Alex Thornton

DepartmentEmailPhoneAddressFairbanks , Alaska 99709United StatesBioAlex is thrilled to have joined the ARCUS team as Community Development Manager in 2017. He has a Bachelor's in field ecology and conservation biology from The Evergreen State College, a Master's in marine biodiversity and conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and is studying for a second Master's in marine biology and science communication at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Prior to graduate school, he worked in diverse positions, from concert photographer to zookeeper to natural disaster responder. Currently, in addition to completing collaborative, interdisciplinary research on marine mammals and seabirds, Alex is proud to make strides towards a more equitable and accessible future in the polar community through, e.g., work on the Executive Committee of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and Steering Committee for the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research's Capacity Building, Education, & Training (SCAR CBET) Advisory Group. Out of the office, Alex enjoys going on outdoor adventures with his two dogs and cat (Linda, Jacob, and Fishel), traveling, baking vegan sweets, and expressing himself through art.

Interests

Sea Ice, Life Science, Social Science, Interdisciplinary Research, Indigenous Knowledge, Science Education, Citizen Science

Science Specialties

seabird and marine mammal ecology, marine biology, oceanography, climate change, science communication, STEM education, conservation canines (wildlife detection dogs)