The SeaDoc Board is instrumental to our mission here in the Salish Sea. Scott, Barb, and Jeff bring unique expertise, passion, and dedication to our team and we’re so excited to have them! View the whole board here and learn more about Scott, Barb and Jeff below.
Drones can be powerful tools in gathering important health data about wildlife, including marine species like the Salish Sea’s endangered killer whales. Scientists have already established the benefits of collecting breath samples to monitor orca health, but we wanted to scientifically understand if it is less invasive than previous sampling methods–namely the use of a long pole with a petri dish extended from a nearby boat toward the whale’s blowhole.
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal, Marine Mammal Science, led by SeaDoc Society Research Assistant Catherine Lo, answered that question by analyzing more than 1,000 drone-collected killer whale breath samples.
This summer, our brilliant Scientific Advisory Committee gathered in Seattle to assess and ultimately determine funding for five new critical research projects here in the Salish Sea. You can read about those here.
Our Science Advisors are a vital part of our mission, and we’re excited to introduce two exciting new additions. They are Caitlin Magel of Puget Sound Institute and Phil Bloch of Confluence Environmental Company. We asked them a few questions so you can get to know them a bit better.
Welcome Caitlin and Phil!
We're excited to announce that SeaDoc Society will fund five new scientific research projects aimed at improving the longterm health of the Salish Sea. Each project was carefully reviewed and selected by our Scientific Advisory Committee and funded through your donations from people like you.
We look forward to sharing more about each of these as fieldwork ramps up, but here is a brief look at the newly funded projects:
We are excited to welcome our new Regional Director, Leigh Ann Gilmer! She started on February 1 and has hit the ground running.
Prior to joining SeaDoc, Leigh Ann served as Executive Director of Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds and Development Director and Chief Operating Officer at Conservation Northwest. In addition, she’s held key roles at the Museum of Pop Culture and Seattle University, where she completed her master’s degree while working full time in fund development.
Have you managed a dedicated team? Do you have demonstrated fundraising experience? Do you know how to engage a high-level Board of Directors and shepherd a team towards the big, hairy and audacious, but critical, goal of creating a healthy Salish Sea? If so, we have the opportunity for you.
The SeaDoc Society is hiring a Regional Director to provide development and management leadership for our team. This is a position within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The person hired will work closely with our Science Director, Dr. Joe Gaydos, our Executive Director Dr. Kirsten Gilardi, and our Board of Directors to advance SeaDoc's overall mission in the Salish Sea. She/he also will oversee and manage SeaDoc Society outreach, education and administrative staff and workloads.
Since 2016, The SeaDoc Society has grown its impact and reach, expanding not only our scientific capacity but also launching our youth education program and accelerating outreach efforts. This heady time for SeaDoc has been led by Regional Director Markus Naugle.
This month, Markus announced his resignation as Regional Director from SeaDoc Society due to recent changes in his father’s health that require Markus’ help. Please join us in wishing Markus and his family all the best in this time of need.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Markus Naugle, SeaDoc's new Regional Director, during his recent trip to the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis. We had a great conversation about his move to Orcas Island after 10 years of running an educational immersion program in Guatemala, as well as his new role at SeaDoc Society at a time when the organization is aiming to double its scientific impact in the Salish Sea. You can hear our conversation below!
By Bob Friel
SeaDoc’s mad scientists have been hard at work in the laboratory for nearly a year trying to animate someone to fill the new position of Regional Director by cobbling together cloned bits of biologists, entrepreneurs, non-profit experts, and ocean lovers. Joe “Dr. Moreau” Gaydos was just about to throw the big switch when in walked Markus Naugle with a resume that blew us away, putting an end to the experiments.
After earning his biology degree at MIT, Markus served for nearly a decade as a biotech management consultant, business analyst, and product manager for large international health care firms. He then co-founded, Magic Carpet Rides, a successful non-profit program in Guatemala dedicated to cultural immersion, service learning, and natural exploration.
Fitting with SeaDoc’s focus on fieldwork as well as lab and data studies, Markus is also an active outdoorsman, experienced world traveler, and ocean advocate. He was a scuba instructor on the Great Barrier Reef, helped restore a rainforest in New Zealand, and saved sea turtles in Costa Rica.
Topping it all off, Markus even has history in SeaDoc’s home waters. When he starts at our Orcas Island office in late November, it will be a homecoming to a place where he’s previously lived, dived, and been a valued member of the local community.
“It’s a thrill for my family and me to come home and join the SeaDoc team,” says Markus. “I am eager to use my skills and experience to help SeaDoc achieve its vital mission of healing our Salish Sea through science.”
Please join us in welcoming Markus to the SeaDoc team as we begin a new era for SeaDoc in which, thanks to your continued support, we’ll be able to greatly expand our important work.
