Marine Mammal Center Veterinarian Selected As TED Fellow

SAUSALITO, CA – Claire Simeone, a veterinarian with the Marine Mammal Center of Marin County, recently was selected as a TED Fellow, the first veterinarian to receive this distinction, and will join 19 "change-makers" from around the world who will speak at an April TED2018 conference in Vancouver.

“In a time when our environment is facing great challenges, it is critical that scientists like Dr. Claire Simeone have a platform to inspire change,” said Jeff Boehm, the Marine Mammal Center's executive director. “We are enormously proud of Claire’s acceptance into the TED Fellows program and are confident that she will use this opportunity to challenge the world to think differently about ocean health and conservation.”

Simeone’s work largely focuses on the intersection of marine mammals and humans as she travels worldwide to better understand how the health of marine mammals impacts knowledge of human health and the health of the ocean. As a veterinarian and ocean advocate, Simeone is passionate about translating her work and research into compelling stories and inspiring global ocean conservation of marine mammals, according to staff at the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Center, a facility that has evolved since 1975 from a local rescue site into the world’s largest marine mammal research hospital and education center.

Seeing a gap in many countries for hands-on marine mammal training, Simeone launched the center’s International Veterinary In-Residence program to mentor and train vets to save and care for marine mammals and unique species.

As a TED fellow, Simeone joins 19 others with impressive work and lives. A full list of the new TED Fellows and Senior Fellows is available at ted.com/fellows.

Once a year, the TED Fellows program opens applications to find a new class of extraordinary thinkers and doers, encouraging innovators over 18 years old to apply. Interested applicants can visit the website for more information and to sign up for alerts when the next round of applications opens later this year: http://www.ted.com/participate/ted-fellows-program/apply-to-be-a-ted-fellow.

To read more about the Marine Mammal Center, follow this link.

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-- Claire Simeone photos by Bill Hunnewel and Margaret Simeone courtesy of TMMC