James L. Bodkin leads the sea otter and coastal marine ecosystems project for the USGS Alaska Science Center. He has spent more than 30 years studying sea otters from California to Russia and has published more than 160 papers resulting from his research. In 1989, he was one of the first biologists to rescue sea otters and other oiled marine life in the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Shortly after, he accepted the position of project leader for sea otter research in Alaska as a research scientist with the Alaska Science Center, now in the US Geological Survey. His research focuses on factors that influence the nearshore marine ecosystems. Thirty-five years of work in marine science has led to his most recent and ambitious research, the Pacific Nearshore Project, designed to improve our understanding of the relative influences of oceans and watersheds on nearshore ecosystems. Mr. Bodkin is leading a diverse team of scientists using cutting-edge technology along with traditional observational tools. He is currently based at the USGS Marrowstone Point Research Station in Puget Sound.
The video above, is a preview of our next Sound Conversations session with Jeff Renner and James Bodkin. Come join us on April 5, 2012 and learn about "What Can Sea Otters Tell Us About The Ocean?" Tickets are $10 and available online at seattleaquarium.org/Sound-Conversations. We hope to see you there!