Quarterdeck 2.2

Joel Plessala

Joel Plessala's heart belongs to the ocean. At age 34 he holds a B.S. in Marine Biology, and for the last ten years has owned a partnership in Freestyle Fin Systems, Inc., Galveston's prospering manufacturer of custom surfing and sailing products. Reluctant to leave the business with which he has marketed products internationally, he has returned to TAMU-Galveston for a second degree in Marine Sciences in order to pursue a career working with the ocean environment.

Joel has added extensive calculus, physics, chemistry and geology to his existing background in biology. He believes that the marine-science approach forces students to think beyond the confines of a basic science and understand the ocean as an ecosystem. Marine Sciences taught him to view the ocean, atmosphere, and continents as an integrated whole in which daily human input affects the system.

Joel believes that the comprehensive and practical training that Marine Sciences offers will prepare him to join an environmental consulting firm or pursue graduate studies in oceanography. As a scientist and business owner, he can bring special insight to the effort to minimize differences between industry and conservation interests. He sees punitive fines paid by companies who violate environmental laws as a potential resource pool to fund the retooling of industry with ecosystem-friendly technology.

Joel's specific interests lie with geological and physical oceanography, and he likes to "get his hands wet." The Field Methods course, required for all Marine Science majors, trained him to collect oceanographic data and helped illuminate concepts presented in the classroom. The course also led to Joel's participation in a beach replenishment program being conducted in Galveston with the help of TAMU oceanographers.

Joel is keeping all his post-graduation options open. He plans to stay indirectly involved in Freestyle Fin Systems, as well as pursue a career in marine science. He may apply to graduate school in physical or geological oceanography, and in his spare time he plans to restore a 47-foot schooner that he is acquiring in Louisiana. Joel enthusiastically remarks that he is not sure how he is going to manage everything but that he will find a way!


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Oceanography, Texas A&M University

 

rshatto@ocean.tamu.edu

URL=http://oceanography.tamu.edu/Quarterdeck/QD2.2/Profiles/plessala.html
Updated July 24, 1995