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On November 7, 2015, several Marine Science students will take an exam to acquire certification by the Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators (AALSO).

AALSO is a nonprofit organization that educates and trains people around the world to design and maintain water quality systems and mechanical systems that move water for facilities, such as zoos and aquariums, that care for aquatic animals in captivity. The organization’s certification exams, from level one to three, are recognized by all American Zoological Association accredited institutions.

At ɫ����Ƶ, which has an AALSO Club with 43 students as members, there are 11 students who are certified to level one. Three other students, as well as Jeri Fox, Ph.D., associate professor and program coordinator for Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences and member of the Education Subcommittee of AALSO’s Board of Directors, and Tim Arienti, marine technician in the Marine Science Center, are certified to level two.

Steve File, senior manager for all aquariums owned by Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and George Tenhagen, past president of AALSO and formerly of Busch Gardens, will visit ɫ����Ƶ on November 5 and 6 to review for the exam with the students and to tour the Marine Science Center.

According to Fox, AALSO certification is a great asset for students seeking employment in the aquatic animal life support field upon graduation. “There aren’t enough people skilled in this area to fill all the jobs, so these certifications would move you to the top of the list,” she explained.

Fox also noted that students who attend the annual AALSO conferences are often offered jobs on the spot. ɫ����Ƶ has presented at the last three AALSO conferences, with four students presenting posters last year. At the upcoming conference, to be held in Denver in April of 2016, two ɫ����Ƶ students will test for level two certification, while Arienti will test for level three.