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A Beginner’s Guide to the Plastic Pollution Plaguing Our Oceans
Across all corners of the world, plastic pollution plagues streams, rivers, and oceans. In many ways, it’s simply because everything’s connected. For instance, one piece of trash, no matter the size, can embark on a road trip from one side of the Earth to the other using waterways. Strolling along the beach, you may find a brightly-colored shell—only to realize that it’s, in fact, a long-lost plastic bottle cap. Here lies a mere symptom of the ocean plastic crisis; this is only the surface of a much bigger problem. To truly grapple with ocean plastic pollution, you’ll have to dive deeper, maybe even to the abyssal depths of the ocean.…
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How to Support California Aquariums in the COVID-19 Era
Rich with biodiversity and community outreach, aquariums offer glimpses into our ocean world. However, after a year of government-mandated shutdowns, aquariums in California are experiencing severe financial challenges. Since March 2020, numerous aquariums have remained shuttered, while others have sporadically opened and closed. For those aquariums that have been able to open, they still face barriers, such as capacity restrictions. As lockdowns continue to impact California, it is essential to show support for these aquariums and their marine conservation efforts. To learn how you can help aquariums in California, explore the following links and information. Aquarium of the Bay | San Francisco, CA Perched atop PIER 39, the Aquarium of…
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5 Foolproof College Tips to Save Money and the Ocean
Let’s face it: college is expensive, and if you’re trying to save money, it can get challenging at times. As you navigate your degree in marine biology, the cost of books, housing, food, and classes can mount. Therefore, maximizing your budget and time is vitally important. To ensure you’re keeping a good eye on your financial health, give these 5 tips a try, and save money today. 1. Master the art of budgeting. At the heart of every money-saving story is a budget. Perhaps, you’ve dabbled in building a budget before, or, maybe, it’s a mysterious and foreign concept. Regardless, budgeting can be one of the most powerful tools to…
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Mastering the Art of Snorkeling with 15 Easy Methods
Dipping your toes in the ocean is one thing, but taking a dip and snorkeling in the ocean is a whole other experience. Engaging and immersive, snorkeling offers a portal into the inner workings of the ocean and a new perspective of the planet. To this day, I remember my first time snorkeling in Maui, Hawai’i. After the initial shock of seeing schools of vibrant fish, I felt forever connected to the ocean. With myriads of new snorkeling stories, I went home determined at the age of 8 to be a marine biologist. Flash forward a decade or so, I’m a marine biologist still in awe of snorkeling. With the…
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15 Tips to Make Your Tide Pooling Trip Safe, Fun, and Affordable
When you’re looking for that aquarium experience—but without the swarms of strollers and the costly souvenirs—consider a tide pooling trip. Along the rocky intertidal zone, you may come across all sorts of bizarre critters, ranging from mussels and barnacles to seals and sea lions. You may even find an octopus. Or, maybe a bright purple sea star! Since tide pooling is full of possibility and discovery, it’s a great activity for families. If your child wants to learn more about animals, the tide pools are a perfect place to start. Peering into a tide pool is, oftentimes, like peering into a miniature ocean. So, next time you want to engage…
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How to Be a Citizen Scientist with 5 Simple Smartphone Apps and Websites
With smartphones, it’s become easier for everyday people to record observations, contribute to research, and be a citizen scientist. Whether you’re in elementary school, retired, or working full time, you can be an ornithologist, a phenologist, or maybe even a marine biologist. Essentially, you can be any -ologist you want to be. We all know we spend exorbitant amounts of time on our phones. One minute, we’re browsing Instagram, and, the next minute, we’re FaceTiming our friends. Frankly, our phones draw a lot of our attention. So, next time your phone buzzes, channel that attention towards something scientific, productive—bigger than yourself. To do that, grab your smartphone, and get outside!…
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Easy Marine Biology Experiments and At-Home Activities For Every Budget
With at-home marine biology experiments, anyone can be a scientist, no matter the budget or expertise. For instance, many picture a scientist wearing a lab coat and goggles, but anyone—even someone lounging on a couch in pajamas—can engage in science. All you need is curiosity, questions, and a desire to learn. Are you an aspiring marine biologist? Trying to save money while also investing in education? Maybe you’re a parent trying to get your child more involved in science? Dive into marine biology with these experiments and activities all while sticking to your budget. If you’d like to learn about majoring in marine biology, check out this article. Disclaimer: For…
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How To Survive Your First Research Cruise In 10 Easy Steps
Gusty sea breeze, rippling seawater, swaying seaweed—your first research cruise will be a memorable milestone. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you embark on your sea voyage. Whether you’re a student on a field trip or a researcher performing fieldwork, there are many reasons why you may be on a research cruise. For example, you may be out to collect fish for a class or maybe you’re working on a research paper and need plankton tow samples. The duration of your research cruise may differ as well. While some researchers may be at sea for a day, others may be out for weeks or months.…
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The Ultimate Guide To Learning Marine Biology From Home For FREE
Learning marine biology from home can be surprisingly easy with all the free resources online today. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or just an ocean enthusiast, there a variety of lectures, podcasts, readings, and videos to guide you in your learning. Covid-19 has transformed the way people learn. Because of these vast changes in education, it’s imperative to explore online tools. Between Covid-19 Netflix binges and online toilet paper shopping, brush up on your marine biology with this ultimate at-home marine biology guide. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s ‘Learning at Home’ To help people engage with marine biology, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers free online classes and activities.…
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7 Best Colleges for Marine Biology on the West Coast
If you’ve ever wanted to travel to picturesque beaches and cities, study on the sand, or scuba dive in magnificent kelp forests, marine biology may be your destination ticket. Where there’s marine biology, there’s usually water, and where there’s water, there’s often awe-inspiring research opportunities, scenic landscapes waiting to be explored, and some of the best colleges for science. The west coast is home to beautiful backdrops and prestigious colleges. As a marine biology student, you may even feel like you’re on vacation most of the time (at least when you’re not toiling with the headaches and tribulations of gen ed chem class). Choosing the right college is an essential…
