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Marine Biologist
Studies ocean life — from coral reefs to deep-sea creatures — and marine ecosystems.
Did you know?
Only about 27% of the ocean floor had been mapped in high detail by mid-2025, according to the Seabed 2030 project.
How subjects help
- Biology: Identify fish, corals and plankton and study how they feed, breed and hide from predators.
- Chemistry: Test seawater for oxygen and acidity to find out why a coral reef is turning white.
- Geography: Map ocean currents and coastlines to track where whales and turtles travel each year.
- Environmental Science: Measure how plastic, overfishing or warmer water harms sea creatures and plan ways to protect them.
A famous name
Sylvia Earle: Ocean explorer and marine biologist who became chief scientist of the US agency NOAA in 1990.
Try it yourself: Clean an oily feather
- Drip a little water on a clean feather. Notice how the drops roll off.
- Dip the feather into a few spoonfuls of cooking oil, then drip water on it again. What has changed about how it looks and feels?
- Try to clean oily feathers three ways: swish one in cold water, one in warm tap water, and one in warm water with a squirt of washing-up liquid.
- Pat each dry with kitchen paper and rank them from cleanest to oiliest. Which method would you choose for a real bird?
Marine scientists and wildlife responders study how oil ruins feathers' waterproofing, test cleaning methods, and wash oiled seabirds by hand after real spills.
Adapted from NOAA Office of Response and Restoration: Find the Best Way to Clean Oil off Bird Feathers.
Also try: Float fresh water on the sea.
Known for it in
Australia, USA, Norway, UK, Japan