Leadership & Staff George I. Matsumoto Senior Education & Research Specialist [javascript protected email address] I arrived at MBARI in December 1996 after a PhD from UCLA, PostDoctoral Fellowship at Hopkins Marine Station (Stanford University), and three years as a marine biology Lecturer at Flinders University of South Australia. As the senior education and research specialist, my role involves several different projects: seminar coordinator, summer internship coordinator, distance education, links between the research institute and other partners, and other projects that I haven’t begun yet. Please see our educational resources page for links. I am also very invested in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts both here at MBARI and elsewhere. Present Research Interests I am interested in the open ocean and deep sea communities with particular emphasis on invertebrates. Specific areas of interest include: Ecology and biogeography of open ocean and deep sea organisms; Functional morphology, natural history, and behavior of pelagic and benthic organisms; Systematics and evolution of ctenophores and cnidarians (molecular phylogeny). I am also very committed towards education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Education University of California at Berkeley (1980 – 1984) A.B. degree conferred May 1984; Marine Botany emphasis University of California, Los Angeles (1985 – 1990) Ph.D. degree conferred Dec. 1990 External Service 2024-2026 NAS Committee on Increasing Diversity in the US Ocean Studies Community 2021-2023 AGU LANDInG (Leadership Academy and Network for Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences) cohort 2021-current National Association of Marine Laboratories DEI committee 2018-20 NAS Committee on Biological Collections: Their past, present, and future contributions and options for sustaining them. 2018 NSF Integrative Programs Committee of Visitors 2018 Consortium for Ocean Leadership Ocean Science Educators Retreat 2017 Recognized as an ASLO Fellow 2017 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) Research Proposal panel 2015-2018 Organizing committee for the 15th Deep Sea Biology Symposium in Monterey 2018 2014 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) Research Proposal panel. 2014 External reviewer of National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education (BOSE) workshop summary on Exploring the Overlap between “Literacy in Science” and the Practice of Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information: A Workshop 2013-2015 National Research Council Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences 2013-2014 NAS Committee on the Value and Sustainability of Biological Field Stations, Marine Laboratories, and Natural Resources in 21st Century Science, Education, and Public Outreach 2013-2016 Chair of the ASLO Margalef Education Award Committee 2010-current National Marine Educators Association co-chair of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Committee 2010-2016 National Marine Educators Association Board Member 2008-2009 National Academies of Sciences Committee to review NOAA’s Education Program: Review and Critique 2008-2013 National Academies of Sciences Ocean Studies Board 2008-2011 Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) Advisory Board Member 2004-2006 National Academies of Sciences Committee to provide an Evaluation of the Sea Grant Program Review Process 2003-2011 Centers for Ocean Science Education and Excellence (COSEE) National Advisory Board 2003-2009 Camp SEALab Advisory Board Member 1998-2009 Friends of Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Sciences Board Member 1997-current MBNMS Education Panel
IOC-UNESCO. 2024. Ocean Acidification Research for Sustainability–A Community Vision for the Ocean Decade. Paris, IOC-UNESCO. (IOC Technical Series, 185). https://doi.org/10.25607/YPE3-0H04
Crosby, A., L. Takayama, E.J. Martin, G.I. Matsumoto, K. Katija, and D.W. Caress. 2024. Beyond bunkspace: Telepresence for deep sea exploration, In 2024 IEEE Conference on Telepresence, Pasadena, CA, USA, January 22,2025,16–23, IEEE, doi: 10.1109/Telepresence63209.2024.10841692
Dawson, M.N., A.L. Alldredge, L.P. Madin, L.E. Martin, G.I. Matsumoto, A.K. Morris, K.A. Raskoff, and B. Robison. 2024. William (Bill) M. Hamner (1939–2024). Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, 33(4): 178–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/lob.10675
Matsumoto, G.I., K.S. Johnson, S. Riser, L. Talley, S. Wijffels, and R. Hotinski. 2024. The Global Ocean Biogeochemistry (GO-BGC) array of profiling floats to observe changing ocean chemistry and biology. Marine Technology Society Journal, 3(2): 122-123. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.56.3.25
Dawson, M.N., A.L. Alldredge, L.P. Madin, L.E. Martin, G.I. Matsumoto, A.K. Morris, K.A. Raskoff, and B. Robison. 2024. William (Bill) M. Hamner (1939–2024). Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, 33(4): 178–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/lob.10675
Matsumoto, G.I., L.M. Christianson, B.H. Robison, S.H.D. Haddock, and S.B. Johnson. 2022. Atolla reynoldsi sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Coronatae, Atollidae): A new species of coronate Scyphozoan found in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Animals, 12: 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060742
Matsumoto, G.I., K.S. Johnson, S. Riser, L. Talley, S. Wijffels, R. Hotinski. 2022. The Global Ocean Biogeochemistry (GO-BGC) array of profiling floats to observe changing ocean chemistry and biology. Marine Technology Society Journal, 56(3): 122–123. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.56.3.25
Gibbons, M.J., S.H.D. Haddock, G.I. Matsumoto, and C. Foster. 2021. Records of ctenophores from South Africa. PeerJ, 9: 1–27. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10697
Grossman, G.D., B.B. Bozeman, R.W. Sliger, T.N. Simon, and G.I. Matsumoto. 2021. Open Educational Resource Exercises for Fisheries Classes. Fisheries, 46(2), 76–80. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10529
Matsumoto, G.I., B. Bentlage, R. Sherlock, K. Walz, and B.H. Robison. 2020. “Little red jellies” in Monterey Bay, California (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Trachymedusae: Rhopalonematidae). Frontiers in Marine Science, 6: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00798
Acevedo, M.J., I. Straehler-Pohl, A.C. Morandini, S.N. Stampar, B. Bentlage, G.I. Matsumoto, A. Yanagihara, S. Toshino, C. Bordehore, and V.L. Fuentes. 2019. Revision of the genus Carybdea (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeidae): Clarifying the identity of its type species Carybdea marsupialis. Zootaxa, 4543: 515–548. https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.11646%2Fzootaxa.4543.4.3
Lodes, K., G.I. Matsumoto, and J. Magnusson. 2018. Education And Research: Testing Hypotheses (EARTH). Marine Technology Society Journal, 52(1): 12–17. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.52.1.3
Straehler-Pohl, I., G.I. Matsumoto, and M. Acevendo. 2017. Recognition of the Californian cubozoan population as a new species – Carybdea confusa n. sp. (Cnidaria, Cubozoa, Carybdeida). Plankton and Benthos Research, 12: 129–138. http://doi.org/10.3800/pbr.12.129
Haddock, S.H.D., L.M. Christianson, W.R. Francis, S. Martini, C.W. Dunn, P.R. Pugh, C.E. Mills, K.J. Osborn, B.A. Seibel, C.A. Choy, C.E. Schnitzler, G.I. Matsumoto, M. Messié, D.T. Schultz, J.R. Winnikoff, M.L. Powers, R. Gasca, W.E. Browne, S. Johnsen, K.L. Schlining, S. von Thun, B.E. Erwin, J.F. Ryan, and E.V. Thuesen. 2017. Insights into the biodiversity, behavior, and bioluminescence of deep-sea organisms using molecular and maritime technology. Oceanography, 30: 38–47. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2017.422. PDF.
Lewis, A., and G.I. Matsumoto. "Science Educator Professional Development: Big Data and Inquiry Learning." In Optimizing STEM Education With Advanced ICTs and Simulations. edited by Levin, Ilya, and Dina Tsybulsky, 219-244. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2017. http://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-2528-8
Kirkwood, W.J., P.M. Walz, E.T. Peltzer, J.P. Barry, R.A. Herlien, K.L. Headley, C. Kecy, G.I. Matsumoto, T. Maughan, T.C. O’Reilly, K.A. Salamy, F. Shane, and P.G. Brewer. 2015. Design, construction, and operation of an actively controlled deep-sea CO2 enrichment experiment using a cabled observatory system. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 97: 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2014.11.005
Raskoff, K.A., and G.I. Matsumoto. 2015. Caveat lector: The perils of critical thinking for today’s students. California Classroom Science, 27(6): 1–4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277248305_Caveat_Lector_The_Perils_of_Critical_Thinking_for_Today's_Students
Matsumoto, G.I. 2015. A different approach to the research internship. Marine Technology Society Journal, 49: 35–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.49.4.1
Sigman, M., R. Dublin, A. Anderson, N. Deans, J. Warburton, G.I. Matsumoto, D. Dugan, and J. Harcharek. 2014. Using large marine ecosystems and cultural responsiveness as the context for professional development of teachers and scientists in ocean sciences. Journal of Geoscience Education, 62: 25–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.5408/12-403.1
Madin, L.P., W.M. Hamner, S.H.D. Haddock, and G.I. Matsumoto. Scuba diving in blue water: A window on ecology and evolution in the epipelagic ocean. In Research and Discovery: The Revolution of Science through Scuba, edited by Lang, M.A., R.L. Marinelli, S.J. Roberts, and P.R. Taylor, 71–82. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press: 2013.
Shane, F.F., K. Headley, P. Walz, C. Kecy, G.I. Matsumoto, R.A. Herlien, E.T. Peltzer, J. Scholfield, K.A. Salamy, T. Maughan, T.C. O'Reilly, C. Lovera, W.J. Kirkwood, J. Barry, and P.G. Brewer. 2013. xFOCE: An open source, multi-disciplinary resource for in-situ ocean acidification research. Proceedings of Marine Technology Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceans 2013, San Diego, 23–27 September 2013.
Kecy, C.D., E.T. Peltzer, P.M. Walz, K. Headley, R.A. Herlien, T. Maughan, G.I. Matsumoto, T.C. O'Reilly, K.A. Salamy, F. Shane, C. Lovera, J. Scholfield, W. Kirkwood, J.P. Barry, and P.G. Brewer. 2013. Open source instrumentation nodes for the greater oceanographic community. Proceedings of Marine Technology Society/Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceans 2013, San Diego, 23–26 September 2013.
Matsumoto, G.I., and T.A. Potts. 2011. Two ways of researching the underwater world. Brooks/Cole Enrichment Module: 1–27.
Adams, L.G., and G.I. Matsumoto. 2011. The benefits and challenges of using real-time data in the classroom: Perspectives from the students, educators, and researchers. Marine Technology Society Journal, 45: 55–58.
National Research Council (G.I. Matsumoto was a member of the committee and co-author of the report). NOAA's Education Program: Review and Critique, edited by J.W. Farrington and M.A. Feder. Washington, D.C., National Academies Press: 2010. https://doi.org/10.17226/12867
Kahn, A.S., G.I. Matsumoto, Y.M. Hirano, and A.G. Collins. 2010. Haliclystus californiensis, a "new" species of stauromedusa (Cnidaria: Staurozoa) from the northeastern Pacific. Zootaxa, 2518: 49–59.
Matsumoto, G.I., E.A. Widder, L. Kuhnz, and E.H. Raymond. 2009. Challenges of the Deep: Survival at extreme depths. DVD narrated movie.
Adams, L., and G.I. Matsumoto. 2009. Enhancing ocean literacy using real-time data. Oceanography, 22: 8–9.
Adams, L., and G.I. Matsumoto. 2007. Investigating coastal processes and nitrate levels in the Elkhorn Slough using real-time data. Oceanography, 20: 200–204.
Hotaling, L., G.I. Matsumoto, D. Edelson, and T. Herrington. 2006. Using real world data in education. Proceedings of the Marine Technology Society / Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceans Conference.
Havenhand, J.N., G.I. Matsumoto, and E. Seidel. 2006. Megalodicopia hians in the Monterey submarine canyon: Distribution, larval development and culture. Deep-Sea Research Part I, 53: 215–222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2005.11.005
McDonnell, J., L. Hotaling, G.I. Matsumoto, C. Parsons, B. Meeson, and R. Bell. 2006. Exploring the merit and feasibility of using observing system data in education. Marine Technology Society Journal, 39: 21–28.
Collins, A.G., B. Bentlage, G.I. Matsumoto, S.H.D. Haddock, K.J. Osborn, and B. Schierwater. 2006. Solution to the phylogenetic enigma of Tetraplatia, a worm-shaped cnidarian. Biological Letters, 2: 120–124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2005.0372
Matsumoto, G.I., and R. Bell. 2005. EARTH Program providing resources for educators. Newsletter of the Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Networks (ORION), 1: 4–5.
Matsumoto, G.I. 2005. EARTH: Alphabet soup or opportunity knocking?. National Science Teachers Association High School Teacher Magazine, September.
McDonnell, J., L. Hotaling, G.I. Matsumoto, C. Parsons, B. Meeson, and R. Bell. 2005. Using ocean observing systems data in K-12 classrooms: Proceedings from a workshop exploring the merit and feasibility of developing a National Ocean Observing Systems (NOOS) Education Product. Proceedings of the Marine Technology Society / Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceans Conference.
Raskoff, K.A., and G.I. Matsumoto. 2004. Stellamedusa ventana, a new mesopelagic scyphomedusa from the eastern Pacific representing a new subfamily, the Stellamedusinae. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 84: 37–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315404008884h
Matsumoto, G.I., and R. Kochevar. 2003. Joint Projects Committee: An Educational Partnership. EOS, 84: 241–246.
Matsumoto, G.I., K.A. Raskoff, and D.J. Lindsay. 2003. Tiburonia granrojo n. sp., a mesopelagic scyphomedusa from the Pacific Ocean representing the type of a new subfamily (class Scyphozoa: order Semaeostomeae: family Ulmaridae: subfamily Tiburoniinae subfam. nov.). Marine Biology, 143: 73–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1047-2
Matsumoto, G.I., G.L. Crow, P.F.S. Cornelius, and B.A. Carlson. 2002. Discovery of the cubomedusa Carybdea sivickisi (Cubozoa: Carybdeidae) in the Hawaiian Islands. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2000 Part 2, 69: 44–46.
Dyer, A., K. Soole, and G.I. Matsumoto. 2001. Quantitative TaqMan PCR without a real-time thermal cycler: An assay for fish insulin-like growth factor I messenger RNA. Marine Biotechnology, 3: 16–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s101260000029
Harbison, G.R., G.I. Matsumoto, and B.H. Robison. 2001. Lampocteis cruentiventer gen. nov., sp. nov.: A new mesopelagic lobate ctenophore, representing the type of a new family (Class Tentaculata, Order Lobata, Family Lampoctenidae, fam. nov.). Bulletin of Marine Science, 68: 299–311.
Matsumoto, G.I. 1999. Coeloplana thomsoni sp. nov., a new benthic ctenophore (Ctenophora: Platyctenida: Coeloplanidae) from Western Australia. The seagrass flora and fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia: 385–393.
Dyer, A.R., P. de la M. Hall, and G.I. Matsumoto. 1997. Needle biopsy of liver in a marine teleost, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider). Journal of Fish Diseases, 20: 463–466.
Matsumoto, G.I., C.H. Baxter, and E.H. Chen. 1997. Observations of the deep-sea trachymedusa Benthocodon pedunculata. Invertebrate Biology, 116: 17–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3226920
Matsumoto, G.I., and G.R. Harbison. 1993. In situ observations of foraging, feeding, and escape behavior in three orders of oceanic ctenophores: Lobata, Cestida, and Beroida. Marine Biology, 117: 279–287.
Larson, R.J., G.I. Matsumoto, L.P. Madin, and L.M. Lewis. 1992. Deep-Sea Benthic and Benthopelagic Medusae: Recent Observations from Submersibles and a Remotely Operated Vehicle. Bulletin of Marine Science, 51: 277–286.
Matsumoto, G.I., and B.H. Robison. 1992. Kiyohimea Usagi, a New Species of Lobate Ctenophore from the Monterey Submarine Canyon. Bulletin of Marine Science, 51: 19–29.
Matsumoto, G.I. 1991. Functional morphology and locomotion of the Arctic ctenophore Mertensia ovum (fabricius) (Tentaculata: Cydippida). Sarsia, 76: 177–185.
Matsumoto, G.I. 1991. Swimming movements of ctenophores, and the mechanics of propulsion by ctene rows. Hydrobiologia, 216/217: 319–325.
Hamner, W.M., G.I. Matsumoto, M. Ghiselin, N. Holland, V. Holland, J. Pearse, and V. Pearse. 1991. The living invertebrates: The ctenophores.
Matsumoto, G.I. 1990. Phylum Ctenophora (Orders Lobata, Cestida, Beroida, Cydippida, and Thalassocalycidae): Functional morphology, locomotion, and natural history.
Matsumoto, G.I., and W.M. Hamner. 1988. Modes of water manipulation by the lobate ctenophore Leucothea sp. Marine Biology, 97: 551–558.
Matsumoto, G.I. 1988. A new species of lobate ctenophore, Leucothea pulchra sp. nov., from the California Bight. Journal of Plankton Research, 10: 301–311.