Erika Woolsey is a 2017-2018 Ocean Design Teaching Fellow, part of a cohort of fellows that bring deep experience in design, ocean science and international policy. The Ocean Design Teaching Fellow program is co-hosted with the Stanford d.school.
Dr. Erika Woolsey is a marine biologist, ocean educator, and National Geographic Explorer. She conducted most of her research on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where she investigated how warming oceans impact coral reefs. Erika is dedicated to translating scientific discovery into public understanding. She is CEO of The Hydrous, a nonprofit that combines science, design, and technologies like virtual reality and photogrammetry for ocean education.
Eager to share marine environments with everyone, Erika is a divemaster, a kayak guide for people with disabilities and underserved youth, a volunteer diver at the California Academy of Sciences, and is currently developing a 360º/ virtual reality experience with Hydrous to generate awareness and scientific understanding of threatened marine ecosystems. Erika received her Ph.D. from James Cook University and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, her Masters of Applied Science in Coastal Management from the University of Sydney, and studied Biology and Art History at Duke University.
