Lindsey Peavey

Despite growing up in land-locked Syracuse, NY, Lindsey’s life has been dominated by the ocean. After spending her childhood summers on the rocky shores of coastal Maine, she studied marine science at the University of Miami (FL), James Cook University, Duke University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on large marine vertebrates—marine mammals, sea turtles, birds, and fish—that migrate long distances to feed and breed. Lindsey’s investigations focus on where these animals are, what they eat, and how they move when they are far from shore in the open ocean. She uses non-invasive approaches to address her research questions including animal tagging, biochemistry, genetics, habitat modeling, and spatial analysis. As an applied marine ecologist, she aims for her science to inform the conservation and protection of ocean animals and their environment. She seeks to identify the multiple natural and anthropogenic pressures that threaten their survival, and collaborates with academics, government agencies, advocates, and other stakeholders to improve natural resource management approaches.

The coasts and oceans of Mexico, Central America, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaii Islands, Australia, the Channel Islands, and the Antarctic are a few of the amazing places Lindsey’s research has taken her. During her down time, Lindsey loves to travel and explore both above and below the sea surface. Her newest hobby is outrigger canoeing, and she also enjoys hiking, standup paddleboarding, running, yoga, cooking, and photography.

Robert Wildermuth

Robert grew up in the foothills of Colorado and appreciates how human activities on land and sea affect marine life. He also sees how marine life in turn supports human wellbeing. Just as water flows from the mountains to the sea, Robert's studies in zoology and biology at Colorado State University and Arizona State University led him to study marine science at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. His PhD research aims at describing the interactions between humans, marine species, and the ocean environment. Robert uses quantitative and qualitative models to understand the impacts of human actions (through resource use and management) on protected and commercial species and the human communities that rely on them. He hopes to provide insight and perspective to ensure the continued sustainable management of living marine resources for the wellbeing of humans and marine animal populations, alike.

Although Robert's research covers many species from pelagic bacteria, krill, scallops, herring, and sea stars, to cod, sea lions, orcas, and of course humans, his favorite marine animal is the sea dragon. He enjoys his collaborations with multiple universities and government agencies and is dedicated to outreach and education of the next generation of marine ecologists. In his free time, Robert loves sharing his habitat with friends through hiking, biking, cooking, and road trips.

Carrie Kappel

I'm an Associate Research Biologist and Center Associate at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and a member of the Center for Marine Assessment and Planning at UC Santa Barbara.

In my research, I work to quantify the ways humans depend upon and impact marine species and ecosystems; understand the spatial distribution of ecological and human components of ecosystems in order to inform conservation and management; and through partnerships, develop ways to integrate biophysical and socioeconomic data to support environmental decision-making in coastal ecosystems.

My research has been aimed at informing marine protected area design, ecosystem based management, and marine spatial planning. I currently leads a large, multi-institution collaboration called the Ocean Tipping Points project, which is aimed at integrating our growing understanding of tipping points in marine ecosystems into ocean management through practical tools and approaches.

I also serves on the Science Advisory Council for SNAP: Science for Nature and People, and provide facilitation services to SNAP working groups, drawing upon my experience participating in and leading NCEAS working groups and other interdisciplinary, collaborative team science projects over the years. I'm passionate about helping diverse groups come together to solve challenging problems.

I received my B.S. from Brown University and my Ph.D. from Stanford University and spent five years in between working as an environmental educator for the Teton Science Schools, Ogden Nature Center, and as an independent consultant. I continue to contribute to environmental education as a Board Member of Ecology Project International, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve and inspire science education and conservation efforts worldwide through field-based student-scientist partnerships.

Leah Gerber

Leah Gerber is a Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sciences in the School of Life Sciences, Senior Sustainability Scientist in the School of Sustainability, and Founding Director of the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes (CBO) at Arizona State University. Gerber is a population ecologist and marine conservation biologist who is committed to a strong empirically-based marine research program and in connecting science to policies for sustainable resource management. As a population ecologist, she works at the interface between behavior, population ecology and demography of long-lived marine species. As a conservation biologist she works with government and non-governmental organizations to ensure that basic research is applied in relevant conservation settings. In both endeavors, Gerber employs empirical and modeling approaches to understand marine systems connect academic pursuits in marine biological sciences to tenable decision tools and policy. With a grounding in natural history and primary data collection, quantitative methods, and an appreciation for the interactions between humans and the environment, Gerber has pioneered new approaches in protected area design, population viability analysis, and incorporating uncertainty into environmental decision-making. Gerber has published broadly on life history, dispersal, monitoring, adaptive management, animal behavior and ecosystem-based management. She is a National Science Foundation Career Awardee and an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow. As the Founding Director for CBO, Gerber aims to accelerate the success of biodiversity management and sustainable biodiversity outcomes by fostering relationships amongst academics and decision makers. Dr. Gerber can be followed on Twitter @Leahleopold.