Masters at Work: Becoming a Marine Biologist

Morell (Animal Wise), a National Geographic contributor, adds an inviting consideration of the marine biology field to Simon & Schuster’s Masters at Work series. She concentrates on Robin Baird, a well-known specialist in marine mammals who has studied Hawaii’s whales and dolphins for two decades. Baird reveals to Morell that, as a teenager, he was unsure of his future. His choppy route toward a sustainable career included finding mentors, raising funds for research, and branching out briefly to birds before returning to marine mammals. His work, as described here, involves building an identified collection, keeping data sheets, collaborating, tagging, and paying close attention to detail. Morell also traces the history of marine biology back to its father, Aristotle, and to the likes of Captain Cook, Rachel Carson, and Jacques Cousteau. Summarizing the profession’s evolution, she observes that, while it may have begun in “adventure and discovery,” it quickly shifted over to “conservation and management.” For those seriously interested in the field, she lists career resources to call upon. Morell’s smart, short primer will make marine biology equally intriguing to those already enchanted with the sea’s creatures and to confirmed landlubbers. Gillian MacKenzie, MacKenzie Wolf. (Apr.)