Oceanographer

You would study the seas and oceans to help us learn more about the marine environment, plants and animals.

You’d do research, for example, on the effects of climate change or the impact of pollution and offshore engineering on marine life.

There are four branches of oceanography in which you could specialise:

• Biological – studying marine plants and animals

• Physical – exploring water temperature, density, wave motion, tides and currents

• Geological – examining the structure and make-up of the ocean floor

• Chemical – analysing the chemicals in sea water and the impact of pollutants

You’d collect data to observe and track changes in the marine environment.

You would:

• Plan and carry out research expeditions

• Manage a research project and lead a team of researchers and technical staff

• Prepare scientific equipment at sea or in a laboratory

• Spend time at sea collecting data and samples

• Create experiments to test your ideas in the laboratory

• Use computers to produce models like maps of the ocean floor or populations of marine animals

You’d write reports about your research for publication. You would present your findings to the public and other scientists.

You’d use a variety of scientific equipment to collect samples and data, including:

• Remote sensors on satellites

• Instruments on towed or self-powered underwater vehicles

• Scientific apparatus like sensors on moored or drifting buoys

• Probes lowered into the sea

• Drills to collect sediment cores from the seabed

• Microphones to measure acoustics

• Marine robots to explore the seabed

• Diving equipment or submersible vehicles

• National Oceanography Centre - UK research centre under the Natural Environment Research Council

• Challenger Society for Marine Science - Membership organisation representing the UK academic marine research community

• Society for Underwater Technology - For people interested in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering

• Scottish Association for Marine Science

• Natural Environment Research Council - Skills advice from the UK's largest funder of independent environmental science

• Marine Biological Association - international membership organisation of marine biologists

• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology - Careers information from international body for marine professionals