CAREER OPTIONS FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE: MARINE SCIENCE

Dr. Sugandha Sardessai, 
National Institute of Oceanography, 
Dona-Paula, Goa

The capabilities of women are indisputable since the vedic period.Gargi and Maitreyi had the distinguished intelligence  and learning that they were adjudged competent to give their verdict on discussions and seminars held on spiritual matters between sages and their judgements were not only accepted but applauded by the male dominated community. In the recent past, though Razia Sultan  belonged to the slave dynasty, she ruled India as empress.Chandbibi, Channamma and Rani Laxmibai of Zansi has left their imprint on the history of India by their merit and capabilities to retain independence of their kingdom from the invasions of neighbouring kings and foreigners. However, due to constant invasions by rulers of neighbouring kingdoms on  establishments in India; the women were suppressed in order to save their sanctity and thus a overall change in the social set up and outlook towards women as weaker sections of the society  set in.  

The necessity to educate women and their potential was recognised by the social reformers in the 19th century. Besides abolishing the evil customs imposed on women, they were given opportunities and encouragement to study and even pursue higher education. The abilities and competence of women in scientific fields like medicine, physical, chemical and biological sciences, agriculture and other applied fields were proved from time to time. For instance, Anandi Gopal an illeterate housewife was able to become a medical doctor due to the encouragement and help from her husband. Similarly, there are a number of women doctors of proven abilities in India. However, women’s entry in space and nuclear sciences and earth and atmospheric sciences is quite recent.  

Being a marine scientist , I must say that the career options for women in marine science are promising. Marine science is as vast as the oceans and fields concerned with research  on  oceans-oceanography- has united biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, computer and electronic engineering, marine instrumentation as well as other disciplines in investigations of the marine environment. This relatively new field beyond the boundaries of land has ample resources to offer to mankind. The abundance of these resources exceeds human capacity to use and abuse. Besides fishing and offshore oil and gas which are being exploited; there are unconventional energy resources like tides, currents, waves, thermogradients and salinity gradients the exploitation of which is still largely in the experimental stage. Mineral industries also poised a significant breakthrough in the mining of deep sea nodules. Pharmaceutical potential  in marine flora and fauna has also been identified but it is still in its infancy.  

Organisations dealing with research in different disciplines of marine science and industry oriented research on  marine resources are National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals research Institute, Bhavnagar; Central  Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mysore; under the Council of Scientific Industrial Research, New Delhi; National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa and National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, under the Department of Ocean Development. The Central Institute of Fisheries Education deal largely with fisheries research and education. Andhra university and Goa University impart post graduate level education in their faculty of marine science.  

After post graduation students get an opportunity to pursue their studies in marine science to obtain a Ph.D. degree by joining the National Institute of Oceanography as research fellows. During this time they get opportunity to work on different analytical instruments and learn latest analytical techniques to understand different aspects of ocean science and technology. A first class M.Sc. is eligible to enter a regular job as scientist ‘B’ grade and lead or assist a research project. The performance of the scientist is assessed after every five years and he/she is promoted to the next higher grade if found eligible.  Graduates in science get an opportunity to work as project trainees to assist the scientist in their project work in different disciplines. Project trainees are employed for a period of two years. During this period they get training in analytical techniques  in the discipline they join which help them to undertake jobs in any field of aquatic and fisheries science, marine chemistry, microbiology, geology, marine corrosion and other applied fields.  

Women stand an equal chance like men  in this field of science. The National Institute of Oceanography is one such research organisation where women get equal opportunity as men to  contribute to research on oceans. There are a number of women scientists in this organisation working on varied aspects of ocean science like survey and exploitation of marine minerals, water and sediments chemistry, role of microbes in organic matter degradation, enzymes in marine living organisms and other biochemical aspects, land-ocean interaction , air -sea interaction, marine pollution and corrosion, marine natural products, data management, marine instrumentation and information and technology.  

The research activities in marine science involve participation in cruises to the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in case of collaborative projects with other foreign organisations. The cruises are undertaken on board the research vessels ORV Sagar Kanya, CRV sagar Shukti and other chartered vessels like ORV Sidorenko, ORV Yuzhmorgeologiya. The ships are well equipped with laboratories and sampling gadgets for different types of studies. women scientists also participate in these cruises in spite of their traditional committments on the domestic front. Besides regular cruises to the seas around the Indian subcontinent, women scientists from this Institute have also participated in cruises to Antarctica which involve cruises on board the ship for nearly 4 months. Women also get an opportunity to apply for fellowships to undertake research work abroad under bilateral exchange programmes to pursue Ph.D. studies in the field of their specialisation or as  post doctoral fellows or visiting scientists to different countries.   

Unlike other fields of science which involves full time laboratory work, this relatively new field of science dealing  with ample resources to explore throws up  a real challange to  women scientists  to prove their capabilities since quite often one has to work on board the ship under rough sea weather conditions.