 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am an assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of New Orleans in Louisiana (www.uno.edu/~frhall). My title is "geoscience educator." In this role, I work with pre-service and in-service teachers who are interested in teaching science, especially earth science. This is a position that I find personally satisfying as I feel that I am making a difference in the education of future generations of scientists. I am also active in research. My research involves the examination of particles that fall to the seafloor through the ocean. Mainly, I focus my research in the Canadian Arctic, an area influenced by both the oceans as well as by icebergs that originate on land.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
I find my present work as an educator to be very challenging. I come from a family of teachers. My father was a college professor and my mother was a junior high school teacher. I was raised with the idea that education is very important. When given the opportunity to make a difference in preparing teachers, it was a challenge that I could not turn down.
I feel that my education as an oceanographer was very beneficial to my present position. Oceanography is a multidisciplanary field of study. To be an oceanographer, you must know chemistry, physics, biology, and geology. As I work with teachers, I can take the subjects that they teach and relate them to the real world. In this manner, science is not just a series of abstract facts and figures but a tool for understanding the world in which we live.
What do like most about your career?
I like the opportunity oceanography has given me to meet and work with scientists from many parts of the world. I especially like having the opportunity to visit them in their homes and learn about their culture and customs.
What do you like least about your career?
Scientific research requires money. To be an active participant, one must be able to raise funds. That is often very difficult for a variety of reasons.
Part of the process of raising funds requires the review of your proposals by anonymous colleagues. They can at times be unkind, making this part of being a scientist frustrating.
What do you do to relax?
I like to exercise, especially lifting weights. I like to go on long walks with friends and family. And I like to read. But mostly, I enjoy being in the company of people I love, especially my wife, Carol.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
My main hero is my father. He is an African American who went on to be a scientist at a time when that was a difficult thing to do. He never attained his doctoral degree, but he instilled in me a desire to learn and to question.
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
Never be afraid to ask questions, never be afraid to learn, and read, read, read. There are many opportunities opening up for young people in marine science. Find out about them, and don't be afraid. We are here to help you.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
There are presently not many openings in academia. However, within industry, the job market has improved. The petroleum industry has been hiring more young people with degrees in marine science, as have environmental and engineering firms.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
I hope to be working closely with teachers. I hope to be an educator until I retire.
Email:frhall@uno.edu
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