My dad was a sea captain and I grew up by the sea. Having the opportunity to work with the world's best scientists to better understand our oceans and Great Lakes. Having a chance to influence how our resources, both intellectual and financial, are used to provide guidance to the wise use of ocean and Great Lakes resources. That I don't spend more time out in the field doing research with my graduate students. My mom and my dad.
Science is a great and rewarding career.
Get a good undergraduate degree in a basic science, such as math, physics, chemistry, biology, or geology. When you're in college, try to get a part-time job during the school year or summer in the laboratory of a professor who is in the field. At the moment, we are seeing a slight decline in numbers of job openings. However, I believe this to be temporary as we move into the 21st century. The supply and demand will always be cyclical, just like in other science and engineering fields.