Wallace J Nichols - Ocean Researcher
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Who is Wallace J Nichols?
Wallace J Nichols, known as J, is a passionate and respected sea turtle and ocean researcher and conservationist.
His research focuses on the behavior, migration and ecology of ocean wildlife, especially sea turtles, and the ways that humans interact with this wildlife through fishing, hunting, and tourism.
J describes himself as a marine biologist, community organizer, and striving to be the world's best dad. I see him as a person who loves what he does and has a unique approach to conservation.
Image from Nicholl's Facebook Page
Contents at a Glance
Why Worry about the Ocean?
"Our planet is an ocean planet.
Period. 71% of the surface
of our planet is ocean."
~ Wallace J Nichols
Wallace J Nichols Bio
In 2007, I had the honor of hearing Wallace J Nichols speak at a DePauw University, his alma mater. During that talk, he explained about how he became interested in ocean conservation, and sea turtles in particular. It was obvious that he had real passion for his work.
Nichols spent his youth exploring oceans and forests, as well as his own family history. With a fascination for genetics and animal migration, as well as human culture and conservation, these were the topics of his undergraduate studies at DePauw University, graduate studies at Duke University and University of Arizona, his academic research as a Fulbright Fellow and as a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences. You can read his full bio at his website.
Hear J speak in the video clip below about his experiences with turtles during his childhood. Listen to more from his talk at DePauw at this site: DePauw Discourse 2007
Follow Wallace J Nichols on Twitter
"More Love, Less Plastic" ~ The Ocean
Seen on J's Facebook Wall
A Story About Sea Turtles
A Man Named Gordo
At DePauw, Wallace J Nichols told a fascinating story about a sea turtle poacher named "Gordo" that he met in Baja, Mexico.
When Gordo was a young boy, sea turtles were a common food to eat on the coast of Mexico. So Gordo went into the business of catching sea turtles just like his father.
However, due to overfishing, in 1990 the catching, selling, and eating of sea turtles was banned by the government. Gordo, who needed to make a living, became a sea turtle poacher and there was a good underground market for them.
Dr J had a permit for catching sea turtles for research purposes and met Gordo in 1995. Gordo could help him find sea turtles. They started to build a relationship.
After Gordo was arrested four times, eventually serving a six month sentence in 2000, he decided to change his life after a visit from a childhood friend, who was now a leader in the grassroots group of fishermen (Grupo Tortuguero), who monitor sea turtle populations. Today Gordo talks to groups about his story and why saving sea turtles is so important.
Nichols believes in the importance of building relationships in communities requiring conservation efforts. People like Gordo should not be seen as the enemy, but as someone to work with. Gordo needs to understand why saving sea turtles is so important and the conservationists need to understand the people of that area - their traditions and constraints.
You can read NIchols' entire article on Gordo at Conservation Magazine.
Image Credit: Rojer on Flickr
Lesson For Life and Sea Turtle Conservation
Blog Posts on Wallace J Nichols
- Our Blue Mind
- "It is only recently, in the past two decades, that neuroscience has really expanded," said BLUEMiND founder, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, who is also a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences. Today, there is very little data that exists ...
- Marine Biologist Explores 'Blue Mind'
- (Photo by Georgia Perry) Wallace J. Nichols wants people to know that he is not a rebel. I'm sitting across from Nichols at the Davenport Roadhouse and we're talking about the ocean, which he can see out the window over my right shoulder.
Nichols Visits the Gulf Oil Spill
CNN Video
Lovers and Fighters, a Commencement Speech
Articles by Wallace J Nichols
- Fast Company Article
- The Gulf Oil Spill as Seen Through the Eyes of a Marine Biologist
- What Will You Do With Your Blue Marble?
- Article from the Huffington Post, May 25 2009. Check it out for the gorgeous photo of blue marbles!
- The Plastics Out There and In Here
- Article in the Huffington Post, May 13, 2009, on the Pacific Garbage Patch.
- Commentary: The Blue Movement
- Article about sea turtles and more.
- Dive Into Your Imagination
- Interview with Wallace J Nichols - Cool scientists you should know.
- Oceanophilia: The Neuroscience of Emotion and the Ocean
- Article on the human-ocean connection by Wallace J Nichols for the Huffington Post Nov. 8, 2009
Cover Story
Outside Magazine, December 2011
Tribes
by Seth Godin
Dr J was reading Seth Godin's book "Tribes" (actually listening on his underwater ipod) and had this to say on his blog.
"But one thing is clear: the ocean conservation movement needs more innovative, fearless and nimble tribes with creative and tireless leaders, of the kind Godin describes in his book. The status quo, from the way we go about fishing (especially longlining and shrimp trawling and ocean farming) to our ignorance of the perils of plastic in the ocean, has to change. Now."
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
Amazon Price: $8.97 (as of 06/02/2012)
List Price: $20.95
Quick to read but oh, so valuable.
"It's entirely possible that
after tens of thousands of years
of human evolution,
our abrupt separation from
wild nature is making us
kind of crazy."
Learn about Ocean Conservation
- LIVBLUE
- Commit random acts of ocean kindness. In other words, "Live like you love the ocean."LIVBLUE seeks to promote ocean-friendly living, eating, travel and political change. Watch for LIVBLUE the book!
- Ocean Revolution
- Dr J i the Founder and currently co-directs Ocean Revolution (together with Tim Dykman). O*R is an international effort to support, mentor and link young creative leaders in ocean conservation.
- California Academy of Sciences
- Dr J has been a Research Associate in the Department of Herpetology since 1999. The Academy is the oldest research institution in California and recently reopened in Golden Gate Park.
- Ocean Voices
- This is really cool! Ocean Voices is a project by sound artist Halsey Burgund and marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols designed to collect spoken voice recordings from people around the world responding to a few personal questions about the ocean. The voices will be combined with music written by Halsey, into real-time generative audio collages based on the preferences of individual listeners. This website currently is the primary vehicle for collecting those voices, but as soon as enough are collected to seed the system, this site will also generate the streaming audio collages thereby spreading the words of all participants around the globe.
- Save Our Shores
- Dr J is a board member of SOS, an inspiring Santa Cruz based ocean group fighting for our coast and ocean, keeping it cleaner, safer and free of oil platforms for three decades!
- Oceana
- Dr J is a member of the Ocean Council at Oceana, a leading global ocean advocacy group with offices around the world.
- Ocean Conservancy
- Advocates for wild, healthy oceans for more than 30 years. Dr J served as a Senior Scientist in OC's Santa Cruz office from 2006-2008, focusing on bycatch in fisheries and sea turtle biology and conservation as well as working to grow the base of the ocean conservation movement. Be sure to sign up for their annual International Coastal Cleanup.
- Sea Turtles
- Dr J is on the Board of Directors for seaturtle.org which is basically the first place you should go to learn about sea turtle research and conservation around the world.
- Blue Ocean Institute
- Blue Ocean Institute uniquely works through science, art, and literature to inspire solutions and a deeper connection with nature. We share reliable information that enlightens personal choices, instills hope, and helps restore living abundance in the ocean.
Books on Sea Turtles and Ocean Conservation
Faces of Chelonia
About Conservation of Sea Turtles Worldwide
Check out this amazing project called Faces of Chelonia with photographer Neil Ever Osborne. It presents a global perspective of sea turtle conservation. Dr J tweeted about it.
Also, this new page called SEE Turtles.
Photo courtesy of DePauw University.
Help Sea Turtles with Endangered Species Chocolate
Save sea turtles and savor chocolate! Purchase this 3-bar gift pack and a $10 donation will be made to SEE Turtles, a conservation tourism project that supports community-based sea turtle protection efforts.
* Contains three 3oz. All-Natural Dark Chocolate with Blueberries chocolate bars with a card acknowledging your SEE Turtles donation.
* A $10 donation will be given to SEETurtles.org from each purchase.
* Certified vegan, gluten-free and kosher.
* Sourced from ethically traded cacao farms ensuring fair trade, responsible labor practices and sustainable farming.
Help Sea Turtles in the Gulf
Click on the image to donate through the National Wildlife Federation.
Thank You For Visiting My Page
on Wallace J Nichols
What are your thoughts?
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mbgphoto Feb 26, 2010 @ 7:20 am | delete
- Very interesting. It also just reminded me of a sea turtle hospital and education center in Jupiter, Florida (we're spending March in Jupiter) that I visited a view years ago. I think I will spend some time there next week.
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lakeerieartists Sep 23, 2009 @ 6:45 pm | delete
- Really terrific lens. And thanks for using my Zazzle products. Blessed by an Angel.
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a_willow
Sep 7, 2009 @ 10:34 am | delete
- Beautiful! And very educational! Blessed by an Angel!
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About the Author
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by kimmanleyort
Mother, wife and photographer who never stops learning. I had the chance to hear Wallace J Nichols speak and think everyone should know about his work... more »
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