Reports on lectures, workshops, etc.
This is the report of the XNUMXrd "Highly Specialized Career Formation Theory I/II"
2013.07.08
The XNUMXrd Advanced Specialized Career Formation Theory I and II were held on Thursday, July XNUMXth.
“What Degree Holders Can Do in Aquariums – From Sales to Research”
Mr. Takashi Kasugai (Staff of the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium)
First, Prof. Susumu Segawa introduced Mr. Kasugai's biography.Professor Segawa, who was Mr. Kasugai's supervisor when he obtained his doctorate, also touched on Mr. Kasugai's research.
When Mr. Kasugai started working, few students wanted to work at aquariums.
After graduating from Hokkaido University, Mr. Kasugai got a job at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium.He introduced how he experienced various jobs while working at the same aquarium until today, and how he received a doctorate from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in March XNUMX.
There are about XNUMX large and small aquariums in Japan, which is said to be more than in North America and Europe.In addition, he explained the differences in establishment forms using famous aquariums such as Kamogawa Sea World, Kasai Rinkai Aquarium, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, and Shinagawa Aquarium as examples.
It looks like a glamorous job, but in fact it requires patience to repeat the same thing day after day.
This was followed by a detailed explanation of each work at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium (breeding management, education, research, planning, equipment management, public relations, general management), showing photographs of each site.Also, the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is famous for being the first in the world to succeed in breeding Antarctic krill and beluga whales.Also, in observing red sea turtles, research groups at marine universities are cooperating, and it seems that all aquariums are putting effort into breeding research.
Mr. Kasugai's work experience at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium began as a zookeeper, and he was involved in various tasks such as management and public relations, breeding of sea turtles and fish, public relations and advertising, and is currently in charge of breeding penguins.He touched on how his first job at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium was in charge of seaweed farming, and how he was moved by being able to watch sea turtles laying eggs all night in his third year.It seems that he also had a hard time exhibiting the eelgrass tank, but in the process he encountered the spawning behavior of the squid, and he conducted joint research with four others and published "Shinsen Ika Gaku".
For Mr. Kasugai, what is the meaning of "Is research at the aquarium a hobby, not a job?"
Aquariums have four roles (recreation, education, research, and conservation).There are many sacrifices of fish in order to maintain the exhibits in the aquarium, and it seems that the public is strongly criticized for this.He said that aquariums in the future are expected to produce results in the fields of education and research.However, research at aquariums seems to be difficult to summarize as a paper because the staff are busy with their daily work.There is no organized support for research, and it seems that individuals have no choice but to continue research on their own time and money.Mr. Kasugai said that he hopes that future research will proceed in collaboration with universities, etc., and introduced the book "Research Aquarium" co-authored by Toshiro Saruwatari and Genjiro Nishi.
Finally, advice for those who want to work in aquariums
Recently, employment at aquariums is popular, so the competition rate is more than XNUMX times higher.Working at an aquarium seems like a tough job that requires a lot of preparation.Still, there is a lot of fun and excitement in working at an aquarium! It was emphasized.
There are many master's degree holders at the Port of Nagoya Aquarium, and there are also doctoral degree holders at other aquariums.