Team

STUDENTS ON ICE EXPEDITIONS | Natural Heritage Building | 1740 chemin Pink | Gatineau, QC J9J 3N7 CANADA | 1-866-336-6423

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EXPEDITION TEAM

Education and interpretation are key elements of the expedition. Students on Ice Expeditions has assembled an international team of scientists, educators and polar experts, whose experience and enthusiasm ensures that students come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Arctic. Expert polar naturalists, historians, and earth scientists will make this expedition an unforgettable adventure!

	GEOFF GREEN Expedition Leader, Founder & Executive Director, Students on Ice Canadian adventurer, environmentalist and educator Geoff Green has been leading expeditions and adventures from pole to pole for the past fifteen years. Many notable organizations such as the Discovery Channel, World Wildlife Fund, National Audubon and the Smithsonian Institution enlist Geoff to lead their groups into the world's most remote and exciting regions. In 2005, he received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. Congress for his work with youth and the environment. He was also voted one of Canada's "Top 40 under 40" - an annual national prize event saluting Canada's top young leaders. In 2004, Outpost Magazine chose Geoff as one of the "Top 5 Canadian Explorers" to watch. Geoff is the founder and Executive Director of Students on Ice Expeditions (studentsonice.com) an award-winning educational organization based in Chelsea, Quebec. The program - now in its eighth year - has taken almost 800 students, teachers and scientists from around the world on expeditions to both the Arctic and the Antarctic. The goal of this unique project is to give the world's youth a heightened understanding and respect for the planet's global ecosystem, and the inspiration to protect it. As expedition leader, Geoff is a veteran of 74 Antarctic expeditions and 30 Arctic expeditions.
	JOLLY ATAGOYUK Printmaker Jolly is dedicated to keeping his culture strong through artwork. Much of the strength of the print tradition thriving in his home community of Pangnirtung, Nunavut Territory, can be attributed to Jolly's talent, enthusiasm and generosity. Jolly’s work in stencil, lino prints and etching is cherished by collectors around the globe. He has also become known for his woodcuts, silkscreens, watercolours, sculptures, jewellery and filmwork. Jolly regularly tours the south, promoting the release of the Annual Collection of Pangnirtung prints. His work can also be found in 22 Northern Image Galleries across Canada. In addition to interpreting original drawings from the community archives, Jolly creates his own imagery. Animals and spirit creatures are recurring motives in his work. He hopes that through his work people will learn more about Inuit culture, its traditions and the art of printmaking.
	INGRID BAJEWSKY Climatologist & Physical Geographer Ingrid Bajewsky teaches physical geography and geology at Nipissing University. She has taught a variety of courses including general geology, natural hazards, geomorphology, and paleoclimatology and climate change. Her research interests however, lie specifically in the area of glacial hydrology, with a particular interest in rock glaciers. She has conducted glaciological research in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon Territory. Ms. Bajewsky's commitment to helping university students attain their goals led her to teaching a course entitled University Success. She holds a Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Physical Geography, and a Bachelor of Education. During her career Ms. Bajewsky has also held positions as an environmental consultant and a substitute teacher.
	AMBER CHURCH APECS Representative, Geologist & Climate Change Researcher Amber is a M.Sc. student in Earth Science at Simon Fraser University. She studies glacier retreat, climate change and natural hazards in the Yukon. She co-founded and co-chaired the International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (now the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, APECS). The committee’s goals are to involve youth in all aspects of polar research and policy, to increase collaboration between the sciences, arts and education, and to foster respect for different ways of knowing. Amber’s passion is climate change. She was part of the official youth delegation to the UN Climate Change Meetings and was one of 200 Canadians selected by the Climate Project Canada to be trained by Al Gore to present an updated version of the award-winning Inconvenient Truth slideshow. She is currently working with SFU’s Adaptation to Climate Change Team; striving towards her certification as a yoga instructor; and in her free time is working to increase her understanding of complex water issues with Waterlution, an organization who engages individuals, organizations and communities in exploring issues facing both local and global water supply with the goal of developing solutions that respect our water and ecosystem for many generations to come.
	GARRY DONALDSON Migratory Birds Conservation Biologist Garry has been working with the Canadian Wildlife Service for nineteen years in the fields of wildlife toxicology and the conservation of migratory birds. During the course of his career he has participated in field research in many parts of Canada with the majority taking place at various seabird colonies in the Arctic. Included in that work was research leading to a Master’s degree from the University of Ottawa focused on understanding population characteristics of cliff dwelling seabirds. Currently occupying a desk-based job, Garry is responsible for managing national programs for seabirds and shorebirds as well as coordinating international conservation efforts for all migratory birds from Canada. He is on the board of directors of the international Waterbird Society as well as the community based Action Chelsea for the Respect of the Environment. Garry has also volunteered as a science teacher at rural school in Malawi and worked for an adventure travel company guiding white water canoe trips in the Northwest Territories, hiking trips in Nunavut and currently participates in Ironman distance triathlons.
	DR. ERIC GALBRAITH Oceanographer & Earth Science Researcher A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Eric worked as a geologist in South America and the Canadian Arctic before becoming an oceanographer. His research looks at how global ocean circulation interacts with the rest of the climate system, what this means for marine life, and how the ocean will respond to future climate change. He has lectured aboard cruises throughout the North Atlantic, and in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. He is currently a research associate at Princeton University.
	WILLIAM L. GEORGE Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Practice Leader William George has extensive senior experience in the private, public and not for profit sectors. Before joining Edelman as Senior Vice-President and member of Edelman Canada’s management committee, William was Senior Vice-President, Communications and Government Relations at CGI Group, the world’s eighth largest IT and business process services provider. He was also Vice-President, Communications, Government Relations, and Marketing at Domtar, the largest maker and marketer of office and commercial printing papers in North America. Before moving to the private sector, William held several senior management positions in the Government of Canada, notably in the Privy Council Office. William has extensive relationships with environmental community in Canada.
	DR. DAVID R. GRAY Arctic Biologist & Historian An arctic biologist and historian, David Gray has studied birds and mammals in Canada’s High Arctic since 1968. Formerly a research scientist with the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN), he has made over 30 research trips to the arctic islands, studying the behaviour of musk oxen, arctic hare, and red-throated loons. As an independent researcher since 1994, he has prepared reports on Peary caribou, arctic wolves, the cultural and natural resources of three northern national parks, and the historic places of Nunavut. He has written two books on arctic subjects (The Muskoxen of Polar Bear Pass and Alert: Beyond the Inuit Lands) and completed two Virtual Museum of Canada exhibits: The Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-1918 and Ukaliq, the Arctic Hare. David worked on a number of arctic films and museum exhibits for CMN, and is a Research Associate at both CMC and CMN. David has travelled to several arctic communities to interview Elders in relation to his research on arctic wildlife and history. He is at present working on two films and a book on Arctic history.
	THE HONOURABLE ANN MEEKITJUK HANSON Commissioner of Nunavut The 3rd Commissioner of Nunavut, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, was appointed on April 21, 2005. Born on the island of Qakutut, outside Kimmirut, Nunavut, she spent the first 11 years of her life speaking only Inuktitut and living in Qakutut and Kimmirut. She attended schools in Iqaluit, Qamanituaq and Toronto. She studied community development at St. Xavier University and received a diploma with honours in journalism from Nunavut Arctic College. Mrs. Hanson's career has been diverse. She has been a civil servant, broadcaster, journalist and author. She has used her skills in Inuktitut throughout her career. Joining the federal government in 1964, she served as a secretary and interpreter/translator in the office of Nunatsiaq Member of Parliament Gene Rheaume. She joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a receptionist, later becoming an announcer and producer in Inuktitut broadcasting. Mrs. Hanson was the first editor of the Iqaluit community newspaper Inukshuk, which later became Nunatsiaq News. She is the author of "Show Me," a book written in Inuktitut and English. In addition to her work in journalism, Mrs. Hanson also served with the Government of the Northwest Territories as a community development worker, counsellor and Deputy Commissioner. Mrs. Hanson has spent considerable time as a volunteer, helping to start a number of organizations in Iqaluit. These organizations include the Juvenile Court Committee, the Elders Group, the Inuit Cultural Group and the Quinuajuaq Society. Mrs. Hanson lives in Iqaluit with her husband, Robert Hanson. They have five grown daughters.
	JOHNNY ISSALUK Traditional Inuit Athlete Johnny Issaluk is originally from a small Arctic hamlet on the coast of Hudson’s Bay in Nunavut called Igluligaarjuk (known as Chesterfield Inlet). He presently resides in Iqaluit, Nunavut with his young family where he works for the Government of Nunavut as a Human Resources Manager. Johnny has been successfully competing in Arctic sports since the age of 16. He has won countless medals over the last decade at both the regional and the national level. When Johnny is not engaged in Arctic sports at home and abroad, he also enjoys volunteering his time coaching and training the younger generation at the local gym. In addition to his love of Arctic sports, Johnny is a devoted father and a skilled hunter with a love of the land and his traditional roots.
	DR. PETER JOHNSON Physical Geographer Peter Johnson is a Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Ottawa where he has specialized in Arctic regions for 35 years. His research has focused on glaciated mountain regions, working on glacial geomorphology, glacier and mountain hydrology, and environmental change. He has promoted the importance of the field experience in geographical and environmental research through field courses in the Kluane Region of Yukon for over 30 years. Outside the university world he has worked extensively in the promotion of northern research emphasizing the need for research in the north, for the north and by northerners. Working with an association of universities with research in the north for most of his career, serving four years as president, and with the Canadian Polar Commission as Vice-Chair and Chair the promotion of polar research both nationally and internationally has been a priority. In the circum-arctic world he has represented Canada on the International Arctic Science Committee, the University of the Arctic Council, and the Northern Research Forum. His current focus is on the participation of Canada in the International Polar Year 2007 - 2008 emphasizing the "human dimension" of polar research.
	TYLER KUHN APECS Representative, Conservation Biologist & Photographer Tyler is a northerner at heart, having grown up in the Yukon. He is currently working on a Masters of Science degree from Simon Fraser University, in Vancouver, BC. He is interested in using paleontological information to help guide animal conservation. Part of his M.Sc. work uses ancient DNA recovered from fossil caribou to improve our understanding of caribou’s relationship with their environment, changing climates and natural disasters (e.g. volcanic eruptions). This work is based in the Yukon. The other aspect of his thesis involves examining the impact humans have had on global bird and mammal biodiversity. By cataloguing all known extinct species over the past 100,000 years, he is hoping to demonstrate how humans (primarily) have had detrimental effects on their natural world. Tyler helped create the International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (now known as the Association of Early Career Polar Scientists, APECS). This project was envisioned to ensure that youth and young researchers were given the maximum benefit and opportunities from the massive international polar research program (IPY). Tyler has spent much of his recent free time exploring the world of green architecture and design. In addition, he is a semi-professional photographer, using his work to try and connect viewers with the natural world.
	REINA LAHTINEN Outreach & Participant Coordinator, Students on Ice Reina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law from Carleton University where she led the women's soccer team as an award-winning varsity athlete. She has done acquisition and contract work for various high-profile exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum and currently sits on the executive of the Canadian Nordic Society. Her combined love for the poles, passion for being outdoors, and drive to engage young people has brought her to Students on Ice. As the SOI Outreach and Participant Coordinator, Reina's ability to smoothly coordinate trip logistics and be the primary participant liaison is instrumental in making SOI expeditions successful. She manages the day-to-day operations of our field programs and provides support for expedition staff, educators, chaperones and student participants. As part of her work, Reina travels on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. This immersion helps her understand the student and staff experience and provide support all those hoping to participate in SOI expeditions. Before and after work Reina can be found skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, running, biking or swimming in the Gatineau hills.
	DR. WILLIAM LISHMAN Inventor, Filmmaker & Sculptor One of Canada’s great pioneers, Bill was the first person to foot-launch and land a powered rigid-wing aircraft in the 1970s. Taking advantage of the slow flight capabilities of his customized aircraft, he developed a technique to lead Canada geese in the air. After several years of research and experimentation, he successfully led a flock of 16 geese on a 400-mile migratory journey. This journey inspired the Oscar-nominated film Fly Away Home. Bill has gone on to apply his migration techniques to safeguarding the whooping crane, one of the world’s most endangered species. For his breakthrough work with migratory birds, Mr. Lishman has received numerous awards including the prestigious honour of the Meritorious Service Medal from the Canadian government in 2000. In addition, Bill is an internationally celebrated sculptor and renowned inventor/designer of furniture and underground architecture. His work includes Autohenge, a full-scale replica of Stonehenge, and his dome-shaped, underground home with its unique features and energy-efficient designs. Bill received an honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in June 2008.
	LINDA MACKEY Landscape Artist Linda Mackey, Canadian landscape artist, is Art Liaison for International Polar Year IPO, Director of Arctic Quest and founder of Polar Artists Group. She first traveled to the High Arctic in 2002 with renowned artist Doris McCarthy and returned with a passion to share the Arctic with others. She led a group of artists to Pangnirtung, Baffin Island for a sketching trip in 2004, and with Kathy Haycock of Eganville, Ontario, and Bonnie Levinthal of Philadelphia, began plans for Arctic Quest and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Passage in 2006. The Arctic Quest project is fully endorsed by IPY, project #338. Linda’s painting “Follow Your Dreams” was presented to Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor the Honourable James Bartleman in 2006 by the TDCSB as part of their twinning initiative between Nunavut and schools in Toronto. Linda has taught thousands of school children and artists art workshops based on her Arctic travels and is Artist in Residence for the TDCSB and The Club at Bond Head. She has also been Artist in Residence and presented powerpoint presentations and workshops on the Arctic for galleries, museums, and art groups including McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Varley Art Gallery. Linda is a former board member of the Society of Canadian Artists and an elected Signature Member of the Worldwide Nature Artists Group. The Arctic inspired Linda to simplify light and form in her paintings and she is best known for her Arctic landscapes. She has won several awards for her work, which can be found in collections across Canada, United States, and England.
	DR. ERIC MATTSON Geologist & Glaciologist Chair of the Geography / Geology Department at Nipissing University, Director of the Nipissing Environmental Research Centre and an Adjunct Professor with the Cold Regions Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, Eric has been conducting glaciological research for the past 20 years. Most of his research has been conducted on glaciers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon Territory, and the Himalayan Mountain Range. Dr. Mattson's main research interest revolves around energy balance studies (small scale and large scale), and research into variations in glacier volume to determine past, present and future trends in glacier size and melt water production. Other research involvements include snowmelt modeling in North-eastern Ontario, debris flow activity in Banff National Park, and island biogeography in Massasauga Provincial Park.
	CHRISTOPHER MINNES Strategic Planner Originally from Toronto, Christopher's family roots in the Gatineau (Quebec) area include a family farm that he turned into an environmental education campus called Eco Echo. Earlier this year he travelled with Geoff Green to the Antarctic and visited Spain and France. In the fall he'll travel to Bhutan and Japan. Using his experience in strategic planning, marketing, organizational development and fundraising for non-profit cultural and environmental organizations, he's helping the SOI team to strengthen its funding support base as we approach SOI's 10th Anniversary. Through the Arts Consulting Group, he has worked with over 20 companies in the United States. Recently he served as Director of Development for the 107-year-old Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Before moving to Hawaii he worked with TreePeople in Los Angeles where he raised funds for youth and community programmes at a "sustainable" environmental education center in a 45-acre city park. Christopher graduated from Principia College (BA in Political Science) and Southern Methodist University (MBA and MA in Arts Administration).
	LEE NARRAWAY Adventure Photographer Lee Narraway spent her childhood exploring the wetlands, forests and lakes of Eastern Canada with her father, an outstanding naturalist and environmentalist. This ignited a passion and curiosity for the outdoors that continues to this day. Lee received her first camera at ten years of age and soon discovered the joy of sharing her view of the world with others. She uses natural light and her ability to communicate with people to create unique environmental portraits. Her professional career is now focused on travel and adventure photography. In her quest for outstanding images, Lee has skied, hiked, canoed, backpacked, and traveled by dog team, horseback, snow machine, helicopter, hot air balloon and icebreaker to remote and isolated parts of the world. When she visited Canada's High Arctic, Lee became fascinated with its diversity and haunting beauty. Now, she strives to capture its mystery and magic on film by documenting the dramatic scenery, the wildlife and the evolving lifestyle and culture of the Inuit. Based in White Lake, Ontario, this professional adventure photographer continues to travel the world, discovering wildlife, landscapes and characters through the lens of her camera. Her popular photography workshops have been taught in such diverse areas as Australia, Canada, Chile and the Arctic.
	SCOBIE PYE Polar Scientist & Historian “Scobie” Pye is a research scientist with a Master of Science degree awarded by the University of Tasmania, Australia. Over the past 30 years much of his life has been spent in southern latitudes working with the British Antarctic Survey (B.A.S.), the Australian Antarctic Division and the University of Tasmania. He has spent four winters and seven summers on the island of South Georgia, two summers on the floating ice shelf station of Halley Bay in the Weddell Sea and two winters and nine summers on Australia's Macquarie Island. Scobie's main scientific interests are focused on the conservation and management of Polar Regions. He has worked and traveled extensively in the northern latitudes. In 1978, Scobie was awarded the Fuchs Medal for outstanding service to B.A.S.
	DR. RHIAN SALMAN Polar Educator Rhian has lived in the UK, Nepal, Germany, Canada, and Antarctica. After completing a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry, she worked for the British Antarctic Survey and has spent 3 summers and one winter (18 continuous months) working as a scientist at Halley Research Station. Upon return from her adventures South, she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the continent, convinced by the importance of the polar research, and disappointed by the huge gulf between scientific knowledge and public awareness of issues of global concern. She now works as Education and Outreach Coordinator for the International Polar Year 2007-8, an unprecedented opportunity to not only carry out an incredible scientific campaign, but also to demonstrate and explain the process, and excitement of science to a wide range of audiences.
	ROSIE SIMMS Intern, Students on Ice Rosie is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree with the McGill School of Environment in Montreal, Quebec. An alumnus from the 2006 Arctic Floe Edge Expedition, Rosie has been part of the SOI team for the summer. Rosie’s time at SOI HQ has given her an appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes to make our expeditions life-changing experiences. Rosie is fortunate to have lived for a year in Bolivia, where through her travels and volunteer work, she fell in love with the country’s vibrant culture and landscapes. Rosie is passionate about the environment and great outdoors, and is looking forward to her first ship-based Arctic adventure. An avid musician, when she’s not running around helping the program run smoothly, students will find Rosie out on deck greeting the Arctic with her violin. Rosie’s interests are diverse, and include such things as backpacking and cross-country skiing, kicking back with a good book, playing music, and chasing squirrels out of her cabin.
	DR. JULIAN STARR Systematic Botanist Julian Starr’s research is in Systematics, the science of biodiversity. By using traditional morphological and modern molecular techniques, his research aims to discover and circumscribe species and to understand the biogeography and evolution of higher-level groups. Most of his work is focused on sedges (family Cyperaceae), a cosmopolitan group that represents one of the most biologically diverse, ecologically significant, and economically important plant families on Earth. For Polar Regions in particular, this family is of special significance comprising >10% of the arctic flora and dominating vast tracks of tundra where it provides essential food and habitat for arctic animals. Julian Starr holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Manitoba and a doctorate from Oxford University, England. After working as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the Université de Montréal and an Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi, he recently accepted a joint position as Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and research botanist at the Canadian Museum of Nature. His current research interests are focused on the taxonomy and biogeography of bipolar sedges.
	TIM STRAKA Education Program Director, Students on Ice Tim co-creates transformative learning experiences with students of all ages. Committed to environmental and civic education, he has taught at elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels across North America, in Central Europe, in the Arctic and Antarctica. Tim’s interests range widely from philosophy, to ecopsychology, to bioregionalism, and youth empowerment. He has worked with Outward Bound Canada, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre, Ontario’s Ministry of Education and several Canadian Parliamentarians. Tim is a member of the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, the Ontario College of Teachers and the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario. Tim lives an active lifestyle. He enjoys skiing, paddling, swimming, biking, hucking frisbees and back-country travel. Tim is currently designing his home which will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)™ for Homes Platinum Certification. Tim earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Lesley University, and undergraduate degrees in Outdoor and Experiential Education (Queen’s University) and Politics (Bishop’s University). He has worked full-time with Students on Ice since 2007.
	ALEX TAYLOR Polar Educator Alex Taylor’s Antarctic career kicked off in 1992 when he was hired by the British Antarctic Survey as a polar guide for a glaciology project in the shadow of Mt. Vinson. This led to dozens of other expeditions and soon to leading expeditions in the High Canadian Arctic. A love of the polar region’s incredible landscapes, wildlife, history and other-worldly experiences keeps him coming back to these remote locations year after year. More than 10 seasons south in Antarctica have afforded Alex the privilege of visiting many parts of the continent working in support of science projects for the British Antarctic Survey and the United States Antarctic Program. He has also provided technical and safety support for television and films down south. Most notable were the two ship-based expeditions to film the award-winning feature “Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure”. Alex has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, specializing in Outdoor Pursuits and Geography. He has climbed and traveled all over the world but the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Arctic remain his favourite places on the planet. Alex’s home base is in Canmore, Alberta. He has been working in the Rocky Mountain National Parks for over 23 years. His eclectic work life has always been focused on the wild outdoors and has included jobs as a wildland fire fighter, wildlife technician, weather station specialist, still photographer and videographer, to name a few. When not in Antarctica, Alex works as a backcountry project manager for Parks Canada in Lake Louise.
	NIKI TRUDEAU Assistant Outreach & Participant Coordinator, Students on Ice Niki holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and is a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa's Bachelor of Education program. Her love for the outdoors began on paddling trips with her family in Algonquin Park. It was this passion for environmental awareness and outdoor adventures that brought Niki to Students on Ice. The newest addition to the SOI office staff team, Niki is looking forward to the challenges and adventures to come!
	JESSE TUNGILIK International Polar Year Project Assistant & Youth Coordinator, Students on Ice Jesse is an Inuit from Nunavut Territory. He is a lifelong traveler and a lover of the outdoors. The son of a Wildlife Conservation Officer and a senior government bureaucrat, he was exposed to wildlife management issues and northern governance at a young age and remains passionate about both issues to this day. Over the years he has worked with Canadian Wildlife Service scientists in the lab and in the field, tracked the magnetic north pole, serviced and maintained medical equipment for the Baffin Regional Hospital, volunteered with the Canadian Coast Guard, served as registrar of historic sites for the Government of Nunavut and represented Canadian Inuit youth through Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the National Inuit Youth Council. Jesse is an alumnus of the Students on Ice program and was the first Canadian Inuit to reach the Antarctic continent. His passion for preserving Inuit culture and desire to immerse himself in the most remote and wild places in the world has led to his involvement with the Arctic Council and has drawn him to such wonders as Easter Island in the South Pacific to the vast steppes of northern Mongolia. He also loves Kayaking and is learning how to build traditional Greenlandic and Baffin Island Kayaks.
	DR. DON WALSH Oceanographer Dr. Walsh is an explorer, oceanographer and lecturer. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1948, he graduated from Annapolis in 1954. During a 24 year naval career he spent 14 years at sea, mostly in submarines including command. At retirement he held the rank of Captain. Walsh’s polar experience began with trips to the Arctic in 1955 and the Antarctic with the Navy’s Deep Freeze in 1971. He has worked at both North and South Poles and is eligible to wear the Antarctic Service Medal. The Walsh Spur (near Cape Hallett) was named for him in recognition of his contributions to the U.S. Antarctic Research Program. Dr. Walsh may be best known for making oceanographic history in 1960 with Jacques Piccard when they dove 35,800 feet down in the Navy Bathyscaph Trieste to the bottom of the Marianas Trench, deepest place in the world ocean. For this historic descent, never duplicated since, Walsh was decorated by President Eisenhower at the White House. Don is the Author of over 150 articles and papers, and has been an advisor for the White House, NOAA and NASA. He was appointed by Presidents Carter and Reagan to the U.S. National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, was a member of the Law of the Sea Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of State, and served as a member of the Marine Board of the U.S. National Research Council from 1990 to 1993. In 2001 received the Explorers Club highest award, The Explorer’s Medal. Don is 1 of 20 Lifetime Members of the Explorers Club.

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