Workforce Development Abstracts
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You've Got Herps: An Aquarist's Journey Into the World of Reptiles and Amphibians Rebecca Bray, Mystic Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
What happens when you’ve spent your whole career working with fish and you’re suddenly handed reptiles to care for? Professional development. As aquarium collections diversify into the terrestrial realm, there is a potential for employee development and enrichment. This talk will explore these potentials for development and how the skills that you already have as an aquarist can prepare you for working with species you may have never thought you would work with. |
Built by an Aquarist for an Aquarist: The Creation and Implementation of a Curriculum Based Internship Program
Johnny May & Joleena Jewell, OdySea Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
We all know this industry is a competitive industry to start a career in. For many, some form of volunteer or internship work allowed us to get where we are today. Looking back, there were many things we learned from our early experiences and there are many more things we wish we had been exposed to prior to landing our first jobs as professional aquarist. OdySea Aquarium opened in September of 2016. With over 2,000,000 million gallons of exhibits and over 40 animal care professionals on staff, we knew endless learning opportunities for passionate individuals existed. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the challenges associated in developing a successful internship program from the ground up at a for-profit facility. Topics to be discussed include legal and financial considerations, recruitment, program design along with a multitude of other considerations that must be made prior to starting an internship program. |
Full Abstract
MANAGING AQUATIC SYSTEM LSS ISSUES - Aquatic systems are defined as: 1. Aquariums 2. Aquatic exhibits with aquatic animals other than fish and invertebrates 3. Water Features 4. Combinations of the above. Institutions without the benefit of a dedicated Life Support System (LSS) section are often challenged when faced with LSS issues for their systems. This presentation will present and review options available to such institutions in terms of seeking help with problem solving and staff training. |
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Aquatic Systems Management Issues
Xianfeng Zhang, PhD Museum for Hydrobiological Sciences Institute of Hydrobiology Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
There are about 200 public aquariums currently in China. The number of aquariums has been increasingly growing from mid-1990 through now. This highlights the inconsistency between the needs of animal welfare and the requirements of aquarium construction and management. Two systems of aquarium standards, mainly for marine mammals, have been developing since early 2000. One system is for marine mammal trainer regulation, which is called “National Vocation Standards for Marine Mammal Trainer” issued by Ministry of Labor and Social Security and began to take effect in 2005. Another is for aquarium construction and animal wellness, which includes series standards, such as requirements for facility design, water quality, studbook keeping, animal husbandry, etc. Parts of the standards had been issued by Ministry of Agriculture and began to take effect in 2013, and parts of them are being studied and will be issued soon. Here we show the story how the standards developed. |