William Fallon

Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?

I have volunteered as an Educational Interpreter with the Virginia Living Museum, which houses many native marine and terrestrial species of Virginia. There I had the opportunity to learn about some of Virginia’s indigenous species such as horseshoe crabs, beavers, and eastern box turtles.
I also spent a weekend volunteering with the Chincoteague Bay Field Station. We learned about the life of the Chesapeake Bay and marine ecology, and I participated in dredging for samples of oysters and sponges.

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I have always loved nature since I was a kid, and I spent a lot of time outside. The first time I lived in Japan, when I was around 10 years old, I found this game called Deeeep.io. It’s just a basic point and click browser game. The game has all sorts of different sea creatures, and you progress from small ones like a clownfish up to stronger creatures like marlin and sharks. These interested me, but what really got me into it was the different “skins” you could unlock. You could change the appearance of a certain animal into a “skin” made by a community member that is either a subspecies or a similar one to the original animal. The amount of different “unlockable” animals I could play as, really got me interested in ocean life. I then began to research the different types of animals I liked and began to love ocean life. Since then, everytime I have gone to the beach and found wildlife has just boosted my love for marine biology.

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

I can’t say which one person influenced me the most, I believe more so it has been a variety of people. My mom has been one of these influential people, a former biologist herself, she always supported my love for nature and I went with her on many wildlife outings, including going to go search for shark teeth! My Marine Biology teacher, Ms. Rachel McBride gave me the opportunity to learn about marine science and many aspects of marine biology and was always ready to explain any question I had in greater detail. My engineering teacher, Ms. Olympia Stein, who I had for 3 years, had a great impact on me. While the only marine science related thing we did was create an underwater ROV, she taught me critical thinking and problem solving. Lastly, my former Scoutmaster and family friend, Nate Brauner, had a great influence on me. He always had advice for me, taught me to become a better leader, and pushed me to do my best when he knew I could do better.

What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?

I think the most fascinating part of Marine Biology is just how complex and diverse it is. I love how there are so many different types of creatures that all have their own intricate niche. You have everything from little plankton smaller than a human hair to gigantic whales and everything in between. There are fish that look like sand to blend in to the seafloor and then you have creatures like nudibranchs which have beautiful and astonishingly bright colors which still manage to blend in. There are so many different living things that make up a marine ecosystem and they are all unique in their own way.

How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?

I became involved with OET when I met Dr. Ballard at the 2024 National Geographic Explorers Festival.

What other jobs led you to your current career?

Volunteering at the Virginia Living Museum exposed me to all sorts of wildlife, including many different marine species. While I did not specifically work with them, I had opportunities to learn about them. I participated in a cleanup of Mariners’ lake with the Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads, during which my friend and I recovered the most trash out of everyone, including an entire bike! It was extremely rewarding to see how much of an impact we made as a group, and opened me to conservation. My classes of Ecology and Marine Biology affirmed my interest in pursuing marine science. In Ecology, I had the opportunity to spend time outside and research my local environment, as well as a chance to find snakes, frogs, and salamanders. In my Marine Biology class I had the opportunity to learn about sharks, whales, the seafloor, and more. I dissected a shark and identified its inner workings as well as sorting oysters for monitoring and research.

What are your degrees and certifications?

I have a professional certification in Autodesk Inventor, a software for 3d Design. Using this I participated in the NASA HUNCH (High Schoolers United with NASA to Create Hardware) where mine and my partner’s project, a zero gravity dice roller, received honorable mention.

What are your hobbies?

I love to play hockey (Go Washington Caps!), work out, read, build Legos, and watch historical movies.

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Pursue what you enjoy, but have a backup plan that is more realistic/feasible that you will also enjoy. Networking is also a great help, as it can be valuable for references and provide access to new opportunities.