Dr Emma Young - Croydon High School 1980 - 1987

A career in physical oceanography

Oceanography is not an area of science that was well known or publicised when I was at school, but in recent years, and particularly following the BBC TV series ‘The Blue Planet’, it has been generating increasing interest. When most people think of oceanography, they think of the cuddly image of seals, penguins and whales. However, there is another side to oceanography that has a huge influence on the marine ecosystem, from supplying the plankton that marine mammals like whales need to eat to survive, to transporting oil spills away from (and unfortunately sometimes towards) marine reserves like the Galapagos Islands. This is the field of physical oceanography.

I came into physical oceanography via a rather circuitous route. I studied physics at university but when I graduated decided I wanted to do something a little less abstract. I was interested in some of the big environmental problems like global warming and the ozone hole, so studied for a Masters degree in atmospheric sciences. Part of this degree involved a short course in oceanography and I became interested in marine environmental concerns. This led to three years research into the effects of variability in ocean currents on fish stocks, through which I was awarded a PhD. I have since spent six years working at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and at the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, looking at a wide range of oceanographic problems. These have included the forecasting of the movement of oil and chemical spills around the UK coast and providing advice to the government so they can make informed decisions on the best way to treat them. I have developed computer models to predict the transport of sewage discharge, which can be used to assess whether near-shore edible shellfish, such as mussels and oysters, are fit for human consumption. The computer models we develop are also used to forecast coastal flooding and as such are a valuable resource to coastal communities. As part of my job I also spend about five weeks each summer doing fieldwork at sea and living onboard ship. This is a truly wonderful experience for anyone that enjoys the sea, even for those who tend to get seasick like myself! For the most part, my job involves developing computer models to simulate the processes we observe at sea and using the models to research and understand the marine environment. However, there are many physical oceanographers who concentrate purely on analysing and interpreting the data collected at sea. Similarly, my job is researching the seas of Europe, but many physical oceanographers study the deep oceans, which play an important role in global climate. Although I have stayed within research, there are also opportunities for physical oceanographers in marine consultancy.

To become a physical oceanographer you need to gain a good grounding in the physical sciences, with an honours degree in one of physics, mathematics or physical oceanography. Although it is not essential to have a further degree specialising in physical oceanography to begin a career in this field, it is advantageous for future career progression. To progress your career in research, you will need a research qualification such as a Masters through research (MPhil) or a PhD. Not all physical oceanographers do ship-based work, so being prone to seasickness does not exclude you from this career. You will need to have a keen interest in the marine environment and have good numerical and computing skills, preferably including a programming language. You will need good writing skills for the writing of reports and research papers for scientific journals, and the ability to communicate and work well within a team environment is essential if you wish to work onboard ships.

I have never regretted moving from pure science into the applied field of physical oceanography and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the marine environment.

I am quite happy for anyone interested in oceanography to contact me via the Minerva Network Development Office. The Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory do operate a work experience scheme, but not in physical oceanography so I'm afraid I can't offer placements in this field.