Communicating science is a great way to make an impact, while inspiring people to make a difference themselves. I am driven to reach more people by producing short and full-length, interactive educational documentaries for various research projects.
Each year, I help organize a a unique science communication event. At the crossroads of science, media, and policy, the Beneath the Waves Film Festival is held annually in conjunction with the Benthic
Ecology Meeting.
Humans are tightly linked to the oceans. We are inspired by it, in
awe of it, and continually fascinated by it. At Beneath the Waves, we
want to highlight this watery connection through film. Whether it be a
scientist filming their research or a underwater filmmaker swimming
with jellyfish, there are amazing stories developing every day in front
us. Our goal is to harvest that magic, and show it to whomever wants to watch. In two years we have garnered hundreds of submissions from scientists, advocates, conservationists, filmmakers, and laypeople from all 7 continents.
Previous Festivals:
2011: Mobile, Alabama. 20 films
2010: Wilmington, North Carolina. 18 films
The White Shark Manifesto
*A live video blog from South Africa*
Previous Film Projects
Mini-Season
Inside the Lines
In March 2009, I began a
three-month semester of studying marine conservation biology on Catalina
Island, CA. A large portion of my coursework focused on marine protection and
had me scuba diving and collecting data in a local marine reserve. After a few exploratory pilot dives, I
began seeing some truly incredible things underwater—the fish and marine
organisms inside the marine reserve were not afraid of humans at all (rare for the oceans today). The project
continued to grow as the semester rolled on, and I was introduced to a much
larger debate surrounding MPAs--the very system I was shooting and studying.
The film is the product of hundreds of hours spent underwater filming and
becoming part of the local kelp forest habitat. Three
head colds, and two ear infections, “Inside the
Lines” was complete. This film plunges viewers into California's chilly coastal waters and immerses them in a foreign world of beauty and wonder. By combining a compelling narrative with underwater footage, viewers are introduced to the idea of marine protection and shown why it works in the threatened oceans of today.
Other Videos, Shorts and Trailers