Strategies for Success: Preparing for a Career in ocean science and technology

1. Strategies for Success: Preparing for a Career in ocean science and technology Deidre Sullivan Director Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center www.marinetech.org

2. Outline of Presentation • MATE Center • Who am I? • Trends in the Marine Economy, Science and Technology • Realities of Career Advice • Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes for Success • Barriers to Success • www.OceanCareers.com

3. The MATE Center Mission: Working to improve marine technical education and prepare the ocean workforce. • Workforce Research • Underwater Robotics Competitions • Faculty Education • At-Sea Internships • Curriculum & Textbook Development • Career Awareness

4. Deidre Sullivan • Owner of Video Production Company • Scuba Instructor for Club Med • Camp Director • Christmas Tree Lot Manager • Zoo Tour Guide • Kelp, Fish and Lettuce Farmer • Retail Store Manager • Cocktail Waitress • Scientist/Seafloor Habitat Mapper • College & University Instructor • Director of the MATE Center • Philanthropist, Saxophonist or Japanese Fish Printer

5. The Marine Economy • National Security/Defense • Transportation and Commerce • Energy and Exploration Activities • Telecommunications • Recreation and Tourism • Fisheries and Aquaculture • Search & Recovery Operations • Nautical/Underwater Archeology • Government Assessment and Regulation • Scientific/Medical Research • Education and the Arts

6. Ocean Developments Working deeper Long-term observations/climate change Renewable energy and food • Drilling for oil in unprecedented depths • Ocean observing systems • Offshore wind and wave energy installations • Offshore fish aquaculture • Marine safety and health concerns • Environmental protection (storms/sea level)

7. Trends in Technology • Increased use of Remote Sensing • Atmosphere, Land, Sea Surface, Sea Floor, Mid- Ocean • Increased use of Miniaturization • Cheaper, lighter, (ROVs, AUVs, GPS, Animal Tags) • Increased use of Computer Processing Power • Smarter equipment, data streams • Higher level data products, 3-D Sonars • Increased use of Molecular Biology • Species identification, phylogeny

8. Time’s Best Inventions of 2008-9 • Green algae for biofuel • Tank-raised bluefin tuna • Fish friendly tidal turbine • Google’s floating data center

9. And the public is participating: Crowd Sourcing

10. Students are not being adequately prepared for ocean occupations • Most students don’t receive adequate career guidance • Many education programs are not keeping up with changes in research & industry • Problem solving and creativity are limited • Students and educators are unaware of many ocean occupations because many are not classified by the Department of Labor

11. Occupations Difficult to Fill in Industry • Electronics Technician • Software Engineer • Electrical Engineer • Mechanical Engineer • Engineers/Scientist with acoustic backgrounds • UW Vehicle Pilot / Tech • Computer Programmer/Scientist • Project / Program Manager • Diver • Machinist / Welder • Ship Officer / Crew 11

12. There is a widespread need for employees with a broad range of knowledge and skills Interdisciplinary Engineering (EE & ME) + physical oceanography Computer science + physical oceanography Marine biology + physics Marine biology + math/modeling Science + technology Oceanography + electronics Oceanography + high performance computing Oceanography + remote sensing Marine resource management + GIS Geology + software development 12

13. Comparison of Salary Ranges Across Sectors High starting salaries in Industry 13

14. Barriers to Success Outliers: The Story of Successby Malcolm Gladwell Barriers to At-Sea Internship Participation • Being on a Boat • Sleeping in a strange place • Eating different foods • Not knowing how to swim • Being afraid of being asked something you don’t know how to do • Being away from family, friends, cell phone… • Attitude