WHO WE ARE / ADVISORY COUNCIL

DR. REBECCA ALBRIGHT
Dr. Rebecca Albright is Assistant Curator and McCosker Chair of Aquatic Biology at the California Academy of Sciences. She is a coral reef biologist with expertise in ecology and biogeochemistry. Rebecca’s research supports a systems-level understanding of how coral reef ecosystems will fare in today's changing environmental conditions such as ocean acidification and warming. Her passion for community engagement has been fostered by years working with non-profits and citizen science organizations that focus on educating communities about coral reef conservation and management. Heir Charley Peebler’s coral studies have benefited greatly from Dr. Albright’s support.
DR. REBECCA ALBRIGHT
Dr. Rebecca Albright is Assistant Curator and McCosker Chair of Aquatic Biology at the California Academy of Sciences. She is a coral reef biologist with expertise in ecology and biogeochemistry.…

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Dr. Zanette Johnson
Dr. Zanette Johnson is Principal Consultant at Intrinsic Impact Consulting and Director of Learning at YŌL. Zanette helps teams increase engagement, wellbeing and effectiveness as they bring their shared values to life through fresh practices. Drawing upon her background as a neuroscientist and her 25 years as a mindfulness practitioner, Zanette teaches leaders to stay relaxed and consistent as they build alignment between their daily actions, values, and future goals. Zanette holds a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Religious Studies, a Master’s in Teaching, and a doctoral degree from Stanford University’s transdisciplinary “Learning Science and Technology Design” program. Zanette supports Heirs To Our Oceans in a wholistic advisory fashion including SEAL 2019.
Dr. Zanette Johnson
Dr. Zanette Johnson is Principal Consultant at Intrinsic Impact Consulting and Director of Learning at YŌL. Zanette helps teams increase engagement, wellbeing and effectiveness as they bring their shared values…

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GENA BENTALL
Gena Bentall has worked as a sea otter biologist since 2001. She has studied sea otters in the Aleutian Islands and Russia’s Commander Islands, on San Nicolas Island off the coast of Southern California, and along the Central California coast. Gena studied zoology and marine biology at Oregon State University and earned her master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working with Dr. James Estes. In early 2014, together with members of the Southern Sea Otter Research Alliance, she began organizing a program dedicated to using education to reduce human impacts on otters. Gena now coordinates the Sea Otter Savvy program. Heir Dakota Peebler has conducted a sea otter protection workshop with Gena, and is a proud ambassador of Sea Otter Savvy.
GENA BENTALL
Gena Bentall has worked as a sea otter biologist since 2001. She has studied sea otters in the Aleutian Islands and Russia’s Commander Islands, on San Nicolas Island off the…

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GERDA UCHARM
Research biologist Gerda Ucharm started working with Coral Reef Research Foundation in Palau in 2009 on a marine lakes project. When she first started, she was a bit shocked by the trail to each lake and the amount of equipment that was needed to be carried up and down the rocky trail in and out of each lake. However, her love for science and nature helped her to adapt. She became more comfortable with the daily routines and overcame her fear of being in the same water with the crocodiles. Every month she visits three different jellyfish lakes and three coves around Malakal area. One of the three lakes that she visits is the world famous Jellyfish Lake. She spends two days in Jellyfish Lake where she takes water profile with a water quality meter, downloads weather data, and counts jellies. Gerda also participated in several NCI collections, both in Palau and going on the Kosrae and Thailand trips. Gerda mentors and supports the learning of Palauan Heirs, including Blaine, Aliyah, Adora and Max as well as other youth in Palau. She is a proponent of getting islander youth into their waters for to learn science.
GERDA UCHARM
Research biologist Gerda Ucharm started working with Coral Reef Research Foundation in Palau in 2009 on a marine lakes project. When she first started, she was a bit shocked by…

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DR. MARCUS ERIKSEN
Dr. Marcus Eriksen is the co-founder of Leap Lab and the Research Director and co-founder of the 5 Gyres Institute. He has led expeditions around the world to research plastic marine pollution, and he co-published the first global estimate of plastic microbead pollution and the discovery of plastic microbeads in the Great Lakes leading to the U.S. Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015. He and Anna Cummins began 5 Gyres with an 88-day journey from California to Hawaii on the Junk Raft built from 15,000 plastic bottles. He received his PhD from University of Southern California and has published two books: My River Home (Beacon, 2008), and Junk Raft (Beacon, 2017). Heir Arjun Subramanian is honored to have Dr. Eriksen as his expert mentor in his plastic studies.
DR. MARCUS ERIKSEN
Dr. Marcus Eriksen is the co-founder of Leap Lab and the Research Director and co-founder of the 5 Gyres Institute. He has led expeditions around the world to research plastic…

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DR. SHAWN LARSON
Dr. Shawn Larson is the Curator of Conservation Research at the Seattle Aquarium. She has been working at the Seattle Aquarium since 1995 where she currently conducts conservation research projects, supervises the water quality lab and assists in animal health activities such as wildlife rehabilitation. Shawn has been studying marine mammal physiology, genetics, population biology, and ecology for 23 years and is widely published. Her book Sea Otter Conservation (Elsevier, 2015) is Heir Dakota Peebler’s “sea otter bible,” and Dr. Larson has supported Dakota in her work looking at sea otters as an endangered keystone species.
DR. SHAWN LARSON
Dr. Shawn Larson is the Curator of Conservation Research at the Seattle Aquarium. She has been working at the Seattle Aquarium since 1995 where she currently conducts conservation research projects,…

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DR. PHILIP MCGILLIVARY
As Science Liaison for Coast Guard PACAREA, Dr. Phil McGillivary coordinates science conducted using Coast Guard aircraft, buoytenders, and high latitude science conducted on Coast Guard icebreakers. He previously worked in the Office of Secretary of Defense after a post-doc at NOAA in Monterey, California, through a joint appointment with the Naval Postgraduate School, and an earlier post-doc at the Marine Science Institute of the University of California, Santa Barbara. His doctorate in Ecology from the University of Georgia on biogeochemical fluxes at fronts along the Gulf Stream followed employment at the NOAA oceanographic laboratory in Miami, Florida. His experience includes more than two years on research vessels and submersibles and expertise on unmanned aircraft, underwater and surface vessels.
DR. PHILIP MCGILLIVARY
As Science Liaison for Coast Guard PACAREA, Dr. Phil McGillivary coordinates science conducted using Coast Guard aircraft, buoytenders, and high latitude science conducted on Coast Guard icebreakers. He previously worked…

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DR. LANCE MORGAN
Dr. Lance Morgan is a marine biologist and president of Marine Conservation Institute. His research interests range from zoology to marine protected areas and he has studied taxa as diverse as deep sea corals, rockfishes, seabirds and marine mammals. Lance has explored the ocean as a SCUBA diver, aquanaut and submersible pilot, participating in DeepWorker surveys of deep-sea corals in British Columbia waters. He is currently Chairman of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, a member of the steering committee of the High Seas Alliance, research representative to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, a member of the Mission Blue Hope Spot council and holds a research faculty appointment at Bodega Marine Laboratory. Lance oversees their largest initiatives, the Global Ocean Refuge System and the Atlas of Marine Protection - MPAtlas.org.
DR. LANCE MORGAN
Dr. Lance Morgan is a marine biologist and president of Marine Conservation Institute. His research interests range from zoology to marine protected areas and he has studied taxa as diverse…

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DR. VASANTHA PADMANABHAN
Dr. Vasantha Padmanabhan is professor in the Departments of pediatrics; Obstetrics & Gynecology; Molecular & Integrative Physiology; and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan. Her research mainly centers on understanding the developmental origin of pubertal and adult reproductive and metabolic disorders. Her studies thus far have focused on the impact of specific endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol-A found in plastics, thermal paper, and food can linings. She is a participant in NIH’s Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program and has published widely in high-impact journals using both animal models and humans. She is an expert mentor to Heir Arjun Subramanian in furthering his study of the effects of plastics.
DR. VASANTHA PADMANABHAN
Dr. Vasantha Padmanabhan is professor in the Departments of pediatrics; Obstetrics & Gynecology; Molecular & Integrative Physiology; and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan. Her research mainly centers…

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SHARON PATRIS
Sharon Patris has been working in the multi-disciplinary marine lakes research for the last 13 years starting right after receiving her B.Sc. in Biology from Emmanuel College in Boston. She received her M.Sc. in Quantitative and Systems Biology from the University of California, Merced, in 2015. Her thesis was on the introduction and distribution of the invasive anemone (Exaiptasia sp.) in Jellyfish Lake in Palau. Through her marine lakes research, Sharon has been studying the impact of ENSO events, climate change and tourism on marine lakes and Jellyfish Lake. Her interests are in ecology and evolution and science in education and conservation stemming from her upbringing in the small Southwest island community in Palau where she listened to her father’s stories of fishing. Through her work, she hopes to instill the same enthusiasm and passion for marine science and research in the younger generations of Palau. Sharon is a biologist at Coral Reef Research Foundation in Palau where, aside from her research with Dr. Pat Colin, she mentors Palauan Heirs Aliyah, Adora, Blaine and other youth in learning about their waters including challenges.
SHARON PATRIS
Sharon Patris has been working in the multi-disciplinary marine lakes research for the last 13 years starting right after receiving her B.Sc. in Biology from Emmanuel College in Boston. She…

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PROFESSOR GRETTA PECL
Dr. Gretta Pecl is Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology and Professor of Climate Change Ecology at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Her research focuses on detecting and understanding the variation in rate and magnitude of climate-driven species redistribution. Dr. Pecl developed and leads the citizen science project Redmap Australia, the Range Extension Database and mapping project (www.redmap.org.au), which invites fishers and divers around the coastline to help monitor changes in species distributions in Australian seas. Dr. Pecl is the instigator and co-convenor of the ‘Species on the Move’ conference series (www.speciesonthemove.com), and she is working with international colleagues on a global network of marine hotspots to facilitate learning and communication among the world’s most rapidly warming ocean regions. Dr.Pecl is a Fulbright Fellow, an Australian Research Council 'Future Fellow', the Associate Editor for Review is Fish Biology & Fisheries, Ecography, and Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, as well as a Lead Author for the IPCC.
PROFESSOR GRETTA PECL
Dr. Gretta Pecl is Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology and Professor of Climate Change Ecology at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Her research focuses on detecting…

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MICHAEL REPPY
Michael Reppy has over 25 years with Earth Island Institute and is presently with sub-project the International Marine Mammal Project. Michael’s focus has been using ocean sailing and racing to support Earth Island campaigns beginning with Dolphin Safe Tuna in early 1990s and then Save Japan Dolphins to stop the capturing and mass slaughter of Dolphins at “The Cove” in Taiji, Japan. Michael has worked for many years with Orca Lab of British Columbia on the Free Corky campaign pressuring SeaWorld to retire the orca, longest in captivity, to a seaside sanctuary in her home waters of British Columbia. Michael also supports the survival of the highly endangered Southern Resident Orcas of the Puget Sound area through his participation in the campaign to restore seriously depleted salmon populations which the orcas rely on for their survival. The Heirs, particularly Heir Abirami Subramanian who focuses on cetaceans in her work, are so very grateful to Michael for his care of future generations and their learning.
MICHAEL REPPY
Michael Reppy has over 25 years with Earth Island Institute and is presently with sub-project the International Marine Mammal Project. Michael’s focus has been using ocean sailing and racing to…

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DR. CHELSEA ROCHMAN
Dr. Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has her PhD in ecology with emphases on marine ecology, environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology. Her expertise is the sources, sinks and ecological implications of plastics and their associated cocktail of chemical contaminants in marine and freshwater habitats. Her research sites stretch from the world's remote ocean “garbage patches” to wastewater treatment plants and landfills around the world. Chelsea served as an expert witness on microplastics during the California hearings on a bill to ban plastic microbeads. This bill passed with bipartisan support and inspired similar bills in the U.S. Congress and abroad. Dr.Chelsea supports Heir Cambria Bartlett in her work on plastics impact on our oceans.
DR. CHELSEA ROCHMAN
Dr. Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has her PhD in ecology with emphases on marine…

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EDUARDO SALCEDO
Eduardo Salcedo works as an Environmental Resource Project Supervisor for the Natural Areas Management Division of Miami Dade County, a division in charge of managing coastal and upland natural resources. Since 2011 he has participated as a member of the Miami-Dade County climate change and resiliency team to address threats and solutions caused by climate change and sea level rise to the area. He worked with the USDA Invasive Plant Research Laboratory and the Miami Dade County School District to establish the first research bio-control laboratory managed by high school students in the United States. Through Terra Environmental Research Academy he was able to provide hands-on life experience to students to work side-by-side with research scientists. Eduardo also worked with the Miami-Dade County sea turtle program. As the founder of E.G.S., a non for profit marine conservation organization, Eduardo is currently working with Peruvian partners to establish the first Marine Protected Area in Peru: The Tropical Pacific Sea of Peru.
EDUARDO SALCEDO
Eduardo Salcedo works as an Environmental Resource Project Supervisor for the Natural Areas Management Division of Miami Dade County, a division in charge of managing coastal and upland natural resources.…

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DR. MRIDULA SRINIVASAN
Mridula Srinivasan completed her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University where she investigated predation risk effects from killer whales and sharks on the behavioral ecology of dusky dolphins off Kaikoura, New Zealand. Dr. Mridula studies cetacean behavioral ecology, bycatch analysis, predator-prey interactions and predation risk effects. She is actively involved in international training and capacity building in marine mammal education, research, and stranding response, especially in India. She is currently Chief of the Protected Species Science Branch at NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, where she oversees a program to conduct and support R&D in the science of protected species including marine mammals, corals, sea turtles, and protected fish. She is passionate about ocean literacy and mentoring the next generation of marine scientists, and mentors Heir Abirami Subramanian.
DR. MRIDULA SRINIVASAN
Mridula Srinivasan completed her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University where she investigated predation risk effects from killer whales and sharks on the behavioral ecology of…

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MICHAEL STOCKER
Michael Stocker is the founding director of Ocean Conservation Research, a scientific research and policy development organization focused on understanding the impacts of, and finding technical and policy solutions to, the growing problem of human-generated ocean noise pollution. He is a technical generalist conversant in physics, acoustics, biology, electronics, and cultural history, with a gift for conveying complex scientific and technical issues in clear, understandable terms. He has written and spoken about marine bio-acoustics since 1992 presenting at national and regional events. His book Hear Where We Are: Sound, Ecology, and Sense of Place (Springer, 2013) reveals how humans and other animals use sound and sound perception to establish their placement in their environment and communicate that placement to others. Heir Seth Weinfield is thrilled that Michael supports him.
MICHAEL STOCKER
Michael Stocker is the founding director of Ocean Conservation Research, a scientific research and policy development organization focused on understanding the impacts of, and finding technical and policy solutions to,…

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NATHALIE UDO
Nathalie Udo, founder of InDepth Strategies, is a senior business strategy consultant with more than 20 years of international experience in leadership positions focusing on translating business strategy into execution, designing & implementing process improvements, and program management. As a strategic advisor, Nathalie guides organizations on Strategy and Sustainability. She uses her infectious enthusiasm to inspire people to achieve things previously thought impossible. Nathalie is the co-author of Organizational Survival: Profitable Strategies for a Sustainable Future (@2013 McGraw-Hill) which provides a compelling case for organizations to integrate sustainability into their core business strategy positively impacting society and their bottom-line. Nathalie is an avid scuba diver since the mid 90s and has seen the impact to our underwater world first hand. Nathalie has a MBA from University of Maastricht, Netherlands and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC®). When she is not traveling the world, Nathalie lives in San Francisco.
NATHALIE UDO
Nathalie Udo, founder of InDepth Strategies, is a senior business strategy consultant with more than 20 years of international experience in leadership positions focusing on translating business strategy into execution,…

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DR. ERIKA WOOLSEY
Dr. Erika Woolsey is a marine biologist and CEO of The Hydrous (www.thehydro.us), a nonprofit that translates scientific discovery into public understanding using frontier technologies. She has been exploring coral reefs around the world for 15 years and conducted most of her research on the Great Barrier Reef where she investigated the effects of warming temperatures on coral populations. Erika received her PhD from James Cook University and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, earned her Masters of Applied Science in Coastal Management from the University of Sydney, and studied Biology and Art History at Duke University. Erika believes that human connection to nature can change the world and is heartened by the passion, responsibility, and hope of Heirs to Our Oceans. The Heirs, especially Heir Charley Peebler, have been blessed by Erika’s commitment to mentoring youth and providing them exceptional learning opportunities.
DR. ERIKA WOOLSEY
Dr. Erika Woolsey is a marine biologist and CEO of The Hydrous (www.thehydro.us), a nonprofit that translates scientific discovery into public understanding using frontier technologies. She has been exploring coral…

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DR. TESSA HILL
Dr. Tessa Hill is a Professor at the University of California, Davis, in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. Tessa has a B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College and a PhD in Marine Science from UC Santa Barbara. She is part of the Bodega Ocean Acidification Research (BOAR) group at Bodega Marine Laboratory which aims to understand the impact of ocean acidification on marine life. She also leads an NSF-supported program with future K-12 science teachers. Tessa’s work has been featured in a variety of mass media outlets, including NPR, the New York Times, and Al Jazeera America. Tessa is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, an AAAS Leshner Public Engagement Fellow, and a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists & Engineers (PECASE). Dr. Tessa Hill has supported Heirs Elijah Bartlett and Elliot Johnston on their ocean acidification learning.
DR. TESSA HILL
Dr. Tessa Hill is a Professor at the University of California, Davis, in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences. Tessa has a B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College…

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