SHAUNA BINGHAM
 

Shauna Bingham develops and administers volunteer, intern, education, and outreach programs for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS). One of her most recent accomplishments at CINMS was the successful implementation of a multi-county community-based volunteer program called the Sanctuary Naturalist Corps. Over 90 SNC volunteers represent CINMS on board local whale watch vessels and in the community. Volunteer programs serve as an important mechanism for the sanctuary to educate boaters, divers, whale watchers, and other recreational user groups about the resources found within the sanctuary. Shauna has over 10 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and the federal government on programs directly related to marine science education and ocean stewardship. She has been working for CINMS since 1998.

Previously, she was an educator and volunteer coordinator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's Sea Center Aquarium working on programs directly linked to the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. While at the museum she also assisted the Vertebrate Zoology department with marine mammal necropsies and stranding response through the Marine Mammal Strandings Network. Shauna also taught hands-on K-12 marine science and island ecology at the Catalina Island Marine Institute for several years. Through her professional experience she has written various articles and presented at marine education and science education conferences about volunteer stewardship, monitoring programs, and marine education programs. Shauna is currently a member of the Southwest Marine and Aquatic Educator's Association, National Marine Educator's Association, and California/ National Science Teacher's Associations.

In addition to her work experience, she brings a diverse educational and training background to compliment her position with NOAA. Shauna holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Science from the University of Southern California. While at USC, Shauna was selected for a prestigious internship at the White House's Council on Environmental Quality. As a California native, Shauna has been attracted to preserving coastal resources since her childhood. Throughout her life she has sought out education, training, and personal experiences that would enhance her ability work in fields related to marine resource protection. She holds a 100-ton master's US Coast Guard mariner's license and recently was certified as a commercial diver after completing two years of specialized dive and oceanographic equipment training with Santa Barbara City College's Marine Diving Technology program.

Shauna is a panelist in the discussion on 'Career Opportunities in Cetacean Research & Conservation'.