Will some of your students spend their careers in the aquatic or marine sciences? Could a young woman in your class grow up to be the director of a large, nationally-known aquarium? Or perhaps dive on a deep-sea submarine to discover a long-lost wreck?

Maybe one of the young men in your class will work as a biotechnologist, helping to develop new medicines to benefit all of mankind. Or one of your young minds will blossom into a great marine archaeologist, telling us once and for all if Atlantis is really out there.

As a teacher, you know better than anyone that ideas planted in fertile young minds can take root and influence an entire life. Since water covers more than 70% of our planet, there will always be challenging opportunities for those who choose to work in, on or around the water.

Aquatic careers are as varied as the habitats with which they are associated. While the oceans are the most obvious area of interest for aquatic and marine scientists, there are many other aquatic environments — lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and more. Exciting and rewarding careers in aquatics and marine sciences are virtually unlimited.

To start a discussion with your students of potential careers, here’s a short list of appropriate occupations:

RESEARCHERS

Often called marine biologists, aquatic biologists or aquatic ecologists, researchers study the creatures found in aquatic environments. They usually spend their time teaching, gathering data and conducting experiments.

BIOTECHNOLOGISTS

Using marine organisms to develop human medicines and other health aids.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS

These professionals work with governments, as well as builders and other private companies, to ensure that development does not encroach on fragile aquatic and wetland environments.

BOAT CAPTAIN   

Captains operate boats to harvest natural resources such as fish, crabs, oysters, shrimp, etc. Others operate boats for tourism, or to transport people and material over short or long distances. Some even hunt for shipwrecks or lost treasure. Consider the Titanic, or the now-famous treasure ship the Atocha.

AQUARISTS

They maintain exhibits at large public aquariums, while also teaching their colleagues and other interested people about aquariums and aquatic exhibits.

VETERINARIANS

These doctors take care of animals, and some of them specialize in the care of fish and other aquatic animals.

These are just a few of the careers available in aquatic sciences — a total list is limited only by your imagination. Ask your students to describe the activities undertaken by people in careers such as the following:

See Aquarium Education In The Classroom in the Language Arts section for a lesson plan about careers.

Portions of this page reprinted courtesy of the National Aquarium in Baltimore