U.S. flag An official website of the United States government.
				Here's how you know we're official. **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure websites use HTTPS** A small lock or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Toggle navigation Toggle search National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 Search
					Search National Ocean Service


Home
				Ocean Facts

				Topics
					Explore All Topics 
                        Arctic 
                        Careers 
                        Economy 
                        Ecosystems 
                        Geodesy 
                        Hazards 
                        International
                        Navigation 
                        Observations 
                        Ocean 
                        Recreation 
                         Sea Level Rise 
                        Story Maps 
                        Tools
                
                			Education

				
				News
				Podcasts
				Video
				Images
				About Us


1. Home
2. Careers
3. Physical Scientist: Mathew Biddle

**Mathew Biddle, Physical Scientist**  Mathew Biddle*Mathew Biddle, Physical Scientist.* The Integrated Ocean Observing System Office, or IOOS, is responsible for gathering and observing data that are essential to improving weather and climate conditions and their impacts on coastal communities; improving public safety and health; and restoring and protecting healthy coastal ecosystems. Integrated ocean information is available online for the general public. Mathew works as a physical scientist, improving access to this information by working on data management and ensuring the products put out by IOOS are easily accessible to the public.   How did you get to where you are now in your career? Growing up as a surfer near the ocean, I always wanted a career that had something to do with the ocean. I took a marine ecology class in high school where we learned about the various animals and how our local beaches changed throughout the year.. I thought it was fascinating and realized that this was my path. After my undergraduate degree, I volunteered on a few NOAA research cruises and took an internship doing research in the Arctic Ocean. During the internship, I interviewed for a position at NOAA working on standardizing, documenting, and archiving oceanographic data. That was 13 years ago, and I’ve been working on standardizing and sharing oceanographic data ever since. When did you know you wanted to pursue your current career? In elementary school I went to a local ocean education center where I interviewed a marine biologist for career day. She was so knowledgeable and excited about her career that I knew I wanted to do something in marine science. I continued to pursue that path through college and it all connected together in my introduction to oceanography class when we talked about ocean waves. After that class, I went home, met a friend at the beach and described all of the different phenomena we saw there. That’s when it all really connected. Not only did I want to study the ocean and learn more about the processes but I wanted to visualize those patterns. Building off my passion for math I started writing code to make maps and plots to visualize the oceanographic data we collected during class. That subsequently led to finding out more efficient ways to make these graphics, which led into data standardization and data sharing. I often thought to myself, “What if all data were consistent and easy to find?” That’s where data management came to be my calling. What NOAA project have you enjoyed working on the most? One project I’m particularly proud of is being a part of the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee’s Biology - Integrating Core to Essential Variables Task Team. I contributed to the development of data flow pathways, which are the processes by which collected data are managed, formatted, and published for use by the public. This gives easier access to marine mammal and coral observations that are key to marine conservation efforts. The project I worked on led directly to the standardization and sharing of coral reef observations from NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, or NCRMP. You can find those data at the NCRMP organization dashboard in the Ocean Biodiversity Information System. What would you recommend to those who want to begin a career in your field? I believe a strong foundation in science by pursuing a degree is extremely valuable. Gaining experience developing code and working in teams is also important. Take advantage of internships and find any way to get in-the-field experience.
 **Name:** *Mathew Biddle*
								**Location:** *Silver Spring, Maryland*
								**Education:** *B.S. Oceanography, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt; M.Sc. Marine Estuarine and Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science*
								**National Ocean Service Program Office:** *Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)*
  U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Navigation Managers Navigation Response Team What is a NRT?   Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 01/19/24 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


Feedback Provide Feedback
							Contact Us
							Report an error
 Social Instagram Logo/a>


*Science. Service.Stewardship.*
 About NOS About Us
							NOS Program Offices
							Media Inquiries
							Website Acknowledgements
                            Site Index
							Disclaimer
 More Resources Freedom of Information Act
							Accessibility
							Information Quality
							Privacy Policy
							NOS For Employees
							USA.gov
 Department of Commerce
									National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
									National Ocean Service