Interview

__Janet Mason Interview:__
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Dear Ms. Mason,

Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you for my project. I am really looking forward to your answers. Please do not feel like you have to answer all of these; if there is a question you don’t know, or don’t want to answer, that is completely fine. Again, thank you for taking the time out of your day to help me. I hope you have a great day!

Sincerely, Sarah Egan


 * Questions:**

I am a Fishery Biologist
 * 1. What is your position at NOAA?**

I generally come to work in the morning, sit down at my computer respond to emails and then go on to analysis of data on the location of fishing and the success of the fishing catch. I am currently looking at the impact of recent regulations on the bottom fish caught with trawl nets off the California coast. I am mapping fishing locations into a Geographic Information System for analysis. Then we can see where the fish were caught and how the new management regulations change the fishing success.
 * 2. What does your typical work day entail?**

I work in a great location just a block from the ocean and take beautiful walks at lunch time. I work with good people who are interested in the environment and its impact on ocean organisms. I sometimes get to travel to interesting conferences in California or occasionally other countries like China. I am always challenged to learn more.
 * 3. What are some perks of your job? What are some disadvantages to your job?**

Yes I am very happy in my current position. I have been working for this office for 26 years, most of my career. After college I worked for a professor at UC Santa Cruz for a couple of years and then worked for California State Parks and then State Fish and Game as a temporary employee. I took a test to work for the State Fish and Game as a permanent employee but there were many qualified applicants and very few openings. I quit and took 2 years off to have a baby. Then I took a temporary part-time job with the NOAA office I am in. After a couple of years they found a way to convert that position to a permanent part-time position and several years later to a full time permanent position. That was good for me because when my son was young I could work part-time and as he grew older I could work full-time and earn more money.
 * 4. How long did it take you to get where you are today? Are you happy in your current position?**

NOAA, the National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration so it covers all of the Federal research and management of the oceans and research into the atmosphere around earth. It covers much of the research on climate change and its effects. NOAA is composed of a number of different agencies including the National Weather Service, National Ocean Service that manages Ocean Sanctuaries and researches human impacts on coastal areas, charts the ocean bottom, has satellites that monitor the ocean temperatures and winds, and the National Marine Fisheries Service studies marine life and fisheries. I work for the National Marine Fisheries Service part of NOAA. We have people who go out on large boats and collect information on the fish, mammals, turtles and birds. We have people who work in laboratories on the physiology and the genetics of fish. In my office we have oceanographers who study the ocean temperatures and currents and analyze how the ocean conditions affect the fish and fishing. I am a biologist who works with the oceanographers to understand how changing temperatures may affect where the fish can go.
 * 5. What does NOAA do exactly?**

I grew up interested in science and learning about nature. It was really while I was at college at UC Santa Cruz that I had an opportunity to learn about the ocean and got excited about it. I had some great professors and opportunities there. But I still didn't know what I would be able to work in this field because there are more interested people than jobs. I was looking for biology related work after college and started with the state parks and then tried the state Fish and Game office and that led me into my career.
 * 6. How did you get interested in this field of work?**


 * 7. What are you looking forward to?

8. What is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had while working in this field?

9. What were some of the best things about attending UC Santa Cruz? Some of the worst?** I liked the smaller school atmosphere of Santa Cruz as compared to other UC campuses. Classes were mostly smaller and you got to know and work with the professors and even work with them on projects. The setting of the campus in the hills above the town on the edge of the redwood forest is absolutely gorgeous. I suggest living on campus at least the first year to enjoy and explore the beautiful setting. Living in town can be a distraction and it's a hassle to get up to the campus by car or bus.

I went to a community college in my hometown of Sacramento, CA for two years before transferring to UC Santa Cruz. I also applied to UC Davis which has a marine laboratory at Bodega Bay, CA.  **11. What did you major in? What did this major entail?** I majored in general biology. I wasn't sure that I would end up in marine biology and didn't want to limit myself. I took basic biology classes, math and chemistry at the community college. Then I took a variety of upper division classes at Santa Cruz, genetics, invertebrate zoology, plankton, marine mammals, ecology and such, along with more chemistry. Santa Cruz now has a wonderful facility, Long Marine Labs, down near the ocean. It was not built until after I was there. They have a much wider range of classes now, and great opportunities for field work.
 * 10. What other schools did you apply to?**

This is a hard question. There are not enough jobs in this area. I am most familiar with state and federal government biologist jobs. They come surges, where several people are hired in one year when funding is high and then no one new is hired for several years. I have only a bachelors degree, but most of the people now being hired to do research at the federal level have PhDs. A good thing for me about working for the government is that my experience working in the field allows me to get promotions even without a higher degree. There is also job security and health and retirement benefits with this type of job. I do know people who work for marine conservation organizations but I don't know much about their actual jobs. Some are doing research working with fishermen on the effects of different fishing gears on the bottom habitat. Some are more in an advocacy position campaigning for marine protected areas in California.
 * 12. What kinds of jobs are available to people with degrees in marine biology or zoology?**

Santa Cruz is a hybrid of a laid-back seaside resort and a college town. It is still an important surfing destination and people come to it for the beach on the weekend from San Jose an hour away. Living up on campus gets you away from some of this. You can take a bus downtown when you want to go there.
 * 13. Moving to California on my own, what is the environment/atmosphere like at UC Santa Cruz?**

Janet: Tell me more about what draws you to this field. Then I can give you better advice. I would like to know more about your interest in this field so I can address that in my responses.What got you interested in marine conservation and zoology?What would you like to do in that field if you can?  Sarah: It's hard to put my interest in the field in to words. I've always been very fascinated by whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine animals. My family has a sailboat in southern California, so I’ve had some close encounters with these animals, which only fueled my interest. I've always been an animal lover, and I’ve always loved the ocean, so I have always been interested in doing something to help animals as my career. When I was in 3rd grade I wanted to become a rainforest explorer; when our family moved our boat to California, I started to have more interaction with the ocean, and I think that is when I decided that I wanted to help conserve the ocean and its animals. Ideally, I would like to do work involved with helping endangered species, and preventing species from becoming endangered. Even though it is a child-like dream, I've always wanted to be a trainer at Sea World because it combines my love for marine life with my passion for performing. Janet: Thank you for telling me about your interests. The ocean is a vast word with many areas to explore, and much to learn. There are many different paths to take. UC Santa Cruz does conduct excellent research on marine mammals, mostly on pinnipeds, but also small cetaceans. It sounds like a great match for your interests.
 * 14. What advice would you give to me about going into the marine conservation or zoology fields?**

Quote from the UCSC webstie: "UCSC has probably the most active and productive graduate program in marine mammal biology of any university in the world, according to Daniel Costa, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Graduates of this program have gone on to prominent positions in academia, federal and state government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations."

"The quality of our graduate students is legendary, as our students have consistently won top honors at the Biennial Conference for Marine Mammalogy," according to UCSC professor Daniel Costa. 14. What advice would you give to me about going into the marine conservation or zoology fields? Marine mammals are very popular because of mammal charisma, so it can be a hard area to break in to this area. One suggestion from the Sea Otter staff at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where I volunteer is to volunteer with your local veterinarian. Hands on experience working with any type of animal is a great way to move into this field. Then get good college training in many aspects of marine biology and ecology and keep looking for opportunities to volunteer. It looks like there will be great opportunities at Santa Cruz through the marine mammal physiology lab @ http://bio.research.ucsc.edu/people/williams/students/training.htm

You will find a way to work toward your passion, even if it is not the way you envision at this time. If you enjoy science, your vision will expand as you have more opportunities to learn. I recommend taking a variety of marine science courses to understand the ecosystem in which the marine mammals live and their roles in it. I think there will be a lot of development in this area in the future. One of the research areas that NMFS has been pursuing involves the populations of porpoises and dolphins in the tropical Pacific of Central America. These were impacted by fishing for tunas in the 1980s and their populations have not recovered as quickly as anticipated when the fishing moved away from the dolphins. You can read more about this issue here http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=PRD&ParentMenuId=228&id=1408

Here is a link to an article that was in today's local paper on the transmission of parasites from cats to otters. Their vulnerability depends on the prey they eat which may vary with food availability.

http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_11535526

=__Brian Moore Interview:__=
 * __Questions:__**

1. What is your position at NMLC? I am the Animal Care and Facilities Coordinator .  2. What does your typical work day entail? Everyday is different. My day mainly consists of taking care of the patients; this includes checking their health, feeding, cleaning, giving medications and maintaining water quality. I also do most of the construction work (plumbing, electrical, carpentry and welding) inside our existing facility. On some days I also volunteer with the IFAW rescue department and go out on calls to rescue animals on the beach.

3. What are some perks of your job? What are some disadvantages to your job? I would say that the best part of the job is taking care of the animals. It is interesting, challenging and rewarding. It is hard to explain, but when an animal comes in to the hospital and it is sick, injured or dying and you get the opportunity to work with them, see them progress and ultimately get released, it is the best feeling in the world. The disadvantages include extremely long hours, and days when animals don’t make it, despite your best efforts… <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">4. How long did it take you to get where you are today? Are you happy in your current position? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I have been working in the marine biology field for about eight years. However, if you consider all the different jobs that I do throughout the day I guess I really have been training for this position for the last 20 years. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Yes, I am happy in my current position. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 5. What does NMLC do exactly? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The National Marine Life Center is a nonprofit marine animal rehabilitation hospital. We care for sick and injured marine animals. We also teach conservation and conduct research. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 6. What is it like to work with stranded/rescued animals? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It is very rewarding, exhausting, frustrating and many other feelings. Not every animal survives and those that don’t survive make the job hard, but the ones that do survive make you feel good. There is no better feeling that to help an animal in need and get that animal back out to the wild. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 7. How did you get interested in this field of work? And how did you get involved with NMLC?

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I became interested in working around the ocean when I was in the Navy. I knew that once I was on the coast that I wanted to be around water. I wasn’t sure when I entered college what I would do, but an opportunity opened up for me in the Zoology department and I took it. I majored in Zoology with a minor in Oceanography. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I spent the first four years out of college living and working in Alaska. I originally moved there for a three month internship that turned into a 9 month internship. After the internship I found my way (through varies odd jobs) to the Alaska Zoo. I started at the zoo as a volunteer and worked up to lead polar bear keeper. After my third year there a friend of mine gave me a call and said that she had an opening at NMLC and asked if I was interested? I applied and got the job. I started out here as a part time animal care tech and almost three years later I am now in charge of the husbandry department. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">8. What are you looking forward to in your career?

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I look forward to retirement. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Segoe UI'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Segoe UI'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"> J <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> However, in the immediate future I would like to someday be the Director of NMLC or another facility. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 9. What is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had while working in this field?

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">There are so many memorable experiences I wouldn’t know where to start, but I will give it a try. First, would have to be that I met my soon-to-be wife. She is also in the field and has been working with stranded animals for over a decade. We have shared many days on the beach together rescuing animals and doing necropsies (large whales are our favorite). <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Second, was when I was working as a zoo keeper in Alaska at the zoo. I was the head polar bear keeper and one day I got the opportunity to help with the “make a wish” foundation for a woman who was dying and wanted one chance to see a polar bear up close. Seeing her face as she interacted with “Ahpun” the polar bear, and getting to share that with her was very special. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Then there are the many times (like Christmas day this year) when you rescue an animal that would have inevitably died on the beach and return it to the ocean. The list goes on and on… <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">My job is very rewarding… <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10. What school did you attend?

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I attended Colorado State University. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 11. What did you major in? What did this major entail?

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I majored in Zoology and minored in Oceanography. It was a lot of hands on work and specialty classes. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 12. What kinds of jobs are available to people with degrees in marine biology or zoology? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">There are many jobs out there in this field, depending on what you want to do and what your specialty is. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Researcher, animal care, vet tech, veterinarian, zookeeper, director, marine educator, oceanographer, etc… <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">

13. How hard was it to move from Colorado to a coastal area? What was the transition like? (This is one of my biggest concerns about going into the marine biology field).

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">For me it was not hard moving to the coast from Colorado. I never envisioned myself staying in Colorado and working there. I knew when I got out of the Navy that I wanted to live on the coast. I do miss my friends who are still at home, but I am very happy here. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The transition was easy. I moved with very few of my belongings, and after I finally got settled into the area and knew I would not be leaving anytime soon I gathered the rest of my things. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 14. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What advice would you give to me about going into the marine conservation or zoology fields? <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Volunteer, Volunteer, volunteer. Experience is the only way into this field. Everyone who comes out of college with a degree in zoology or marine biology wants to work with animals and there really is a limited supply of actual hands-on jobs. It is only the people that worked hard not only in college, but outside college that get the opportunity to do this. <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I tell everyone that I talk to about the job to never give up on their dreams. The opportunity will arise if you want it to. Just work hard and never burn bridges, because the person you knew a few years ago may turn out to be the one that helps you get the job you want in the future.