Work Experience with our Ocean Discovery Rangers
Looking to dip your toe in the water? Why not try some work experience here at the Aquarium?
We pride ourselves on providing the opportunity for young people to experience working in our team of Ocean Discovery Rangers, supporting us in achieving our aim of “Connecting Us With Our Ocean”.
There are currently two different working experience opportunities within the Ocean Discovery Ranger team.
Please note that unfortunately the National Marine Aquarium is unable to provide financial assistance for any of our volunteering roles.
Position 1 – School Work Experience
Please note: These 2024 dates are currently unavailable: 11th-15th March, and all of June and July. We will not review any applications that are submitted for these dates. We do not accept applications that are in the school holidays or on the weekend, and that we only offer 5 day work experiences
This work experience placement is designed for pupils who have been requested to find a placement by their school and who are between the ages of 14-17. Please read all information before applying.
Pupils are given the opportunity to communicate with members of the public, teaching about a wide variety of marine life and to educate visitors on a range of Ocean conservation issues. They are also, if possible, provided with the opportunity to shadow the teaching of school groups and to be part of some of our amazing outreach programmes. Through such activities, students are given the opportunity to improve their communication skills, gain confidence in and experience working as part of a team.
The placement also allows pupils to become more aware of the variety of careers open to someone wanting to work in the Marine Biology field and develop skills to open doors within this field. Each student will be given the opportunity earn a Bronze CREST award. This award is given to students who plan and run a project based upon real-world Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) problems. The NMA provides a fantastic opportunity to offer these awards, working alongside a mixture of early career and senior level scientists, engagers, and conservation influencers. We chose the CREST award as it gives you an insight into the working within the field of STEM and encourages the development of key STEM skills. This placement is designed to allow anyone with passion and enthusiasm to get key first skills in marine biology.
We will be taking work experience students on a rolling basis. If you would like to apply to be a work experience student here, please fill out the application form, and equality and diversity monitoring form (this is optional but strongly advised).
Forms
Then send these completed forms to us at: Workexperience@oceanconservationtrust.org
The age range for applicants is 14-17 years old.
We strongly recommend that you, the student, fill in the application forms without help from parents or guardians. (Parents, we know this is tempting to help but applications are a crucial learning experience and a skill which is very important for your growth as a young professional). We also want to make this experience available for all young people with a passion for marine life. We greatly appreciate your co-operation with this and recommend that students email us with their own email addresses.
POSITION 2 – PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLACEMENT STUDENT PROGRAMME
Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
The Ocean Conservation Trust runs the National Marine Aquarium, the largest Aquarium in the UK, as its centre of excellence. We focus on a people and solutions based approach to Ocean conservation, using engagement of people to help them connect to the Ocean, and in turn, help to protect it.
Our placement programme will allow you to work alongside our award-winning Ocean Discovery Rangers, and will involve a huge variety of activities, from small scale public interactions, to creating outreach events to promote the wonder of the Ocean. You will help to deliver the OCT’s core public and community engagement programme, learning techniques to help you engage with these groups.
You will also have the chance to complete a small project during your placement with us, based around public engagement with key aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade for Ocean Science.
Key tasks include:
- 1:1 engagement with public visitors to the National Marine Aquarium
- Engagement with larger groups through shows and workshops.
- Assisting with the delivery of public engagement projects, including birthday parties, Ocean Squad, Toddler Tuesdays and after-school clubs
- Assisting with the delivery of community projects, including community connect days, Ocean’s for All, virtual community tours and external community events.
- Assist with the delivery of the formal education programme.
- Join the Ocean Discovery Rangers at outreach events in various parts of the UK.
- Complete a short project related to the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade for Ocean Science.
- Assist with evaluation of all public and community engagement projects.
The role is 4 days a week, working on a rolling seven-day rota, including weekends and holidays.
Please note, the NMA is unable to provide any financial assistance for our volunteer or placement opportunities.
To apply for this role, please fill in our expression of interest form and email to volunteer@oceanconservationtrust.org
Please contact our team at volunteer@oceanconservationtrust.org to find out more information.
POSITION 3 – PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
The Ocean Conservation Trust runs the National Marine Aquarium, the largest Aquarium in the UK, as its centre of excellence. We focus on a people and solutions-based approach to Ocean conservation, using engagement of people to help them connect to the Ocean, and in turn, help to protect it.
Our internship programme will allow you to work alongside our award-winning Ocean Discovery Rangers, and will involve a huge variety of activities, from small scale public interactions, to creating outreach events to promote the wonder of the Ocean. You will help to deliver the OCT’s core public and community engagement programme, learning techniques to help you engage with these groups.
Key tasks include:
- 1:1 engagement with public visitors to the National Marine Aquarium
- Engagement with larger groups through shows and workshops.
- Assisting with the delivery of public engagement projects, including birthday parties, Ocean Squad, Toddler sessions and after-school clubs
- Assisting with the delivery of community projects, including community connect days, Ocean for All, virtual community tours and external community events.
- Assist with the delivery of the formal education programme.
- Join the Ocean Discovery Rangers at outreach events in various parts of the UK.
- Assist with evaluation of all public and community engagement projects.
As well as these tasks, our interns will be asked to develop and create their own public engagement activity.
The role is 4 days a week, working on a rolling seven-day rota, including weekends and holidays.
Please note, the NMA is unable to provide any financial assistance for our volunteer or placement opportunities. Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
Our next internships are available for the following periods:
- March to July
- May to September
- July to November
To apply for this role, please fill in our expression of interest form and email to volunteer@oceanconservationtrust.org
Please contact our team at volunteer@oceanconservationtrust.org to find out more information.
The National Marine Aquarium (NMA) is the UK’s largest aquarium, located in Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth. It is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the Ocean.
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