The creation of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is one of the most fascinating and inspiring conservation stories out there. Dr. Greg Stone, of Conservation International and the New England Aquarium was invited to tell that story for the Mission Blue TED talks. Here's the full 18-minute video.
The talk features some amazing photography by Brian Skerry, who also gave a TED talk recently (you can see it here). During the talk you'll also see parts of the Phoenix Islands seamount fly through that was posted on this blog in March.
The ocean stories don't end with the talk, though. Read more from Greg with his posts from the 2009 PIPA expedition and the 2008 Sea of Cortez expedition. You'll also want to track down the inside story of the other adventures he mentions. The 2001 Antarctica Expedition is covered in the book Ice Island: Expedition to Antarctica's Largest Iceberg, and this documentary.
Still from the video of Greg Stone's TED Talk presenting the story of PIPA
Kiribati President Anote Tong (left) and Greg Stone, then New England Aquarium Vice President of Global Marine Programs
You can also find out more from the people mentioned in the talk. For example, the dive master that first interested Greg in the Phoenix Islands, Rob Barrel, wrote his recollections of the genesis of PIPA in this post, and Dr. David Obura has also posted his observations of coral bleaching and conservation here. See more of the visionary leader Greg describes, president Anote Tong, in these award ceremony photos from is visit to the New England Aquarium in 2008.
Phoenix Islands Blog
11/5/10
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The Phoenix Islands Marine Protected Area (PIPA) is the one of the largest marine protected areas in the world and the largest and deepest World Heritage site on Earth. It was created in 2008 by the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati with support from its partner organizations, New England Aquarium and Conservation International.
The Aquarium is grateful to the Prince Albert of Monaco II Foundation, The Robertson Foundation, GoPro, The Explorers Club and many others for helping to support this expedition.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Randi Rotjan is a research scientist at the Aquarium, with expertise in coral reefs, symbiosis, and climate change. She coordinates the Aquarium’s research partnership with Kiribati on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and co-chairs the PIPA Science Advisory Committee. She is the Chief Scientist for the current expedition to the PIPA, coordinating the expedition by satellite.
Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai is an adjunct scientist at the Aquarium. She has been working with the Aquarium since 2000, during the first trip to the Phoenix Islands. This is her fifth trip to PIPA. She is the Chief Scientist onboard the expedition, working with 15 others onboard and Rotjan remotely to study the current El Nino and the impacts on PIPA marine life.
Dr. Simon Thorrold is the Director of the Ocean Life Institute and a Senior Scientist in the Biology Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). He serves on the Science Advisory Committee for the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. He is a co-organizer of the 2015 PIPA Expedition, working closely with Rotjan and Mangubhai to ensure a successful voyage.
View a list of previous blog authors here.
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Expedition Partners
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Team Members
Randi Rotjan, PhD
Click to display Randi's posts.Dr. Randi Rotjan is a research scientist at the Aquarium, with expertise in coral reefs, symbiosis, and climate change. She coordinates the Aquarium’s research partnership with Kiribati on the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and co-chairs the PIPA Science Advisory Committee. She is the Chief Scientist for the current expedition to the PIPA, coordinating the expedition by satellite.
Sangeeta Mangubhai, PhD
Click to display Sangeeta's posts.Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai is an adjunct scientist at the Aquarium. She has been working with the Aquarium since 2000, during the first trip to the Phoenix Islands. This is her fifth trip to PIPA. She is the Chief Scientist onboard the expedition, working with 15 others onboard and Rotjan remotely to study the current El Nino and the impacts on PIPA marine life.
Simon Thorrold, PhD
Click to display Simon's posts.Dr. Simon Thorrold is the Director of the Ocean Life Institute and a Senior Scientist in the Biology Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). He serves on the Science Advisory Committee for the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. He is a co-organizer of the 2015 PIPA Expedition, working closely with Rotjan and Mangubhai to ensure a successful voyage.
View a list of previous blog authors here.