Ann McElhatton
Ann has defined what it means to be a Beach Chair Scientist. She has a Marine Resources Management degree from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and a M.Ed. in Environmental Education from Florida Atlantic University. Between attaining the two degrees she spent some time in North Carolina working in a laboratory, where the light bulb went on that said, "I must work with people and the ocean!". And she did for some time, until she made the jump to Washington, D.C. inspiring her to bring insight to your everyday beach chair scientist questions while in the city! She is the Outreach Coordinator with the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program a program of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Jim Wharton
Jim's marine biological destiny began nearly 30 years ago
with the eagerly anticipated Scholastic Books delivery of Shark Lady, a
biography of shark researcher Eugenie Clark. Shark Lady sent him on a convoluted path that led through the
University of Michigan, a blood analysis lab, two restaurants and a saw mill,
through graduate school at Oregon State University, seven years as an education
specialist and supervisor at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and three more years
developing education programs and exhibits at the Smithsonian Marine Station,
before finally coming to rest right where he belongs at Mote Marine Laboratory
and Aquarium (not so coincidentally founded by the Shark Lady herself) where he
serves as the Director of the Center for School and Public Programs. Jim is a
past president of the Florida Marine Science Educators Association and sits on
the Board of the National Marine Educators Association as the Florida Chapter
Representative.
