Executive Director, Trevor Mendelow: Mr. Mendelow has 13 years of experience in education and administration, from the high school through college level, as well as a background in marine biology through a Master’s Degree in Molecular Ecology from Humboldt State University. He formed the Oceanography Club at Kent Denver Day School, and has spearheaded the formation of T4O as well as what is now T4O’s first student-driven research project, the Goliath Grouper Research Project (GGRP). Thanks to his background in education, Trevor is the initial contact for schools entering T4O, helping student and schools with the formation of their clubs. Trevor is also T4O’s audiovisual genius, and is the driving force behind the program’s webpage, database, webcams, and movies, with the help of Soames Summerhayes and our collaborators at America’s Ocean Challenge. Through the GGRP, Trevor has formed a network of scientists, non-governmental organizations, and concerned citizens who are working together to scientifically address conservation issues. This network will expand with the expansion of T4O. As T4O expands, we hope to begin chapters in other regions, and Trevor will be the main liason between these chapters. Trevor is also a skilled aquarist, maintaining numerous aquaria between his home and those run by the Marien Biology Club at Kent Denver. These aquaria provide easily-accessible means for Colorado students to work with and enjoy marine fish and other organisms, and the aquaria webcams make the fish and the various experiments accessible throughout the internet. T4O will provide information for clubs on maintaining their own aquaria, sharing Trevor’s expertise.

 

Director of Research and Scientific Oversight, Dr. Laura Baumgartner: Dr. Baumgartner has a strong background in aquatic science, including a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut. Additionally, Dr. Baumgartner has 17 years of involvement with education and outreach (from K-12 to adult) at both the teaching and organizational levels. She provides scientific oversight and review to both the formation of T4O and the review of projects for T4O funding. Laura’s primary charge is to oversee the research initiatives of T4O to ensure scientific merit and validity. While T4O is student-driven, the students will be conducting actual science, with useful questions and scientific design. As part of this, Laura will be expanding the network of scientists and non-governmental organizations who are supporting the T4O research projects. As schools begin to develop their research projects, Laura is the primary contact for project proposal and research questions and support. To facilitate data sharing between the students in different clubs, Laura will be spearheading the development of the T4O database, which will allow students to upload and download data from their projects or from stations such as the Goliath Grouper Research Project remote station at Bahia Honda Bridge.

“We confront an ethical, environmental, and economic challenge that urgently requires our nation to realign its posture toward the sea. Changing our course requires understanding the problems, setting the objectives, applying the focused energy required to overcome inertia, and taking appropriate action in time to stem the impending disaster. Only a well-coordinated and innovative public effort will accomplish the work of educating people about the need to redress the imbalance in our oceans.”

Pew Oceans Commission