Describe your current job
Together with my husband, Chris, we run our own conservation-based, educational media company called "earthOCEAN."
I just completed a five and a half-year global science and education expedition working with a US-based, non-governmental organization called the Ocean Alliance. The "Voyage of the Odyssey" circumnavigated the globe from 2000-2005 collecting tiny tissue samples from sperm whales to assess the levels of man-made, chemical pollutants in the ocean. As well as participating in all aspects of scientific data collection onboard, including genetic, toxicology, acoustic and behavioral data, I run a comprehensive education program utilizing the science of the expedition and multimedia technology to interest students in the oceans and the many issues affecting whales and all marine life as a direct result of human activities.
As well as participating directly in the research, which includes finding, tracking, and biopsying sperm whales, I am the voice for the expedition and the results we are finding in our data, while also writing stories online, providing materials to teachers, and talking with students about the importance of a healthy ocean environment. We produced a Web site via satellite hosted by PBS – www.pbs.org/odyssey.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Talking with teachers and students in every port we visit about the animals we have seen in their waters. There are no clean, pristine areas of ocean left, so I particularly enjoy seeing young people take on local issues and try to make a difference to their marine environment and then move forward and educate others about what they have learned.
I also enjoy being at sea for extended periods of time and away from the crowded, fast-paced consumer lifestyle we are so used to. Spending time in remote places among wild creatures gives you a different perspective on what our priorities in life should be.
What do you enjoy the least about your job?
Spending years at a time away from friends and family. Encountering those whose actions are negatively impacting the marine environment but who continue to do so for lack of an alternative and the need to feed their families.
What key events in your childhood most influenced your current career?
Spending time in the ocean whenever I was given the opportunity and growing up always surrounded by animals. I remember growing up in the 70s and 80s and witnessing the devastating impact humanity was having on the oceans, whaling, over fishing, cyanide use on coral reefs, etc. I knew as I grew up I had to work to become part of the solution to this growing problem.
Do you have any funny stories about lab experiences or adventures in the field?
Having spent the past five years at sea, I have endured all kinds of weather, including cyclones that generated 60 knot winds and 30 foot waves, and endless hours of new crew being sea sick. I watched helplessly as the boat began to fill with water a thousand miles from land in all directions. I have jumped into massive clouds of whale poop to collect samples and was almost squashed when a sperm whale rose from the depths beneath me to breach and almost landed on top of me.
The one constant of life at sea is the fact that your home is always moving. This means that anything not secured will end up on the floor. Simple, everyday tasks take on a whole new meaning. Cooking, eating, getting dressed, having a shower, even sleeping are difficult, and you often need to be tied down to avoid rolling off the bed. Although often frustrating at the time, I look back and smile at the number of meals that ended up on the floor or the days and weeks I went without a shower!
Do you play any sports or have any favorite hobbies/special interests?
Swimming, diving, and reading.
What contribution would you most like to make to science in the next five years?
I would like to be the bridge between science and the global community through education. There is a lot of incredible science being conducted around the globe, but very little of it has a clear, strong educational voice that offers constructive solutions to people about how they can help make a difference. There is no point doing the research if no one is going to know about it.
Do you have any advice for an aspiring high school student who might want to pursue your career?
It is always important to listen to and respect your parents and your teachers. However, it is equally important to follow your dreams without deterrent. You will only find happiness when you are doing what you truly love. Never let anyone tell you that you cannot follow your dreams or that they cannot come true. If I had listened to what many people told and advised me, I would not have spent five years living among whales and meeting students all around the world.
What is the approximate salary range for your profession?
$35,000 - $40,000 / year
