Hi! This is Amanda, a benthic ecologist currently working in Tromsø, Norway.

If you are a student at a university, or even in high school, a great way to start getting involved in research is to talk to scientists at a local university and see what projects they are currently working on. If something interests you, ask if you can help! The worst they can say is no :) For example, bachelor students conducting thesis research often get to work in a lab or participate in field sampling trips. During my Ph.D., we had at least 4 undergraduate students working on thesis projects who were able to come on research cruises all the way to Antarctica. The more experience you get with research early and make your interests known to your professors, the more likely it is that you will be able to help on a research cruise. You can also look for outreach events. For example, sometimes research vessels are open for tours when they are in port, and research facilities (including universities and museums) host open house days when they showcase what research they are conducting. These can be great ways to learn what is going on at a university near you, or learn about something that might really excite you!