The Huntsman Marine Science Centre, in St. Andrews, N.B., is offering people an inside look at life as a marine biologist.
The marine science centre provides hands-on introduction to marine biology and Bay of Fundy research projects for all ages.
“Anybody young and old, there's always something new to learn and discover,” says Laura Barrett, Huntsman education program assistant.
Kea McKay is one of the many students taking this week’s course.
“My entire life I've been fascinated by marine biology and, living in Ontario, I don't have a lot of access,” says McKay.
McKay says the marine science centre’s course is a perfect way to delve into the ocean.
“I'm really big into ocean health and I am in love with all animals of the ocean, I can't see working anywhere else really,” says McKay.
Whether it is seals, star fish, or other underwater species, the centre has programs to fit everyone’s interests.
“Our education program offers programs, day camps for kids seven to12, then we have these longer field courses for high school kids, for universities we even offer field courses for adults and then of course we have a lot of schools that will come,” says Barrett. “Behind the scenes there's lots of things going on. We have a lot of research that happens here at the Huntsman. We have a facility called the Atlantic Reference Centre, which is basically a museum for scientists to go and study different perverse specimens. Then we have our aquatic services department, which does a lot of research with different companies and organizers in aquaculture things.”
The goal of the Huntsman Marine Science Centre is to educate the public on the ocean and marine life and to inspire young minds to follow their dreams and maybe one day become marine biologists.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford
