Best Marine Hobbyists/Scientists in the Industry

[Ret_Talbot]

I'm looking for people's opinions for an article I'm writing. Who are the top marine scientists who are also marine aquaria hobbyists? Alternatively, who are the top marine hobbyists who, despite their lack of formal education as a marine scientist, have made valuable contributions to the marine sciences? Finally, are the top people in the industry hobbyists or scientists? If you are willing to allow me to ask you a follow-up question or two, please let me know in your response. Thank you in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

Eric Borneman is a phD (or almost, I think) and is a hobbyist and author. I have met him and heard him speak a few times, but I couldn't answer for him. But, he is a moderator on Marine Depot.com and answers pms quickly. he would classify as a marine scientist who also is a hobbysit.

Also, there is a guy here who know vast amounts about octopuses and their genus. His name is Thales, I believe. He is the ultimate marine hobbyist and make a very valuable contribution to marine sciences.

Another guy here named Len seems to know a bit, but I don't think he has a tank.

 

[Jaime Baquero]

Charles Delbeek, Bruce Carlson, Walter Adey, Martin Moe, Julian Sprung, Jean Jaubert are some of the professionals that have contributed in a positive way to the development of the marine aquarium hobby.

jaime

 

[Ret_Talbot]

Thank you so much. This is very helpful. Please keep it coming.

Cheers.

 

[Ret_Talbot]

Thank you so much. This is very helpful. Please keep it coming.

Cheers.

 

[Mthompson]

Jay Hemdal is another that comes to mind. Not sure of his professional credentials (p.h.D or M.S.?), but he has written a few books and some articles dealing with both science and the industry. He was (is?) the Toledo Zoo Curator of Fishes, and also keeps personal aquaria, making him a pro I guess.

On a personal note, I am striving to become one of the people you are seeking. I have a B.S. in fisheries biology and am currently studying for my M.S. in Aquaculture with an emphasis on Fish Nutrition. My only hope is that one day I can have as much impact as (and be listed next to) the names found in this thread.

Without giving away too much, what is the article you are working on?

Thanks,

 

[Anonymous]

Walter Adey

NO.

 

[Anonymous]

Dirk Petersen, Mitch Carl and Rich Ross come to mind.

 

[Kalkbreath]

Maybe it would be better served if we attached to these "names" just what it is that these individuals contributed to the hobby?

Or even more constructive would be a list of the accomplishments made within the hobby over the past twenty years.
Then list who brought about the so called innovations.

What makes todays hobby so different from the trade in the70s, 80s,90s ?

It's actually quite difficult to nail down.

I feel that most of todays advances were not from the so called book writing "Guru's"..... but from the manufacturing of hobby related gear.
Todays supply of skimmers, lights, salts, livestock importers, LFS , test kits and additive supplements are what has empowered todays hobbyists.
The real tools of the trade came about from the unsung heroes of the hobby the "Suppliers".

We can grow acropora and clams better today then in 1985 due to what advances?

Is it advances in "written knowledge" or advances in the accessibility of the tools to implement what we have always known....

"that bright light , high water quality and the supplementation of elements for calcification has always been the keys to a successful marine aquarium."

Shoot we knew that back in the 1960s.
Its just that we the public couldn't get our hands on R.O water purifiers, high grade sea salts, effective lights and skimmers or high grade supplements until recently.

 

[Caterham]

So very true.

Technology is the reason that this hobby has advanced so rapidly. Not talk.

To be successful we must understand the biology and apply the technology.

 

[naesco]

Gatorham you need to read the first posters post and you are so wrong in your comments.
We did not learn about moorish idol, goniopora, cleaner wrasse etc. from the LFS. They eagerly sold them to us as easy to keep.
We learned it from the professionals posters have added.
We did not learn about refugiums, sand bed techniques and protein skimmers from the LFS. They were selling us fluval filters and expensive underground filters and they still do. We learned about technology from professionals.

I would respectfully add the following leaders in industry. I am not certain of each of their academic credentials so I will not any to any of them.

Mary Middlebrook:
Mary 'outed' industry's dirty little secret, cyanide. Through her company she is an industry leader in providing captive coral to hobbyists. A true industry reeformer.

Peter Rubec:
Peter is the world expert on cyanide and its affect on the reefs, fish, corals and the critters that dwell therein. Through his company he is bringing cyanide-free fish using the latest in shipping preparation and procedures.b F

Bob Fenner:
Through his books and website, Bob has saved millions of fish from certain death by educating hobbyists and industry to avoid impossible to keep species frequently sold by LFS and online stores.

These professionals are a must for your article. Good Luck!

Wayne Ryan

 

[Caterham]

Naesco,

Thanks so much for your contributions to this thread.

Unfortunately, with absolutely zero past or current involvement in the trade of marine ornamentals there are some folks here is this community that might take your comments somewhat lightly.

I respect your efforts and hope that you continue to stay involved. All good teams have people cheering for them on the sidelines, out of play.

Warmest regards

 

[Anonymous]

Mary Middlebrook:
Mary 'outed' industry's dirty little secret, cyanide. Wayne Ryan

Rewriting history there Wayne? She came along YEARS later, nearly 20! She outed something that was all ready outed :lol:

 

[brandonberry]

Martin Moe's book (Marine Aquarium Handbook?) was what first enabled me to be able to sucessfully keep marine fish and some invertebrates 15 years ago. Since then, articles by Randy Holmes-Farley and Sanjay Joshi have proven to be the most helpful in teaching me what I needed to know to successfully grow the 100+ different species of corals that I currently keep. Many others have contributed to my overall knowledge of the organisms I keep, but I would say that it was these 3 that most greatly led to my personal success in the hobby.

 

[Ret_Talbot]

Thanks again for everyone's comments and input. Here is the list that has been compiled from this thread. Any additions? I don't want to delete anyone as of yet, but I would like to start filling in the details (e.g. academic credentials, industry achievements, publications, etc.).

Eric Borneman

Charles Delbeek

Bruce Carlson

Walter Adey

Julian Sprung

Jean Jaubert

Jay Hemdal

Dirk Petersen

Mitch Carl

Rich Ross

Mary Middlebrook: Mary 'outed' industry's dirty little secret, cyanide. Through her company she is an industry leader in providing captive coral to hobbyists. A true industry reeformer.

Peter Rubec: Peter is the world expert on cyanide and its affect on the reefs, fish, corals and the critters that dwell therein. Through his company he is bringing cyanide-free fish using the latest in shipping preparation and procedures.b F

Bob Fenner: Through his books and website, Bob has saved millions of fish from certain death by educating hobbyists and industry to avoid impossible to keep species frequently sold by LFS and online stores.

Martin Moe's book (Marine Aquarium Handbook?) was what first enabled me to be able to sucessfully keep marine fish and some invertebrates 15 years ago. Since then, articles by Randy Holmes-Farley and Sanjay Joshi have proven to be the most helpful in teaching me what I needed to know to successfully grow the 100+ different species of corals that I currently keep. Many others have contributed to my overall knowledge of the organisms I keep, but I would say that it was these 3 that most greatly led to my personal success in the hobby.

In terms of the general question about the article, I'll leave it at this for now: I believe that the more open discussion across real or perceived paradigms (e.g. academic, research, trade, hobby) is beneficial to all involved. Unfortunately we often have a hard time reaching across those boundaries. Hence the article--to encourage the discussion.

Thanks all.

 

[Anonymous]

How nice to be included in that list.
I am actually meeting with a researcher today to discuss ways to get the hobby and academic communities to cross pollenate more easily and more often.

In terms of the question at hand, the first two people who come to my mind would be Randy Holmes-Farley and Sanjay Joshi - real hobbyists doing real science. There was a guy around with the internet handle 'bomber' who did a whole lot to get many people to relook at things that had become common knowledge in the hobby.

Rich

 

[Ret_Talbot]

sorry my posts seem to be going up twice...hmmmm....I don't see a delete feature, and I would appreciate a mod deleting the duplicate threads. Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

Jadefox,

Mary M. came onto the scene ~2o years after Steve Robinson wrote about 30+ articles on the cyanide trade. Mary learned most of what she knew from Steve. It's a no brainer really, how could she out something the was outed years prior in the largest hobby magazine at the time, and over a several year period. If you would like the article index I would be more then willing to send it to you.

Wayne is just a silly guy, do a search on his post history and it'll show you all you need to know.

 

[Anonymous]

How nice to be included in that list.
I am actually meeting with a researcher today to discuss ways to get the hobby and academic communities to cross pollenate more easily and more often.

In terms of the question at hand, the first two people who come to my mind would be Randy Holmes-Farley and Sanjay Joshi - real hobbyists doing real science. There was a guy around with the internet handle 'bomber' who did a whole lot to get many people to relook at things that had become common knowledge in the hobby.

Rich

You mean exactly what Project DIBS (DIBS Foundation) has been doing? Brian Plankis of Project DIBS recently did a presentation at CAST 07 (http://www.statweb.org/CASTAustin/) on "How to Retool the Classroom Aquarium for Environmental Stewardship". here's his abstract

"Brief Abstract:
Advances in breeding of marine invertebrates offer exciting opportunities for students to examine issues facing declining coral reefs. Experiments expose students to the state standards integrated with environmental stewardship. Instructional technology allows student researchers to be coordinated with professional researchers in marine biology, aquaculture and coral reef ecology."

The DIBS Foundation has three major projects that we will be working on funding over the next few years. Project DIBS is one of the projects and we are also working on K-12 educational research and Public Outreach to raise awareness of the need for ocean literacy.

He also recently landed another speaking engagement on the same topic:

First Peer-Reviewed Publication

I am happy to announce that Project DIBS has its first peer-reviewed publication just now hitting the shelves:

Plankis, Brian J., How to Retool the Classroom Aquarium for Environmental Stewardship., Texas Science Teacher, Apr2007, Vol. 36 Issue 1, p13, 2p

Conference Presentation

I have been asked to present at the 8th Annual Regional Science Teachers Conference in Galveston, TX on October 6th, 2007. If any teachers from DIBS in Texas are attending, please look me up!

I will be conducting a 1.5 hour workshop titled: Teaching and Learning 21st Century (Science) Literacy Skills through Digital Storytelling, Grades K-12

Abstract:
Digital Storytelling is a unique way to teach 21st Century Science Literacies, such as conducting research and synthesizing information, while gaining the expertise of digital communication and authoring tools; help students organize their ideas as they learn to create stories and present their ideas and knowledge in a meaningful way.

Digital storytelling is one of the tools that I hope to incorporate into future DIBS Foundation school experiments. With most K-12 students being visual and audio learners it is a powerful tool to engage students.

Brian

Same subject:

While Brian may have some better access and links, Texas Science Teacher is the official journal of the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT). Anyone who has been paying attention to national science teaching trends during the last 15 years will be familiar with these folks. Ever since California schools were eviscerated by Proposition 13 in 1978, it is arguable that Texas has developed the most progressive and visionary state science program in North America ... JMO.

Anyway, you can get ahold of STAT here:
http://www.statweb.org/index.html

You can get ahold of the editor of Texas Science Teacher here:
http://www.statweb.org/scitea.html

Here they say that past issues are available upon request, and give the email link for the advertsing manager:
http://www.statweb.org/exhibits/TST_Ads.html

I'd love to see a national program get going so people like Rich and Brian can connect and create something larger

 

[Anonymous]

How nice to be included in that list.

What can I say, you're the one that taught me that it's OTHER PEOPLES' blood you're supposed to feed to your tridacnas.