Benjamin Halpern - U.S.A

Ben Halpern works as a research scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He studied biology at Carlton College, but only realized later that this was the direction he wanted to take. After volunteering at the Aquarium and a conservation organization in Boston, that he discovered his interest in marine conservation. He went back to University, this time in California where he completed his Phd in marine ecology in 2003. He studied coral reef fish in the Caribbean, intertidal hermit crabs in California, as well as marine reserves and marine protected areas. Recognizing that people are affecting the oceans in many ways and a need to understand how they are using and overusing the oceans led him to focus his work on a comprehensive picture of what is needed. The last 5 years those topics were the main focus of his projects. In his free time he enjoys surfing and spending time with his 3 year old daughter.