Sea Dragon is about to set sail to the Northern Line Islands with a crew of scientists, writers and filmmakers, who are passionate about their work as conservationists and educators. Their mission in the Northern Line Islands will be to document the current state of one of the most impressive and intriguing coral reefs in the world, as well as, to compare with human impact and life on the islands.
The Crew
Emily Penn – Expedition Co-ordinator & First Mate
Emily has sailed around the world in several different guises. On the world record-breaking biofuelled powerboat, Earthrace, she co-ordinated events promoting alternative fuels in 120 international cities. Then, living on a remote island in Tonga, Emily organised one of the largest clean-up operations in the Pacific. Awarded Yachtsmaster of the year by HRH Princess Anne, Emily is now Programme Director for Pangaea Explorations, leading sailing expeditions around the world studying plastic pollution and coral reef biodiversity.
Chris Sullivan – Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Chris is a second year master’s student in Dr. Stuart Sandin’s lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology (Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution) and also in Economics from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Growing up in San Diego, Chris became very familiar with Southern California’s coast and the life within its coastal waters. He first became interested in studying marine biology when he visited San Diego’s Sea Camp in the 8th grade. It was during his time as a UCSD undergraduate that he volunteered on a CalCOFI research cruise and worked in two different labs at SIO. Since beginning his graduate research, Chris has been on expeditions all across the pacific, including: the Main Hawaiian Islands, the Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, and the Line Islands. This is Chris’s second trip to the Line Islands, with his first ocurring as a visiting scientist with NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Division. Chris currently studies fish ecology. In particular, he is investigating the growth effects of pedators presence on the fish they prey upon.
Clinton Edwards – Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Clinton received his B.S. in Biology from UCSD in 2008 and is currently finishing his Master’ Thesis at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. His work focuses on coral reef herbivorous fishes with particular focus on feeding habits and variation in community structure across gradients of anthropogenic disturbance. Clinton grew up in Ventura county, CA and spent much of his youth surfing, sailing, hiking and fishing with his family in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.
William Goodlad
Willam Goodlad was until recently a Publishing Director at Penguin UK, where he
specialised in science, economics and other books of ideas. He was responsible for comisssioning, editing, conceiving publicity and marleting campaigns, cover-briefing, copy-writing, and sales support. Many books he published became national and international betsellers. Previously, William worked at Text Publishing in Melbourne, for ELI Holdings in Chengdu, and for the China Britain Business Council in Beijing. He speaks French and Mandarin. William is currently working full-time developing the partnerships and plans for THINK BLUE.
Samantha Whitcraft – SharksCount and Dive Instructor
Samantha’s role at Shark Savers is Director of Programs and coordinator of citizen science. As a marine conservation biologist she has worked to protect the oceans and its animals in the field, lab and office. Researching biodiversity, threatened and endangered species, and sustainable fisheries has taken her to the Amazon with National Geographic, to the Mesoamerican reef with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, and to the Bahamas and the Caribbean to promote eco-tourism that emphasizes ocean advocacy and adventure. She is a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, free-lance nature writer, and passionate community activist.
Skye Kelly – Filmmaker
Skye Kelly, activist and filmmaker, writer and producer of Plastic Tide
which played Sundance, Cannes, Maui Film Festival and SF Ocean Film Festival among many. She is also a Padi Divemaster and sailor, with a passion for conservation and is the director of the Awareness Film Festival and Heal One World, a 501c3 non profit organization providing alternative medicine classes and treatments to the under-served population.
Joseph (Joe) Richardson – Skipper
Bio coming soon
Ryan McInerney – Deck Hand
Bio coming soon