Adan Kassi - marine mammal trainer

You've probably swum with jellyfish, whether you really wanted to or not, but how many of you can say you've had a close encounter with a deep ocean shark?

My work as a marine mammal trainer at the Sydney Aquarium involves looking after jellyfish and sharks and a whole range of other marine creatures as well as my special charges, the seals. I collect specimens and take care of the sick animals and the new animals in quarantine.

I also sometimes act as spokesperson for the Aquarium on children's television shows. Being interviewed on camera is hard work, but it is important because we want to educate the Australian public about our marine fauna.

Because I was seven years old when I got my first biology book about seals, the seals are among my favourites, but I love all types of animals. At the moment I am very fond of a pelagic (ocean-going) jellyfish I collected in Sydney Harbour, and which I am studying to see whether it is possible to keep these animals in captivity.

So far my closest encounter with sharks has been hand-feeding grey nurses and other sharks at the Aquarium, and sometimes having to force-feed sick sharks. I have also been close to wild sharks in their natural environment.

In my spare time, I take photographs of marine mammals and other animals. The most difficult photo I have taken was of seahorse babies emerging from a male seahorse's pouch, where they were incubated after the female seahorse placed her eggs in the pouch.

I've been studying animal rehabilitation and zookeeping at university and am now a qualified wildlife rehabilitator for reptiles, mammals and birds.

My advice to anyone thinking about a career in science is to choose an area that really interests you.

"Science Futures" was produced by Wisenet with the aid of a grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism Science and Technology Awareness Program.