- Name: Dr. Simon Oliver
- Age: 49
- Current location: Chester, United Kingdom
- Home town: Toronto, Canada
- Education: BA, English Literature, McGill University, MSc University of Wales, Bangor; PhD Bangor University
- Current position: Founder & Lead Investigator, Associate Professor in Marine Ecology & Conservation Biology at the University
- Organization description: The Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project is a not-for-profit research organization. Community-based, their mission is to promote and disseminate shark research, education, and conservation, through scientific outreach, locally, regionally, and internationally.
- Bio: Simon Oliver splits his time between teaching marine ecology and conversation biology in the United Kingdom, and research trips to the Philippines, to continue his conservation with the Thresher Shark Research and Conversation Project.
- Countries I've worked in: United Kingdom, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
- Sector / subsectors: Science, ecology, biology, conservation
- Areas of expertise: Marine ecology, conservation biology, shark research
- Country: Philippines, UK
- Region: Europe, Asia
- Sector: Science
- Degree subject: Sciences
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Who are you, and what do you do?
Meet Dr. Simon Oliver.
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What’s an average day or week like in the life of a shark biologist?
It’s not all hanging out with sharks and diving in the Philippines.
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Shark biologist sounds like the most badass job ever. How did you get to where you are now?
Find out what Simon did for the first time in the Philippines, which he instantly knew would define the rest of his life.
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What's the most rewarding part of working internationally, for you?
Simon tells us about strangers “getting a handful” in Korea, culture clashes, and why he loves to work internationally.
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What are some biggest challenges you’ve faced working internationally in this field?
Simon says you should rethink going overseas if you don’t have these traits.
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What are the key qualities someone needs to succeed in this field? And what do you look for in the volunteers you bring on your research expeditions?
Find out what Simon did at age 37, that changed the course of his career. (And what it takes to volunteer on one of his research expeditions!)
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How does someone get their foot in the door in this field?
So you want to be a shark scientist? Find out how, just don’t hold your breath.
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Do you have tips as far as networking, or cold calling, goes?
There are 362 different species of shark. Watch to find out why this sentence has anything to do with networking.
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Talk to us about education and advanced degrees. What are the routes, and various streams?
Simon breaks down how he decides to take on a PhD student.
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Any last bit of advice?
Simon tells us what kind of ex-pat not to be.
