Staff and Advisors | 5 Gyres - Understanding Plastic Pollution Through Exploration, Education, and Action

Staff

	Marcus Eriksen Marcus Eriksen received his Ph.D. in Science Education from University of Southern California in 2003, months before embarking on a 2000-mile journey down the Mississippi River on a raft made from plastic bottles. Years earlier, Marcus had worked for several zoos and museums, founding his own company, Mission Science in 1997, a traveling natural history museum with school programs in geology and paleontology, an annual dinosaur expedition and field course in Wyoming for teachers, and a dinosaur exhibit traveling to other museums and science centers. He also hosted “Commando Weather,” a series of public service announcements about the science of weather, for the Weather Channel. Marcus is an advocate for ocean conservation, as the Director of Project Development for the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, studying and lecturing about the plague of plastic debris in the world’s oceans (www.algalita.org). In 2006, he won the H. David Nahai Water Quality Award in Education, presented by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board for his conservation work with inner-city students. In 2005, Marcus created Watershed Wonders, an educational video series packaged with curriculum materials for junior and senior high schools. Episodes include “Bottle Rocket down the Mississippi River”, “Coastal Wetlands and the Journey of Fluke”, and “Cola Kayak and the Los Angeles River.” And in 2008, he won the Menzie Education Award from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry for marine education. In 2008, Marcus rafted across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii on JUNK, a raft floating on 15,000 plastic bottles, 30 sailboat masts lashed to form a deck, and a Cessna airplane fuselage as a cabin (junkraft.com). The journey, 2,600 miles in 88 days, brought attention to the issue of plastic trash filling the world’s oceans and solutions. JUNKraft was followed by a 2000-mile speaking tour from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico with his wife, Anna Cummins. Recently, Marcus and Anna co-founded “5 Gyres Institute”, to study and communicate plastic pollution in the 5 large ocean gyres in the world. Marcus was elected a National Fellow of the Explorers Club in 2010.
	Anna Cummins Anna Cummins has over 10 years of experience in environmental non-profit work, education, writing, and campaign development. She has worked in marine conservation, coastal watershed management, sustainability education, and high school ecology instruction. Anna received her undergraduate in History from Stanford University, and her Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute for International Studies. In 2001, Anna received a fellowship from the Sustainable Communities Leadership Program, to work with Santa Cruz based non-profit Save Our Shores, coordinating bilingual outreach education and community relations. In 2007 Anna joined the Algalita Marine Research Foundation as education adviser, conducting school outreach and giving public presentations on plastic marine pollution. With Algalita, Anna completed a month long, 4,000-mile research expedition studying plastic debris in the North Pacific Gyre, and a 2,000 mile cycling/speaking tour from Vancouver to Mexico, giving talks about plastic pollution. Anna and her husband Marcus Eriksen recently co-founded 5 Gyres, in collaboration with Algalita and Pangaea Explorations, to research and communicate plastic pollution in the worlds oceans. Anna was elected a National Fellow of the Explorers Club in 2010.
	Stiv J. Wilson Stiv J. Wilson is a freelance environmental journalist/photojournalist and the Communications Director for The 5 Gyres Institute. He is also an ambassador for The Surfrider Foundation and an advisor to The United Nations Safe Planet campaign on hazardous chemicals in the environment. He spends about half his time at sea with The 5 Gyres team, and when not at sea he lectures on plastic pollution around the country. He resides (or at least does laundry in between trips) at his home in Portland, Oregon.
	Leslie Moyer A Bay Area native and intrepid environmentalist, Leslie has been working in the nonprofit and community sectors for the last seven years. Through numerous independent travel experiences, service training and volunteering, Leslie has developed a deep-rooted enthusiasm for environmental advocacy both at home and abroad. Leslie was on the 5 Gyres research expedition to the North Atlantic Gyre in January and February of 2009, and will be researching plastic debris in the South Atlantic Ocean aboard the Sea Dragon in January and February of 2011. Leslie is dedicated to raising awareness in her community of waste-reduction, plastic pollution, sustainability and marine health; she currently works in development and public relations for the 5 Gyres Institute.
	Michelle Nakamura A native of the South Bay of Los Angeles, Michelle spent her summer days as a youth at the beach, where she first fell in love with the sea. But her real love for the ocean grew when she became a certified scuba diver and was absolutely amazed by the incredible world full of life and beauty beneath the surface. Prior to this experience, Michelle earned a bachelors degree from UCLA in Psychology and a masters degree in Sociology from Keio University, one of the top universities in Japan. She then started a promising career in Marketing and Advertising but became disenchanted by the industry and wanted to do more to help people and to preserve the environment. That’s when Michelle launched her own graphic design and marketing company and began looking for cool and amazing non-profits to work with and support. She feels honored to be a part of the 5 Gyres team, providing graphic design and marketing support to promote awareness and stimulate action to reduce plastic pollution in our beautiful oceans.
	Brennan Novak A environmentalist and activist since high school, Portland transplant, Brennan Novak has 12+ years experience building sites on the internet. Upon learning of the great Pacific Garbage Patch in 2008, Brennan became passionate about ridding his life of disposable plastic- when he met Marcus & Anna a year later he was honored to lend his design & software engineering skills to spread 5 Gyres message.
	Ryan Elizabeth Cope Ryan Elizabeth is at present a resident of Burlington, VT working as a Quality Assurance Intern for Seventh Generation, the makers of environmentally-friendly dish soap and laundry detergent. However, her not-so-secret passion resides in the world of plastic pollution and ocean sciences. A graduate of The University of Maine, Ryan has had an interest in the ocean since childhood, after reading issue upon issue of National Geographic Kids magazines about Megalodon and the Mariana Trench. It wasn't until her sophomore year though, after sailing with Sea Education Association across the Pacific for four weeks, that her view of the ocean changed. Before, it was all dolphins and charismatic mega-fauna and then she witnessed the plastic pollution problem first hand in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Since then, Ryan has committed herself to reducing her personal plastic footprint, as well as the footprints of all her friends and family. Through her blog, 7 In the Ocean, she shares rants, stories and tidbits about plastic and all things related with the goal of convincing as many people as possible that the idea of "single-use" plastics is a farce. She's incredibly excited to be a part of the 5 Gyres team and to help spread their message through marketing, social media and blogging.

Scientific Advisors

	Captain Charles Moore Founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Captain Charles Moore has logged over 100,000 miles of research voyages studying plastic marine pollution. He is the lead author of three scientific papers on plastic particulate pollution published in Marine Pollution Bulletin and Environmental Research, and is a world-renowned investigator in this field. His voyages to the Eastern Garbage Patch of the North Pacific Gyre have been featured in US News & World Report, Natural History, The New York Times, Discover, the CBS evening news with Dan Rather, The Osgood File, NBC's Nightline, NPR's "All Things Considered", and Rolling Stone Magazine. He recently completed the longest research voyage ever taken through the gyre, a 7,000 mile journey from Los Angeles past the International Date line and back to Hawaii - 7 weeks at sea.
	Bill McKibben Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist and writer who frequently writes about global warming and alternative energy and advocates for more localized economies. In 2010 the Boston Globe called him "probably the nation's leading environmentalist" and Time magazine described him as "the world's best green journalist. In 2009 he led the organization of 350.org, which coordinated what Foreign Policy magazine called "the largest ever global coordinated rally of any kind," with 5,200 simultaneous demonstrations in 181 countries. The magazine named him to its inaugural list of the 100 most important global thinkers, and MSN named him one of the dozen most influential men of 2009. Bill is a frequent contributor to various magazines including The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Orion Magazine, Mother Jones, The New York Review of Books, Granta, Rolling Stone, and Outside. He is also a board member and contributor to Grist Magazine. Bill has been awarded Guggenheim and Lyndhurst Fellowships, and won the Lannan Prize for nonfiction writing in 2000. He has honorary degrees from Green Mountain College, Unity College, Lebanon Valley College and Sterling College.
	Dr. Myrto Petreas Myrto Petreas is the Chief of the Environmental Chemistry Branch of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. She obtained her BS in Chemistry from the University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and her MS in Environmental Health Sciences, MPH in Epidemiology and Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health. She designs, plans, co-ordinates and manages interdisciplinary studies to assess exposures to environmental contaminants with health effects to humans and wildlife. She develops biomonitoring plans to assess the fate and transport of toxic chemicals in the environment and through the trophic web, and directs the development of analytical methods for ultra trace level chemicals, e.g. dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and new, emerging chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties such as brominated (PBDEs) and fluorinated (PFOA, PFOS) chemicals in environmental and biological samples. She serves on national and international committees on issues related to dioxin-like chemicals and PBDEs. She is the recipient of several federal grants to fund her research and has numerous publications.
	Dr. Arlene Blum Arlene Blum is a biophysical chemist, mountaineer, and author of Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life, which tells stories of high adventure in the chemistry laboratory and the worlds’ toughest mountains. Blum is currently working to bridge the gap between scientific research and public policy to help create a healthier safer environment. She is the scientific advisor for California AB 706, legislation to reduce potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals in furniture and bed clothing in California. Her previous research contributed to the regulation of tris, cancer-causing flame-retardants used in children's sleepwear. Blum’s first book, Annapurna: A Woman’s Place, is in Fortune magazine's list of “The 75 Smartest Business Books We Know” and chosen by National Geographic Adventure magazine as one of the 100 top adventure books of all time. Blum holds a doctorate in biophysical chemistry from U. C Berkeley, and has taught at Stanford University, Wellesley College, and U. C. Berkeley
	Dr. Bill Cooper Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Urban Water Research Center, Dr. Cooper joined UC Irvine on July 1st, 2006. His background includes working as a civilian for the U.S. Army at Ft. Detrick in the late 1970's. There, Cooper ran the water reuse program and also helped pioneer the first annual Water Reuse Symposium in 1979. Through the 80's and 90's Cooper served as Director of the Drinking Water Research Center at Florida International University, Miami, Florida, and as associate professor in the Department of Chemistry. In 1997, he was appointed Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where, in addition, he was affiliated with the Center for Marine Science for six years. His research interests have included analytical chemistry of chlorine residuals, disinfection byproducts and trace organics analysis. Most recently, he has been involved in the application of ozonation for ballast water treatment at full-scale on oil tankers. Additionally, Cooper will continue his research at UC Irvine in reaction rates and destruction mechanisms, and kinetic models for optimizing AOPs.
	Bonnie Monteleone Monteleone is a Graduate Liberal Studies student who will receive her master’s degree fall 2010. She works in both the Chemistry Office at UNC Wilmington and in collaboration with chemists examining the plastic samples she has collected from the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Her thesis title “The Plastic Ocean Project” looks at the compromised environment for the convenience of plastic. Her thesis investigates questions beyond the physical harmful effects on marine life, such as ingestion and entanglement, and, explores the implication of plastic in the marine environment. Lastly, the research necessitates outreach detailing the three socio/political changes necessary to combat the issue of one time use plastics – education, legislation and motivation.
	Chelsea Rochman Chelsea Rochman is a PhD student with the University of California, Davis and San Diego State University, studying the trophic effects of persistent organic contaminants’ adsorption to plastic debris in the marine environment. Her current fieldwork explores contaminant adsorption to plastics around San Diego County as well as in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, where she is a part of the science crew of the SEAPLEX cruise with Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This fall, Chelsea will journey across the South Atlantic with 5 Gyres to explore similar toxicological questions. Her ultimate career is dedicated to developing a better understanding of marine debris to inform science, policy and the public through outreach and communications.

Business Advisors

	Patrick Seeholzer Patrick has over 30 years of experience and expertise in the creation, production and manufacture of music and entertainment packaging as well as related merchandising and marketing components. His company Color Service, Inc. has been printing traditional lithographic products with soy or vegetable base low VOC inks for over ten years, long before "green" became the fashionable color. They consistently direct their clients toward FSC certified or recycled paper package solutions and away from single use plastics wherever time and budgets allow. For the recently completed Herbie Hancock "Imagine Project", the CD package was built completely with FSC certified/recycled paper (no plastic!) and the outer shrink wrap was PLA (plant based). Herbie was an enthusiastic supporter of creating his entire project with these materials. In addition to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and other worthwhile environmental causes, Patrick has been assisting 5 Gyres from the very beginning with their full range of printing needs including educational displays, flyers, guidebooks and postcards. "It is an honor and a privilege to be associated with this group of dedicated and forward thinking individuals."
	Ron Ritter Ron has spent 20+ years engaged in exploration, research and environmental work. He earned his BS in Biology from the University of Miami, and Ph.D. in Zoology as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, UK. Field research includes mid-water and deep ocean benthic sampling, reef ecology; cave exploration and applied terrestrial ecology. Balancing out his “outdoor work”, Ron has spent the last 15 years working in global business and government. This includes 12 years with McKinsey and Co as an Expert Principal focused on manufacturing and operations performance. He then was appointed to serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the USAF, Department of Defense. Ron focused on strengthening the ability of Airmen to improve overall mission, financial and environmental performance. In 2008 he was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. He maintains a special advisor status to the Department, in addition to his role as Managing Partner, Pangaea Exploration LLC.
	Jesse Nicely With a vast and varied collection of professional experiences, Jesse Nicely is considered (by some) an expert in forging a non-traditional career path. The Los Angeles native was drawn to New York City, where he would attended NYU, earning a double major in Psychology and Journalism. Through a string of events too complicated to explain in a brief bio, he ended up becoming Managing Editor of the verge culture publication Frank151. Expanding the brands global presence, he was a key component to launching a French edition, and the creation of Frank’s Chop Shop, a branded barbershop on New York’s Lower East Side. In Fall 2008, Jesse would join Dentsu America, the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's largest advertising agency. Since joining the team he has worked on a range of print, interactive and television projects for clients including: American Licorice, Bandai, Chandon, Famima, Fujitsu, Nissin and Union Bank. When not busy working on projects for clients, he enjoys consuming vast amounts of pop culture, researching conspiracy theories on the Internet, boltless industrial shelving, root beer, and conducting abstract thought experiments.
	Mark Cappellano Mark Cappellano is an entrepreneur and environmentalist, currently serving as a managing partner of Be Love Apparel; a rapidly growing yoga inspired clothing company based in Los Angeles. Formerly a vintner in the Napa Valley, he co-launched Versant Vineyards, running all aspects of the luxury wine and olive oil business. The vineyard was successfully sold in 2010 to the Mondavi family. He serves as a Trustee of The Skyscrape Foundation; his family’s Foundation, funding environmental, social and fine art projects globally. After a revelatory expedition to the island of Borneo with Earthwatch Institute in 1997, Mark filmed and worked with numerous wildlife conservation projects and non profits. In 2003 he became a Director of Earthwatch and currently sits on the Board of Advisors. Mark has a passion for preserving wilderness and creating educational opportunities that inspire youth to be global citizens. He is also an avid practitioner of yoga, a photographer and holds a B.A. in English Literature. He currently resides in Santa Monica, California with his wife and two young daughters. Mark became turned on to 5 Gyres while traveling to an isolated sugar sand beach in the Yucatan only to find it had become a massive plastic debris field and had to spread the word that this heartbreaking discovery does not have to be a testament to human progress.
	Roz Savage British ocean rower, author, motivational speaker and environmental campaigner, Roz Savage has rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean and is attempting to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific. Roz is a United Nations Climate Hero, a trained presenter for Al Gore’s Climate Project, and an Athlete Ambassador for for 350.org. Her Pacific row is a project of the Blue Frontier Campaign.
	David Helvarg David Helvarg is founder and President of the Blue Frontier Campaign. A long time ocean enthusiast, he is the author of Blue Frontier - Dispatches from America's Ocean Wilderness, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean and The War Against the Greens, and editor of The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide. He has worked as a war correspondent and award-winning journalist in Northern Ireland and Central America, and reported from every continent, including Antarctica. Website: www.bluefront.org