National Service

My major national service has been with the federal government, serving on various scientific advisory committees, including:

• the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Marine Reserve Working Group (1998-2000)
• the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of the Interior Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (2003-2010): Subcommittee Chair (2003-2005), Chair (2006-2009)
• the National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences Advisory Committee (2006-2008): Chair of Ocean Sciences Subcommittee (2007-2008)
• the NSF and NOAA Steering Committee for Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization (2007-2008)

I regularly review research grant proposals for various federal agencies and private foundations, and have served on grant review panels for the National Science Foundation and the Fulbright International Educational Exchange Program.

I frequently present research results at national scientific conferences and other universities, and have provided expert testimony to the National Academies. I also present invited lectures to national organizations, including (among others):

• Project Kaleidoscope conference to enhance undergraduate science education (2003)
• Ocean Conservancy "Celebration for the Ocean" event in Washington, DC (2004)
• Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources meeting on marine conservation (2005)
• U.S. Coast Guard Sea Partners workshop on marine conservation (2006)
• Smithsonian Institution "Revolution in Science through SCUBA" sympoisum (2010)

I have served on advisory boards for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and the Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea. Finally, I often receive letters and e-mails with questions from elementary to high-school students around the nation, which I answer to the best of my ability.