Dr. Gerry Allen, former Curator of Fishes at the Western Australian Museum (1974-1997) is a coral reef fish specialist who has worked extensively for CI and TNC over the past 11 years. He recieved his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in 1971 and since that time has worked throughout the Indo-Pacific region, having logged more than 8,000 hours of diving. Gerry is definitely “old school," in his approach to science, spending nearly as much time in the field as behind a desk looking through a microscope. He is the author of 36 books and more than 400 scientific articles, many of them devoted to the Indonesian region.
Ucu Yanu Arbi, of LIPI (Research Center for Oceanography – Bitung Station), graduated from Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya in 2005 with a focus on biology. He joint LIPI in 2006 under the marine resources division. During the Halmahera expedition, he will be conducting a crustacean survey and collecting shells.
Kent E. Carpenter is a Professor in Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He is also the IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment Director, which is a program to assess under IUCN Red List Criteria 20,000 marine species over the next 5 years. The purpose is to enable strategic global marine conservation planning through marine hotspot and Key Biodiversity Area analyses from the Red List data. His main interests are systematics of fishes, marine biogeography and marine conservation. His primary tasks on the Halmahera expedition are to gather data that will help with the GMSA assessments, help complete fish surveys, and complete collections needed for population genetic and connectivity studies for marine conservation planning purposes.
Dr. Lyndon DeVantier, a coral ecologist, has worked with many international agencies and governments over the past 25 years, in various countries across the Indo-Pacific region, from Arabia to Southeast Asia, Australasia, and Micronesia. Lyndon's work has focused on ecological assessment, monitoring and sampling design, taxonomy and biogeography (specializing in reef-building corals), and training. His main career goals are to improve understanding of the structure and function of coral reefs, and to assist in the development of effective management for their long-term sustainability, particularly focused on design, establishment and effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas. Lyndon has authored more than 120 research papers and technical reports and is coauthor of the book Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and Their People.
Asril Djunaidi (Pusat Kajian Masyarakat Pesisir) is a founder of Center for Coastal Community Study based in Ternate – the North Maluku. He graduated from Pattimura University on Aquatic Resource Management and received a Master Degree in Tourism and Marine Environment from Wageningen University, the Netherlands in 2002. In addition to managing the Center, Asril is a guest lecture at Marine Science Faculty, Nuku University, Tidore. In this expedition, Asril represents WWF – Indonesia to conduct Turtle Survey as well as assist socio-economic group during the survey.
A coral reef ecologist from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Mark Erdmann has spent the past 10 years in Indonesia conducting research and implementing reef conservation programs. While his Ph.D. research focused on the ecology and systematics of stomatopods (mantis shrimp), Dr. Erdmann's other research interests include human impacts on coral reefs (especially from destructive fishing practices such as blast and cyanide fishing), reef rehabilitation techniques, coelacanth conservation, and genetic connectivity of Indonesian marine protected areas (MPAs). Dr. Erdmann, currently working as senior advisor to the CI-Indonesia marine program and together with Dr. Allison Green of TNC, leads the Halmahera expedition.
Dr. Alison Green (Ali) is Senior Marine Scientist with TNC's Tropical Marine Conservation Program in the Asia Pacific Region. Alison is an Australian who has worked extensively in coral reef conservation in the Asia Pacific region over the last 18 years, particularly in Australia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. Her areas of expertise include coral reef ecology, monitoring, and designing and implementing marine protected areas. Prior to joining TNC, she was Director of Science and Technology at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Alison is the TNC scientific team leader for this expedition.
Anwar Ibrahim (BKSDA Maluku, Department of Forestry – Seksi Konservasi Wilayah I Ternate) graduated from Senior Technical School in Ternate. He has worked for BKSDA for 13 years. He conducted surveys at Guraici Archipelago in 1992 joint with Bogor Agriculture Institution. His daily responsible focus on monitoring and surveillance of flora and fauna include marine resources. He will assist socio-economic group during the Halmahera expedition
Muhammad Erdi Lazuardi graduated with honor from Bogor Agriculture Institute in Marine Science. Erdi has been working with CI-Indonesia's Raja Ampat program as a Science and Monitoring Coordinator for the last 3 years. He is interested in both coral taxonomy and coral reef management. On his spare time, Erdi enjoys graphic design and plays guitar and harmonica.
Andreas Muljadi is TNC CTC Raja Ampat Project Monitoring and Logistics Coordinator. Before joining TNC in April 1998, Andreas worked as operational manager for a dive operator, Nusa Karimun Wisata Selam, in Semarang. Andreas specializes in marine biological monitoring, data base and information system management, and logistics support management.
Dr. Rod Salm is currently Director of Tropical Marine Conservation and Coral Triangle project lead for TNC's Asia Pacific Conservation Region. Raised in Mozambique, Rod has spent most of his professional life in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean and Asia, where he has more than 35 years experience in conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems. He has also worked in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and in polar environments. Rod has published more than 170 articles and 6 books on marine ecology, taxonomy, resource management, conservation, and popular natural history.
Imran Taeran (Khairun University) graduated from Sam Ratulangi University in 1994. In 2007 he completed his Master Degree at Bogor Agriculture Institution focus on Marine Technology. Now, he teaches at Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty of Khairun University – Ternate. He will be conducting a socio-economic study of coastal village and fisheries assessment during Halmahera expedition.
Emre Turak is an expert coral taxonomist and leading exponent of coral reef surveys, monitoring, and conservation, as an expert consultant with CORMEC. He has done research on hard-corals in 15 countries across the world, most notably around Indonesia, PNG, the Red Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef. He is a skilled underwater photographer and cameraman, whose work has been shown on national television. Emre is currently working on the Coral Geographic project with Coral Reef Research.
Indra Bayu Vimono graduated from Malang State University in 2005 with a focus on biology. He joint LIPI in 2006 under marine resources division. During the Halmahera expedition, he will be conducting echinoderms survey.
Nurhalis Wahidin (Khairun University) graduated from Khairun University 1998. In 2004 he completed his Master's Degree at Universita Politechnica Delle Marche Ancona – Italy focus on Management of Coral Reef Biodivesity. Now, he teaches at Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty of Khairun University – Ternate. He will be conducting a benthic coral monitoring during the Halmahera expedition.
Dr. Joanne Wilson (The Nature Conservancy) is currently Lead Scientist for the Coral Triangle Centre – Indonesia. Until moving to Indonesia 9 months ago she lived and worked in Australia. She has over 15 years experience in marine science on a diverse range of projects including oyster diseases in Tasmania, coral spawning in Queensland and coastal ecology and management in NSW. Joanne has published a number of papers in journals and presented the results of her work at international conferences.
Erick Zulhikman (Ministry of Marines and Fisheries Affair) graduated from Padjadjaran University 2003. Now, he work at Direktorate Conservation and Marine National Parks, Ministry of Marines and Fisheries Affair. He will be conducting a Socio-economic of coastal village and fisheries assessment during Halmahera Expedition 2008.
Sterling Zumbrunn is CI’s Director of Photography. He graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, and began working for CI’s communications department in 1996. He has concentrated on photographing underwater environments for the past nine years, including locations such as Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, and Raja Ampat, Indonesia. His work has been published in numerous books, magazines and scientific journals around the world. He is currently managing the “Conservation Through Photography Alliance,” a 3-year partnership with BG-Group, a UK based energy company, which aims to train conservationists in photography, document unexplored environments, and disseminate conservation messages through public exhibits.
Photo: © Muhammad Erdi Lazuardi