Terrarium

William Blake wrote: “To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.” One begins to understand these words when examining a terrarium. These simple ecosystems held in the confines of a small, usually glass container are the product of an accidental discovery in 1842. Quickly a market for the “Wardian Case” - the early terrarium - quickly emerged to transport plants safely overseas aboard ships. Both open and closed system terrariums are regularly encountered with thriving ecosystems that include different varieties of plants, insects, small fish or amphibians.

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For people who like to look at the “big picture” when solving problems, becoming an ecologist could provide a chance to develop that skill. Careers in ecology involve the scientific study of the interactions of organisms with each other and their environment often with a specific focus on processes that control how abundant specific organisms are and how they are distributed. Ecologists focus on the connections between living organisms and how those connections are influenced by the environment, so much of the work that ecologists do take them out in the field.

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For people who like to look at the “big picture” when solving problems, becoming an ecologist could provide a chance to develop that skill. Careers in ecology involve the scientific study of the interactions of organisms with each other and their environment often with a specific focus on processes that control how abundant specific organisms are and how they are distributed. Ecologists focus on the connections between living organisms and how those connections are influenced by the environment, so much of the work that ecologists do take them out in the field.

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Ecology

For people who like to look at the “big picture” when solving problems, becoming an ecologist could provide a chance to develop that skill. Careers in ecology involve the scientific study of the interactions of organisms with each other and their environment often with a specific focus on processes that control how abundant specific organisms are and how they are distributed. Ecologists focus on the connections between living organisms and how those connections are influenced by the environment, so much of the work that ecologists do take them out in the field.

Park Ranger

Park Ranger

A park ranger is part naturalist, part teacher, and part public safety officer. The love of the outdoors, curiosity about nature and concern for the changes occurring at the human scale are key characteristics of a park ranger. Photography, music, story-telling, rock-climbing and hiking are all part of the ranger’s working day. Our rangers believe that one must stay curious, ask questions and seek answers.

Northern Maine Program Director

Northern Maine Program Director

Wetlands Ecologist

Wetlands Ecologist

Marine Biologist

Marine Biologist

Ecoregional Ecologist

Ecoregional Ecologist

Ecologist

Ecologist

Ecologists study just that, the ecology, of a given area. This involves understanding the interactions between the living and nonliving components of said area. Our ecologist is involved in the conservation and restoration of the Everglades in south Florida. Ecologists have a deep interest, if not love, of nature and all of the factors involved in preserving nature. A broad background in the sciences, mathematics, social and political sciences and economics will go far in preparing you for this field.

Director of Forest Health Protection

Director of Forest Health Protection

Dendrochronologist

Dendrochronologist

Dr. Seuss’s Lorax spoke “for the trees, for the trees have no tongues” and dendrochronologists have a similar calling. Trees carry the history of a location in their rings and dendrochronologists are skilled at deciphering that history. The tools of dendrochronology are used to pinpoint timing of major events and measure rates of change both in the environment and in works of art and architectural pieces made of wood. It is also used in radiocarbon dating to validate radiocarbon aging for things not made from trees.

Behavioral Ecologist

Behavioral Ecologist

Behavioral ecologists observe and document behaviors, by humans or other species, in response to a given environmental stimulus. From mating to feeding to social interactions, behavioral ecologists identify the environmental pressures that shape those behaviors! These STEM professionals are keen observers and historians that like to crunch the numbers to determine how evolutionary development impacts behavior.

Research Coordinator

Research Coordinator

A research coordinator does just that, they coordinate all the various aspects of research projects within a project area or laboratory facility in order to maximize the effective use of time and resources. They have more general interests and training in a variety of research areas to enable them to work effectively with different disciplines, troubleshoot potential problems and provide solutions. A research coordinator is inquisitive, has a broad background, takes an active role in their projects and, hopefully, is a jack-of-all-trades.

Water Quality Specialist

Water Quality Specialist

A water quality specialist is vital in every community to make sure that the water resources are safe and accessible for all of the services a community needs their water to provide. Careers in water quality require field testing the water for safety for the people consuming water as well as advising for the management of water for wildlife, agriculture, and energy demands. Good observation skills, curiosity, and a background in analytical chemistry and aquatic biology are important in this field.

Shellfish Biologist

Shellfish Biologist

Aquaculture is the process of raising food in aquatic systems, be they fresh or saltwater. A shellfish biologist focuses on the development of sustainable food systems, such as developing an oyster hatchery. This involves the study of marine biology and zoology and oceanography, as well as economics and sociology; you need to know not only how to raise the animals but also how much it will cost and will people eat them. There is a balance between indoor hatchery work and outdoor grow-out work, and at the end you produce a food in a sustainable and low-impact method, for the most part.