Gail Ashton

With a bachelor’s degree from Wales and a Ph.D. from Scotland, Gail has used her skills in marine biology to pursue her passion: investigating marine biodiversity all over the world. As a research scientist based in San Francisco, she has led projects in coastal marine communities from Alaska to Panama. A cold-water diver at heart, Gail jumped at the opportunity to lead a research project on the impacts of climate change that involved spending two years diving under the ice in Antarctica. Other projects have taken her to Florida, Guam and Indonesia.

Although the types of critters (invertebrates) she studies are found in oceans throughout the world, it’s the unique balance of species that makes each location exciting. An accomplished researcher, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for marine communities from the tropics to the poles.