Biographical note

Tom Garrison (Ph.D., University of Southern California) was an inspiring professor of marine science for over 47 years at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California -- one of the largest undergraduate marine science departments in the United States. Dr. Garrison also held an adjunct professorship at the University of Southern California and won multiple teaching and education awards during his career. A founding member of the Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement, he wrote a regular column for the journal Oceanography and enjoyed writing for National Geographic magazine. Dr. Garrison was an Emmy Award team participant as a writer and science adviser for the PBS syndicated "Oceanus" television series as well as a writer and science adviser for "The Endless Voyage" -- a set of TV programs on oceanography. His widely used textbooks in oceanography and marine science are college market bestsellers, and 42 years of teaching allowed him to pass his oceanic enthusiasm to more than 65,000 students. Robert Ellis (M.E.S.M., University of California, Santa Barbara) has been teaching marine, earth and environmental science courses in both the classroom and the field since 2000. He serves as an associate professor in the marine science department at Orange Coast College in Southern California and assistant director of the OCC Public Aquarium. When not on campus, Professor Ellis often helps to develop and teach international field courses in marine science and management in various parts of the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and the South Pacific. His graduate work focused on marine resource management at UC Santa Barbara, and he has participated in and managed research projects and educational programs in many parts of the world. He and his wife Katie have two wonderful kids, Kalen and Abigail.