Scientific and Technical Communications, Web and Content Development
Annette has earned numerous NASA group and individual awards, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for outstanding accomplishments in communication to scientists, educators, and the general public. This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to a Government employee for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions which contribute to NASA projects, programs, or initiatives.
Daren Casey received a B.S. in Engineering from Caltech and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. At NASA JPL he worked in radar image processing, Space Shuttle and Mars mission design, planning, and operations, and led the Mission Engineering re-engineering team. Daren has over 30 years of experience in mission-critical software and database architecture, design, development, and operations. NASA mission experience includes SIR-B, SIR-C, Mars Global Surveyor, Earth Observing System.
Christy Herren received a B.S. in Marine Sciences from the University of South Carolina Honors College, and a Ph.D. in Marine Sciences from the University of California Santa Barbara. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, CA, before switching "career gears" to enter ocean sciences education and outreach. Her interests include helping scientists and educators communicate more effectively, and experimenting with new ways to increase public engagement with cutting-edge scientific knowledge.
Liesl Hotaling holds a B.S. in Marine Science, a M.A.T. in Science Teaching, and a M.S. in Maritime Systems (ocean engineering). She specializes in real time data education projects and hands-on STEM educational projects supporting environmental observing networks. Previously she served as the Chief Education Officer for the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, the Assistant Director for the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at Stevens Institute of Technology, and the Partnerships and Collaborations Coordinator for the Centers of Ocean Sciences Education Excellence. She currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for the Marine Technology Society.
Leslie Smith received a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. Though a scientist by training, she has built her career over the last decade in Science Communications and Community Engagement for US-based and international ocean observing programs including the Ocean Observatories Initiative, Tropical Pacific Observing System, and Deep Ocean Observing Strategy. Additionally, her work has focused on Science Education initiatives, including data literacy projects with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Current awards include grants for work supporting the Ocean Salinity Science Team (OSST) and Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) consortium.
The material contained in this document is based upon work supported by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant or cooperative agreement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.
