Tierney T.

About Tierney T.

Dr. Tierney Thys is cofounder of the non-profit Around the World in 80 Fabrics. She is also a Research Associate at the California Academy of Science, independent filmmaker, marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer. Her work bridges the worlds of primary research and science communication to promote environmental understanding and stewardship. Current projects and research include: 1) Around the World in 80 Fabrics—a nonprofit dedicated to sharing the cultural and biodiversity of natural fiber textiles in collaboration with fellow Nat Geo colleague Carroll Dunham and textile artist Leslie Robertson; 2) studying the natural history of ocean sunfish Molidae; 3)developing evidence-based nature interventions for incarcerated populations (e.g. the Blue Room) with Dr. Nalini Nadkarni (University of Utah). The inaugural work of this project received considerable media attention and was named one of Time Magazine\'s top inventions of 2014. Lastly she is exploring brain responses to nature imagery and environmental decision-making using neuro-imaging in collaboration with Dr. Nik Sawe (Stanford University) with funding from National Geographic. Dr. Thys is an award-winning filmmaker, frequent contributor to TEDed, TEDx and is an all star TED speaker plus former member of the TED Braintrust. She serves on the advisory boards of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Think Beyond Plastic and editorial board for the Journal of Animal Sentience. She has an inordinate fondness for giant ocean sunfishes, runs oceansunfish.org and has been tracking and studying these fish globally for decades. She recently coedited an academic volume on the Ocean Sunfishes for CRC press. She served as the Daily Explorer in an online game called Animal Jam with more than 100 million registered players in 120 countries. Time allowing, she leads several marine-based National Geographic expeditions around the world for students and adults each year.

Experience

1. National Geographic Expert

   Lindblad Expeditions

   Jan 2006 — Present

   Developed and help lead National Geographic Student Expedition in Monterey for high- schoolers each summer Lecturer and marine expert for expeditions including Oceans and Island Wonders Around the World by Private Jet, Baja, Alaska, Galapagos, Antarctica, Bali, Belize,Caribbean,

Education

• Brown University

  Biology/Biological Sciences, General

• Duke University

  PhD, Zoology

  1991 — 1998

• Brown University

  A.B., Biology

  1984 — 1988