- Dr. James Lindholm
James is a native Californian who once spent a great deal of time surfing, diving and swimming in the open water, but now finds hanging out with his wife and 20-month old daughter more fun than anything else (except perhaps surfing, diving and swimming with them). He began his undergraduate studies in pre-law and philosophy (B.A. California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo), with the idea of becoming an environmental lawyer and working on marine policy. Near the end of his undergraduate days, James realized he would rather be out in the field conducting research. After moving to the east coast for graduate school (an MA in Environmental Science at Boston University, and a PhD in the Ocean Conservation Program, also at Boston University), James did a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut. He then served as the Science Coordinator for NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Massachusetts. In 2003 James returned to California and is currently a Senior Research Biologist at the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research in Oceanside, CA.
James is a fish ecologist and conservation biologist who has conducted research in temperate and tropical seas around the world using SCUBA, remotely operated vehicles and occupied submersibles. His research is guided by the conviction that the study of marine conservation requires a sound footing in empirical laboratory and field experimentation, and quantitative analytical techniques such as computer modeling. Such a foundation facilitates the regular movement between theory and application required to address modern conservation issues in general, and the design of marine protected areas in particular. He has published numerous scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and is the editor of a book on computer modeling entitled "Dynamic Modeling for Marine Conservation" which was published in 2002.
James is currently the Principal Investigator for acoustic telemetry projects here in the Keys (see Mission Summary), in California's Channel Islands, and in the southern Gulf of Maine. He is leading research on the recovery of seafloor habitats following the cessation of fishing in southern New England and shortly along California's Central Coast.
This will be James' third Aquarius mission (including September 2001 and August 2002) as a saturation diver and fourth mission overall (including November 2001).
