle Ansorge
Full name: Dr Isabelle Ansorge
Job title: Senior Lecturer (from 1st Jan 2010) in the Oceanography Dept. UCT.
How long?: position since 2006, MSC 1996, PhD 2000 research associate 2001 – 2005.
Why did you choose this career?: Love the sea! and especially the wild stormy Southern
Ocean. In 1983 I spent 6 months on a sail training tall ship sailing from England
to India and across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town - that experience sold me for
life!
What led you to your initial choices and what circumstances led you to your current
job/field of study? See above
What are one or two positive aspects of your job? Love lecturing and going to sea
- students keep me young!
What is something you would like to see change or be improved upon in your field
in south Africa and/or internationally? More women in ocean sciences, more funding
and better equipment! but I think we are all doing a good job here in SA!
What is one piece of advice you would like to give to a young person aspiring to
follow in your footsteps? Don't get too stuck behind an office desk - make sure
as an oceanographer or oceanography student you get your hands wet at least once
a year!! .
Dr Mathieu Rouault
Mathieu Rouault is a Principal Research officer, Oceanographer, Meteorologist and Climatologist. He is employed by UCT and is also self-funded by grants and proposals that he submits to various agencies. He has been working in this field for 25 years.
Why this particular career path? “I love the ocean and wanted to have a job related
to the ocean. It worked”.
And being from France, why did you choose South Africa? “It was the end of apartheid
and I wanted to do something useful for the new South Africa. Also I had heard the
surf was good...”
Positive aspects of the job? “It's useful to society and very interesting. Also
you meet and work with interesting people from all around the world”.
Something you would like to see change? “I wish many of my colleagues were less
selfish and ego driven”.
Advice for aspiring Oceanographers? “Visit and talk to professionals in the field
you want to be in. We always have time for motivated young persons”.
Janine Basson
And she rock climbs too!!!!
Janine Basson is a Programme Officer in the Fisher and Consumer Outreach
department with WWF South Africa.
Her work and University history?: I worked for the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries
and Marine Resources (MFMR) for 5 years (from 2003 to beginning 2009) after completing
my Honours at UCT, during which time I completed my MSc part-time and through UCT
as well. I started with WWF SA on the 12th of May this year (2009).
Why this particular career path? I kind of fell into marine science. I happened
to be good at maths, physics, chemistry and biology. I was also good at art and
singing, but thought that could be my back up plan. I started at UCT doing a double
major in oceanography and zoology, with no interest whatsoever in Marine Biology.
I was interested in more creative things, like drawing and singing … I don’t really
know why I never went into theatre. My path to conservation was never an active
one but, now that I find myself here, I realise that this is where my path was meant
to lead; my interest is really peaked and has become focussed on the application
of research to bettering people’s livelihoods.
When I started realising where my real interest lay, I looked into doing my masters.
And the rest, as they say, is history! When I completed my honours, I had a huge
study loan to pay off and no interest in studying further whatsoever. While employed
at the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and as part of a BCLME
(Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem) project, I became involved in a Birdlife
and WWF South Africa project as the Namibian coordinator. The project was aimed
at assessing the bycatch of Seabirds, Turtles and Sharks in longline operations
in the Benguela Large Current Marine Ecosystem. This was markedly the first marine
conservation project I was involved in and certainly the one that helped me grow
the most.
Advice for young folks who want to follow in your footsteps? I would advise them
to study hard and always try to keep in mind where what you are studying fits into
the bigger picture of conservation. Read up on as much extra material as you can,
learn as much as you can of what is happening in the rest of the world, and get
an idea of why you are studying, where you want to end up. And keep this goal firmly
in mind.
To meet other interesting people working in your local ocean environment follow
this link http://act.rsmas.miami.edu/