Staff & Contributors

Peter Neill, Founder, Senior Advisor

Peter is founder and founding director of the World Ocean Observatory, and serves as host of World Ocean Radio, a weekly podcast about the health of the ocean; Editor of World Ocean Journal; and creative director of World Ocean Forum. In 2016 he received an appointment with the Climate Change Institute and represents the W2O as a Research Associate; he previously served 20 years as President of the South Street Seaport Museum, New York; is co-founder of The Sound School and The Harbor School; and has dedicated his career to marine affairs. He is the author of many non-fiction books related to ocean issues, available wherever books are sold. He lives in downeast Maine with his partner Mary, a visual artist.

Trisha Badger, Director

Trisha serves as Director for the World Ocean Observatory. In addition to overseeing operations and non-profit management, Trisha is Project Manager for World Ocean Explorer, Associate Editor of World Ocean Observer and World Ocean Journal, and Producer of World Ocean Radio. Trisha studied Creative Writing at Hunter College in New York City, and Graphic Design at Maine College of Art. She brings years of administrative management in the non-profit sector, as well as board administration and relations, web design, book design and independent book publishing. For many years Trisha served as Director of Communications for The Apprenticeshop, a school for traditional wooden boat building in Rockland, Maine. She lives in midcoast Maine with her husband Kevin, an educator and builder of traditional wooden boats.

Nell Herrmann, M.A., M.S, Blue Hill Consolidated School
Educator Advisor, World Ocean Explorer

Nell is a National Board Certified Teacher with twenty-four years experience in the classroom. She has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Conservation Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and an additional Master's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State University. Nell currently teaches at Blue Hill Consolidated School in Blue Hill, Maine and was named Hancock County Teacher of the Year in 2019. In 2014 and 2015, Nell was selected to serve as a Nautilus Explorer Science Communication Fellow. Nell worked off the coast of Belize, alongside marine archaeologists and marine biologists, as part of the Fellowship. She participated in research conducted using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and shared the expedition experience with diverse and geographically dispersed audiences. As an educator, Nell strives to convince her students that science is exciting and accessible. Nell lives in Blue Hill, Maine with her partner Luke.