Aquarium Video Presentations

Russ Parsons is the food editor and columnist of the Los Angeles Times. He has been writing about food for 25 years, including almost 20 years at The Times. He is the author of the cookbooks ‘‘How to Read a French Fry’’ and “How to Pick a Peach.” Parsons has won every major American food journalism award, including those from the International Association of Culinary Professionals the Association of Food Journalists, the James Beard Foundation, and the University of Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Awards.

Dr. Gregor Cailliet received a doctorate in Biological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1972. That same year, he became a faculty member at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and has been there ever since. Dr. Cailliet presently serves as the Program Director of the Pacific Shark Research Center. He has served as an advisor to 100 masters students in the field of marine fish ecology and has also been very active in central California reserves or sanctuaries.

Stephan Faris is a freelance journalist and author who specializes in the developing world. From the invasion of Iraq and genocide trials in Rwanda to oil woes in Nigeria and Internet censorship in China, he has covered all of these events and more. Faris earned a Masters degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is now based in Rome.

Dr. Welland, is the founder and director of Orogen Ltd., a consulting company based in London, England. He has been face-to- face with geology around the world from the Arctic to the dunes of the Gulf Kebir (Great Barrier) in the Western Desert of Egypt. He holds a PhD in geology from the University of Cambridge. He and his wife divide their time between London and France.

Chris Lowe has been studying sharks for over 20 years and currently runs the Shark Lab at CSULB where he was recently awarded Professor of the Year. Dr. Lowe’s research interests include the physiological and behavioral ecology of elasmobranchs and other gamefishes, as well as the role of marine refuges in fisheries conservation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marine biology at Barrington College. He went on to get his masters in biology at CSULB. And he holds a PhD in zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

As president of The Chronicles Group, Thebaut is dedicated to providing visual and education records for the general viewing public about profound issues facing the 21st century. Throughout his career, Thebaut has written, produced, and directed an array of prominent socially significant productions. His mission is for all people to have access to safe, affordable and sustainable drinking water and adequate sanitation in an attempt to save lives now. Thebaut is currently at work on a new film about the water crisis in South Africa titled “Running Dry – South Africa.”

Dr. James Fawcett directs the marine science and policy outreach component of the USC Sea Grant Program as well as serving as the marine transportation/seaport specialist. In both roles, he serves as a link between campus researchers, the marine transportation industry, government, and the public on seaport operations and management. Fawcett is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the graduate Public Policy program at USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development.

This film, directed and produced by Aquarium of the Pacific staff, presents an opportunity to experience Southern California’s underwater beauty and to learn why MPAs are needed.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is pleased to announce Brent Maxwell Ward as its 10th Anniversary Scholar in May for his efforts in marine science and conservation. Ward has shown a strong interest in marine biology and conservation. He studied ocean life and the tides during the summer in a NAACP sailing program. There, he learned to work with shipmates of all backgrounds. He has also volunteered at beach clean-ups at Colorado Lagoon. His interest in water extends to his participation in water polo and on the swim team. Maxwell wishes to study biology in college, and become an anesthesiologist.

At the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Aster is Professor of Geophysics, the Chair of Earth and Environmental Science, and the Geophysics Program Coordinator in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science. Aster earned his Masters in Geophysics from the UW Madison and his PhD in Earth Sciences from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Aster serves on the Seismological Society of America’s Board of Directors. He received the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Service Medal in 1999.