MBARI Board of Directors Chair Julie Packard honored at 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards brought together leaders in deep-sea science and conservation, including (left to right) Esri Chief Scientist Dawn Wright, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius, Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard, and SpeSeas Founder and Director Diva Amon. Image courtesy of the Peter Benchley Ocean AwardsJulie Packard—chair of MBARI’s Board of Directors and executive director of MBARI’s education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium—received the Ocean Hero award at the 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards on May 7. MBARI congratulates Packard on this well-deserved recognition.Held in collaboration with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership, the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards recognize the work and dedication of individuals committed to excellence in ocean conservation. MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius attended the awards ceremony to celebrate Packard’s leadership in ocean science and conservation, and to recognize fellow honorees and collaborators.Named for author and ocean advocate Peter Benchley, these annual awards celebrate individuals who are advancing solutions to protect our ocean, coastlines, and wildlife. More information about the 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Award honorees.For additional information or images relating to this article, please email pressroom@mbari.org. Share Like this? Share it! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
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