Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith

Damon Stanwell-Smith is a marine scientist, with a successful career in remote-location research management in polar, temperate and tropical environments.  After completing an honours degree in Marine Biology, Damon spent 3 years (1992-95) working as a biologist/diver on a British Antarctic Survey base, gaining a PhD and a healthy respect for sea ice, leopard seals and an appreciation of fresh fruit.  This led to five years of managing field-research teams in Africa and Asia before returning to the Antarctic as an expedition leader on expedition-cruise vessels.  Damon has since held leadership roles, variously at the UN Environment Program’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, in International marine consultancy and most recently as Executive Director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Damon is Cambridge UK based; and whenever work and pandemics allow, escapes with his family by bicycle or on their traditional Drascombe sailboat.

Allison Cusick

Allison Cusick is an advanced doctoral student in the Biological Oceanography program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, California. While completing the Master of Advanced Studies Program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, also at Scripps, Cusick developed the citizen science project called FjordPhyto to crowdsource data collected by polar guides and travelers, which was then transmitted back to the Vernet Lab in San Diego for examination. This boon in data gathered by citizen scientists has contributed significantly to Cusick’s research, which seeks to better understand how melting glaciers influence phytoplankton communities. She is an ardent advocate for connecting people to the wonders of science via her outreach blog Woman Scientist, which she hopes will inspire women to pursue careers in science. Allison recently became a certified polar guide with more than 215 days spent on board ships in Antarctica. She’s also a certified PADI/NAUI Rescue Diver and AAUS Scientific Diver.

Dr Daniel Moore

Dr. Daniel Moore, PhD, is the chief scientist of Viking Octantis, on rotation with Dr. Anne Flink. He is a population geneticist with expertise in the influence of oceanography on the genetic population structure of marine predators. He has led teams in many remote locations around the world, from isolated tropical volcanic islands to sub-arctic shorelines. 

Dr. Moore’s research focuses on marine vertebrates, including sharks, marine turtles, deep-sea fish and dolphins. He has published widely on other marine biology subjects, such as deep-sea shark ecology and humpback whale identification. 

A scuba instructor and mountain leader, Dr. Moore can usually be found seeking adventure in his downtime.