Become a whale scientist

Why Should Early-career Scientists Engage in Science Communication?

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Science communication (also called #scicomm) is a skill. It involves sharing science with a larger audience, beyond Academia, in an understandable way. Effective science communication relies on a delicate balance between too few details and too much information, which can confuse a non-expert audience. Above all, it should be entertaining and tell a story.  With …

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What it is like to be a women-only scientific group?

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We had never given it much thought, but when the world was recently celebrating International Women in Science Day, it hit us. The Cetacean Ecology Research Group at Massey University in New Zealand, where we are a research associate and a PhD student, currently consists purely of women. We are led by the great Prof …

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3 steps to a better work-life balance

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In first grade, I remember the look of shock when I told my friends that my mom was a teacher. They couldn’t imagine teachers ever leaving school. They thought teachers just lived in the classroom, and their sole purpose in life was to teach.  Similarly, I think people (both scientists and non-scientists) often believe that their …

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Choose the best courses to study marine mammals

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If you want to study marine mammals but don’t know which courses to take, this post is for you. Multiple times I have found myself confronted with the typical student dilemma of which courses to take. Do you want to work within the marine mammal sector? Then most people will respond with “you need to …

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Whale Science in the time of COVID: how to make it work?

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This year, professional development opportunities are extremely limited, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Global travel restrictions and lockdowns make conferences and internships almost impossible. But there are other ways how you can advance your professional profile! How can you keep developing your skills and/or doing whale science during the COVID pandemic? Here are six …

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5 Ways to Discover Where You Fit in Whale Science

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The world of whale science is broad and can seem overwhelming sometimes – there are so many different options you can focus on. Truth is: you can study behavior, diet, communication, microbiomes, evolution, health, migration, reproduction, acoustics, metabolism, pathology, and so much more. Every whale scientist has their own specific niche, just like the marine …

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Being a whale scientist – 4 misconceptions

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Being a whale scientist is pretty cool and can be perceived as a “sexy job”. However, a lot of clichés and misconceptions exist about whale scientists.  1 – “I want to be a whale scientist, because whales are fun” Maybe you watched wonderful dolphin movies (free willy, etc.) when you were a kid and you …

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So you want to become a whale scientist? 10 tips to aspiring marine mammalogists

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The idea of working on whales and dolphins fascinates most people. And when I talk to people about what I do, I see their eyes twinkle with excitement. I usually spend the next few minutes answering crazy questions about whales or dolphins. And since I am crazy passionate about my research and cetaceans as a …

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