I arrived at MBARI in December 1996 after three years teaching marine biology at Flinders University of South Australia. Together with my wife and our sons Daniel and Kevin, we have made Monterey our home.

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.

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.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

University of California at Berkeley (1980 – 1984)
A.B. degree conferred May 1984; Marine Biology emphasis
University of California, Los Angeles (1985 – 1990)
Ph.D degree conferred Dec. 1990

CURRENT EXTERNAL SERVICE

• 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
• 2010-2016       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