Ocean AdVENTure! - Meet the Scientists!

Ocean AdVENTure
Meet The Scientists

Christopher G. Fox
Chief Scientist of Our Cruise
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; Newport, Oregon

This image shows a photograph of Chris Fox.

What are your responsibilities as Chief Scientist?

The ship's Captain is responsible for the safety and operation of the ship and is the ultimate authority at sea. The Chief Scientist is the leader of the scientific party and is responsible for directing all scientific operations, such as scheduling experiments, determining priorities, reacting to unforeseen problems (of which there can be many), and acting as the liaison between the scientists and the ship's personnel. In a perfect world, a research cruise can be carefully planned and executed without mishap, but in reality, uncertainties in ships performance, bad weather, and equipment breakdowns inevitably result in having to alter cruise plans in a manner that still accomplishes the scientific goals of the field program. This is the primary responsibility of the Chief Scientist.

How did you prepare for this job?

The specific duties associated with a career in oceanography depend in large part on your degree level. Generally, research projects are headed by Ph.D. level scientists, who have spent at least five years in graduate school following receipt of undergraduate degrees, usually in physical or biological sciences. Many of the administrative positions are taken by Ph.D. level scientists later in their careers. The Masters degree often leads to a position as a research assistant, performing basic research and perhaps writing scientific papers, but not usually determining the overall direction of the research. At the bachelor's degree level, most of the work is technical support staff, processing data, running laboratory equipment, collecting samples...oceanographers at all levels go to sea. My best advice to anyone entering the field is to learn mathematics, statistics and computers, in addition to your science courses. All scientific disciplines rely on these basic tools.

"It is a privilege to work as an oceanographer, studying one of the last true frontiers on the planet."
--- Chris Fox

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