One of the best parts of writing Marine Science for Kids (which officially releases tomorrow, June 1), was interviewing marine scientists, finding out what inspires them, and getting a glimpse into their cool careers. While we don’t want to give away all the fun tidbits we uncovered in these exclusive interviews, here’s a preview of the inspirational people we included in our latest book.
>> Further Reading: Introducing Marine Science for Kids
Andrea Marshall, PhD
Principal Scientist, Manta Ray Research Program
Marine Megafauna Foundation
Nothing keeps you going like seeing a problem and wanting to help solve it. —Andrea Marshall
Asha de Vos, PhD
Founder
The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project
Colombo, Sri Lanka
My most important responsibility is to leave the planet a better place than I found it. —Asha de Vos
Douglas McCauley, PhD
Marine Biologist
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
> https://labs.eemb.ucsb.edu/mccauley/doug
Being a marine scientist is oddly like being a painter, a rock star, or a politician. It often doesn’t work out how you dreamed it would if you only put half your soul into it. —Doug McCauley
Emily Yam
Science Interpretation Supervisor
Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach, California
My favorite part of my job is figuring out how to help someone understand the planet better. Each time I talk to new people, I try to figure out what they know and how to connect to that. It’s like looking at a lot of little clues and solving a mystery. —Emily Yam
Economist and Social Science Coordinator
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
Silver Spring, Maryland
Planet Earth is all we have; nurture her. —Peter Edwards
>> Further Reading: Solomon David Q&A: Ancient Fish and Freshwater Biodiversity
Randy Wells, PhD
Director
Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
Sarasota, Florida
I would like to be able to say that I have made the world a better place for dolphins by learning about their needs, what we can do to meet those needs and reduce threats to them, and sharing this information with others. —Randy Wells
To learn more about these marine scientists, we hope you’ll order a copy of Marine Science for Kids and share it with young, up-and-coming scientists with a passion for Earth’s watery places. Written for ages 9 and up, this in-depth, photo-filled guide to exploring and protecting our underwater world includes 21 hands-on activities, Cool Career sidebars, and tons of information about aquatic creatures and aquatic ecosystems.
Check out some early reviews from industry publications here!