David Lockwood, Hernandez K-8 School
Julia Nucci’s third grade students at the Hernandez K-8 School have been learning about marine ecology, so in late May, Ms. Nucci hosted David Lockwood, Research Technician with the New England Aquarium’s Right Whale Research Program, to talk about his background, his current job, and careers in marine biology.
David grew up near the ocean, and when he went on a whale watch at age five, he immediately knew he wanted to be a marine biologist. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Affairs from University of Rhode Island, and had his first internship back where his interest first sparked: with New England Aquarium whale watch tours.
David’s first job was as a fisheries observer, and then a protected species observer. In these roles, he helped make sure that researchers didn’t hurt protected species. As a naturalist on whale watch boats, David learned data collection, photography, and communication. He shared some of the awesome photos from this time with the class, including photos of whales and a great white shark! As an aerial observer, David monitored right whales during their calving season, collecting data for research and policy purposes and getting help for sick or injured whales. As a Research Technician, David is now part of the team that manages the right whale catalog – all of the whales we know about, based on thousands of sightings each year. He even brought some baleen from a right whale for Ms. Nucci’s students to touch!
The presentation included the very cool parts of being a marine biologist – like traveling, sleeping on a boat, and being part of a team that saved a whale – and the very tricky parts, like unpaid internships, high competition in the job market, and physically demanding entry-level jobs. David shared his advice for future scientists, and deftly answered the students’ many questions.
David’s Pathfinders visit helped Ms. Nucci’s third graders see how curiosity and tenacity can lead to a meaningful career, and how what they learn in school can lead to exciting jobs in the future.
