#scoobysnackfactory

[marinebioblr]

is it possible to become a marine biologist in colorado? and also is it possible to do marine bio work without a master's? I'm struggling to find information online! thank you

Hi there! You certainly can get training that you can apply as a marine biologist, and we have lots of freshwater environments (technically not 'marine', but definitely still aquatic)! It is also definitely possible to do marine bio without a master's degree - it just depends on what kind of jobs you are looking for. Graduate degrees give you experience for conducting research / working alongside academia. Laboratory work, chasing grants, that kind of thing. But without these degrees you can still find opportunities for field work and community outreach, and lots of working marine scientists only have a BA in something like Biology or Environmental Science. Skills that will make you incredibly marketable in these fields without graduate degrees is actually blue collar work - basic plumbing knowledge, mechanic experience, engineering. Our work uses a wide variety of equipment, from scuba gear to aquarium life support systems to boats! Internships with Fish & Wildlife in Colorado would be a great way to get your foot in the door to fieldwork, and volunteering or interning at the Denver Aquarium (as I did once!) is a great way to pick up aquaria skills!

[marinebioblr]

hi, one more question! thank you sososososo much for your incredibly thoughtful response to my last ask. you're helping me realize something I dreamed of is actually possible!!

is there a way I can help the ocean and/or the climate / environment from colorado? I have limited mobility and chronic fatigue so things like volunteering & outdoor work are very, very difficult. I could try contacting volunteer organizations and alerting them to my needs. in the past, when I've done that, they were very passive aggressive and clearly ableist, so I am careful about doing that.

I'm glad my answer was helpful! I'm sorry you've had bad experiences with volunteering...ableism is certainly not the attitude I would hope to see from environmental orgs. If you want to avoid outdoor work altogether, you'd be surprised how much communications and media departments have grown in this industry! As someone who is surfing marine job boards quite often, it's amazing how much public relations and content creation positions are out there, especially from non-profits. A big part of conservation is effective messaging across different demographics. There are other desk jobs related to conservation as well, such as permitting and grant writing! Volunteering as an educator who speaks with the public at zoos and aquariums is also (usually!) a pretty physically forgiving task, especially if they are made aware of a need for accommodation- lots of educators get a little station that they can sit at and interact with passers-by! Communicating with an org will always be essential to ensure a good match!

Hopefully there's something in this that you find a helpful take-away. Best of luck! 🪸