Career Opportunities in Oceanography
Oceanographers study the seas, its coastline, estuaries, coastal waters, shelves and the ocean bed. To be more specific, oceanography is the study of the seas, its coastline, estuaries, coastal waters, shelves and the ocean bed. Their work incorporates the scientific knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, geology and geophysics and the application of mathematics, engineering science along with the use of marine life etc. So, it is very easy to understand why some find Oceanography as an interesting subject. Oceanography is an exciting field offering you the advantage of being involved with a variety of scientific disciplines and an opportunity for lifelong learning.
Oceanographers collect and study data of ocean waters through waves, currents, and tides; marine life, mineral and oil deposits in the ocean bed, as well as the contours of the ocean bed. The study of oceanography is used for the preparation of maps, charts and graphs.
Besides the thrill of the job, the pay scale is good too. Because of this, many students opt for oceanography courses and numerous well known Indian institutes offer various training courses in oceanography. Students who have opted for these courses are given theoretical as well as practical training in oceanography. Once they finish their studies, students can get jobs with corporate firms or institutes of research. Details about the opportunities in Oceanography are given in detail.
Eligibility and Course offering Institutions:
Those with graduation in pure science can go for a course in oceanography. In almost all cases mathematics is required as well. Most of the courses in oceanography are of three years duration. Specialised branches of oceanography are biological, chemical, physical and in geological. Biological oceanographers study life under the sea. Their work is research based and finds application in fishery sciences and biotechnological pursuits. Aquatic life is being used to develop new therapeutic agents and medicines. Chemical oceanographers study the chemical system in the sea the concentration of chemicals in the water, their distribution and transfer to the seafloor and finally the effects of these chemicals.
Physical oceanographers concern themselves with physical phenomena such as waves, tides, current, temperature and salinity. Collecting data from different regions is a highly technical exercise involving the use of acoustic techniques and satellite remote sensing. Geological oceanographers are involved in the geological study of the ocean floor and the sedimentations. Marine geologists explore the ocean floor in search of petroleum and mineral deposits. They study all about the living creatures in the sea. Their interest is to study conditions for healthy marine life and research for its propagation and maintenance. They also study their relationships to environmental conditions. Oceanographer’s work requires them for long stretches of time to be on research ships at sea. The most prestigious institutes conducting courses in this field are IIT Madras, Mumbai Institute of Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Annamalai University and Karnataka Engineering College.
Job Prospects and Career Options :
Making career in Oceanography is challenging as well as rewarding. There are large employment opportunities for Geographers / Meteorologists / Oceanographers in both public and private sectors. The Union Public Service Commission conducts tests for placements in Central Government Agencies like the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground water Board. Similarly, Coal India, Mineral Exploration Authority, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Hindustan Zinc and several other organisations engaged in mineral explorations utilize the services of Geologists. The Defence and Para-military forces also utilize the services of Geologists. A professional in Oceanography can also be absorbed as an Environmental Scientist, Geodesist, Geographer, Geologist, Geophysicist, Hydrographer, Oceanographer or mining engineer at various organizations in India and abroad.
Remuneration :
The starting salary after your post graduation can be in the range of Rs.6,500/- to Rs.8,000/- per month in the government sector and slightly higher in the private sector. With a Ph.D., you can earn about Rs.10,000/- to Rs.12,000/- per month.