How-To's
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Night Tide Pooling Made Easy with These 3 Tips
Night tide Pooling can open our eyes to new sea creatures and connect us more with the ocean. Many venture to tide pools during the day, preferably during a low tide. However, there is a whole other world to explore once the sun sets. To plan for the best evening tide pooling trip, continue reading for 3 useful tips. Regardless of the time of day you go, always prepare ahead and have fun. For even more night tide pooling tips, read this article as well.
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Aquarium-Keeping: Diving Into the Science and Art
Aquariums are windows into a whole new world—one full of water and opportunity. Some people like to build fortresses and cities in the popular videogame Minecraft, while others like to build real-life worlds. No matter how daunting aquarium building may seem, it’s a hobby with a niche for everyone. With just a basic understanding of biology and a splash of creativity, you too can delve into the world of aquarium-keeping. At its core, being an aquarist means understanding the nitrogen cycle and basic fish behavior. However, you may be wondering, what, in fact, is the nitrogen cycle? Cycle of Life Well, the nitrogen cycle is just a fancy way of…
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How to Write a Game-Changing Resume Step By Step
Once the school year winds down, the focus soon turns from studying for finals to crafting the perfect resume and landing a summer job. As a marine biology student, there are a number of different jobs and internships that will help you build your career. Whether it be interning at an aquarium or performing research, you can navigate a myriad of options and gain experience along the way. While preparing for your job search, start off on the right foot with a stellar resume. The following tips will guide you through writing a strong resume and securing your dream job. 1. Make a statement with your resume headline. Right below…
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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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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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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.…
