A renowned oceanographer and explorer, David Gallo, Ph.D, joins Headwaters Science Institute to share astonishing footage of rarely seen deep-sea creatures, volcanic vents and his groundbreaking exploration of the Titanic wreckage.
He also shares with Headwaters an extended and updated version of his TEDTalk “Underwater Astonishments” that has received millions of views, which includes the path he took to becoming an oceanographer, the threats our oceans and entire planet face from human impacts and advice for students interested in embarking on a life in science.
For nearly 30 years he was Director of Special Projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – a preeminent, globally recognized scientific laboratory. Subsequently he was Senior Adviser for Strategic Initiatives at RMSTitanic Inc. Today, he is independent and remains at the forefront of ocean exploration, participating in, being witness to and communicating the development of new technologies and scientific discoveries that shape our view of planet earth.
He has been described by TED Conferences as “an enthusiastic ambassador between the sea and those of us on dry land.” With more than 16 million views his TED presentation “Underwater Astonishments” has been among the all-time top TED Talks. Dr. Gallo is personally committed to keeping curiosity alive. He has lectured internationally to audiences ranging from children to CEOs with the goal of awakening the little bit of Jacques Cousteau and Jules Vernes that resides in each of us. He has appeared in numerous documentaries (Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic).
He is also no stranger to televised national and international news programs such as Face the Nation (CBS), Good Morning America (ABC), The Today Show (NBC), The Weather Channel, PBS, and MSNBC). He was a CNN on-air analyst throughout the failed search for Malaysion Flight 370 and remains a CNN ocean analyst today.
Check out our latest Lunch With A Scientist episode with Pfizer researcher Donna Luisi as we talk about her career pathway, her experience working at Pfizer during its development of the COVID-19 vaccine and many other topics.
Dr. Luisi is currently an Associate Research Fellow in the Pharmaceutical Research and Development Department at Pfizer. Shehas 20 years of industrial experience focusing on formulation, dosage form design and process development of various modalities with an emphasis on biophysical characterization.
Check out our latest Lunch With A Scientist episode with shark scientist Jillian Morris. We talk about her pathway into marine biology, studying (and diving with) sharks in the Bahamas and her corresponding research.
She is a marine biologist, shark conservationist, scuba instructor and educator. She has filmed for numerous television shows and networks, has appeared on Shark Week and is a PADI Ambassadiver. She was named Scuba Diving Magazine’s July 2016 Sea Hero, awarded the inaugural Shark Con Shark Hero Award in 2017 and was the Go Blue Awards 2020 Blue Ambassador of the Year. She is the author of Norman the Nurse Shark and Shark Super Powers and a member of the prestigious Ocean Artists Society.
Born and raised in Maine, Jillian’s love for the ocean started at an early age and has continued to play an integral role in her adult life. She has spent thousands of hours in the field working and diving with sharks across the globe. She is also the founder and president of Sharks4Kids nonprofit.
Sarah “Stacy” Barber is an anthropological archaeologist with a long-term interest in how human beings interact with coastal ecosystems. She has also conducted research since 2017 on the east coast of Florida, where she and collaborators are evaluating the history of human occupation and resource use on the Indian River Lagoon. Dr. Barber has also conducted research on the coast of Oaxaca in southern Mexico since 2000, looking at the origins and organization of early urban societies in coastal settings. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Historic Society, the National Geographic Society, and Argonne National Laboratories.
Dr. Chris Lowe is a professor in marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, where he and his students work with acoustic and satellite telemetry techniques to study the movement, behavior and physiology of sharks, rays and gamefishes. Dr. Lowe grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, where he spent a majority of his youth fishing and diving the waters around Cape Cod. He comes from a long line of New England fishermen and whalers and believes a career focused on the ocean environment was inevitable.
Megan holds a PhD in zoology from Washington State University and is passionate about science and the environment. Her focus is on teaching more people the process of science and she hopes to bring it to as many students as possible across the US. In her free time, Meg enjoys Nordic skiing, running, and playing with her family in the Sierra.
Beth Fitzpatrick has a background in scientific research, is a Ph.D candidate in ecology, and has experience in planning and providing engaging STEM outreach programing to K-12 students. Beth oversees school programming and summer camps for Headwaters. She has experience teaching in postsecondary education, study design and execution, and grant writing.
Jennifer Cotton manages our Research Experience and Lunch with a Scientist Program. She previously worked as a secondary science content specialist and public high school science educator. She has over a decade of experience in writing standards based curriculum. She has worked with OCEARCH to create a STEM based curriculum and has represented that organization at many outreach events.
Dan Itel comes from a background in news journalism, spending 20 years in the industry as a reporter, columnist and editor, and oversees Headwaters’ messaging. Most recently, Dan has worked with numerous businesses and nonprofits alike on brand storytelling, marketing and public outreach. Ultimately, he has a passion for storytelling that cultivates more intimate and meaningful relationships between mission and audience, especially when it comes to enacting change for the greater good.
Mary Ellen holds a BA in Biology/Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz. She has worked as an environmental education guide for more than 10 years, balancing that with substitute teaching K-12 in the local school district. For fun she coaches a high school Nordic ski team and tries to get in as much play time outside, skiing, running and biking. She hopes to inspire students to be curious about natural processes in order to foster a deeper appreciation of our environment.
Daniel Dudek
Science Mentor
In the fall of 2016, Dan completed his B.S. in plant physiology at Pennsylvania State University. He is currently completing his M.S. Biology degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania working under Dr. Josiah Townsend, researching the evolutionary relationships between the herpetofauna, mainly amphibians, of Mesoamerica and assessing levels of biodiversity in this region. Dan intends on continuing his academic interests in the future by pursing a PhD in systematics, ecology, and evolution. He is also focused on developing effective teaching methods of scientific information to all age groups.
Anne Espeset
Grants and Programs
Anne holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno where she researched the impacts of human-induced changes on sexually selected signals of a butterfly. She has also been a part of several scientific outreach programs, including a community science project (Pieris Project) and the University of Nevada’s Museum of Natural History. Anne is excited to continue sharing the scientific process and research with a diversity of students through the Headwaters Science Institute!