Aquarium Video Presentations

Jesse Ausubel is a Program Director for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Director of the Program for the Human Environment at The Rockefeller University in New York City. During the past decade he helped launch and lead three major international scientific programs in biodiversity science: the Census of Marine Life, the Barcode of Life Initiative, and the Encyclopedia of Life. Ausubel was a main organizer of the first UN World Climate Conference (Geneva, 1979), which substantially elevated global warming on scientific and political agendas.

Roger McManus has extensive experience and a strong record of accomplishment in marine conservation policy and non-government conservation management. He built the U.S. Center for Marine Conservation (currently named The Ocean Conservancy), into the largest NGO in the world devoted to marine conservation. Mr. McManus has served in several U.S. Administrations, including with the Clinton Administration, as the Ocean Advisor to the Office of the Secretary in the Department of the Interior. Mr. McManus is Conservation International’s Vice President for the Marine Programs Division.

William W. Fox, Jr., Ph.D., was born in San Diego, California, and was educated in oceanography, marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami (FL) and University of Washington. The early half of his career was spent as a research scientist and science manager with the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 2008, Dr. Fox joined the World Wildlife Fund U.S. (WWF-US) as Vice President and Managing Director for Fisheries. Dr. Fox has authored or co-authored over 60 scientific publications.

William Deverell is Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, and Professor of History at USC. He earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Stanford and his M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from Princeton. Prior to coming to USC, Professor Deverell taught at the California Institute on Technology and the University of California, San Diego. Professor Deverell is the author of numerous studies on the 19th and 20th century American West.

Stan Wilson began his career as a marine biological collector. He traveled to Antarctica twice, the second time operating from a 30-foot fishing boat when he wintered over. He has been honored by having both an island and a new marine species named after him. Switching fields, he received a PhD in physical oceanography from the Johns Hopkins University. He has worked at the Office of Naval Research, at NASA Headquarters, and at NOAA. Most recently, he has been leading efforts to extend NOAA’s operational satellite program to incorporate ocean capabilities that he helped develop at NASA.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is pleased to announce Chansopary Karen Soum as its March 10th Anniversary Scholar. Chansopary is active in helping out members of the local community who are homeless and hungry. She works as a volunteer at the Thanksgiving banquet at Ernest McBride Park every year, and contributes to feeding individuals and families who are less fortunate. Chansopary also helps to pass out food at the United Cambodian Community twice a month. Her level of personal caring and compassion is clear, and she even helps orphans in Cambodia by raising money at car washes and teaching Cambodian seniors to speak English. She helps preserve and celebrate cultures with her involvement with the Cambodian community and her participation in Polynesian dancing.

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Aquarium is honoring Long Beach students who have shown outstanding efforts in the areas of science, environment, ocean science/marine biology, promoting cultural diversity, and exceptional community service.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is pleased to announce Brendon Thompson as its January 10th Anniversary Scholar for his excellence in community service. A student at Bethany Christian Elementary School, Thompson has shown an outstanding understanding of, respect for, and stewardship of the ocean through his involvement in the Long Beach Pier Clean Up. In addition, he has worked to bring awareness of cancer and helped to raise money for research, education, and patient services by participating in the 10K American Cancer Society Walk. He also actively works to support and encourage cultural diversity.

Dr. Carl Safina brought ocean conservation into the environmental mainstream. His hundred-plus publications and award-winning books include "Song for the Blue Ocean and Voyage of the Turtle." He’s been profiled by the New York Times, Nightline, and Bill Moyers. His awards include a Pew Fellowship, Lannan Literary Award, John Burroughs Medal, and a MacArthur Prize, among others.

Dr. Julie Hagelin’s research has shown that in addition to their senses of sight and sound, some birds also use a sense of smell to communicate with others and to attract mates. She explains how studies of Crested Auklets at the Aquarium of the Pacific and at a breeding site in western Alaska have led her to say: “The bird nose knows”. Dr Hagelin is an assistant professor at Swarthmore College where she teaches classes in animal behavior, behavioral ecology, and general biology.