Catalina Martinez

Regional Manager, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
NOAA
Washington, DC


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Catalina graduated from the University of Rhode Island's (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography with a master's degree in 2000 and obtained a second master's degree from URI in Marine Affairs in 2002. Catalina's path to the field of ocean sciences was not a direct one, as she spent many years working with urban school children and victims of domestic violence prior to studying oceanography. While in graduate school Catalina worked on issues associated with fish reproduction and fisheries management, and developed and implemented marine science classroom, field and ship-based programs in which students and teachers were introduced to the marine environment in a variety of ways.

Since completing graduate school, Catalina has been working for NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration (OE). She spent several years in OE's Silver Spring office working on operations and logistics, as well as education and outreach initiatives associated with exciting research expeditions. In 2004, Catalina moved back to RI to implement a very exciting collaboration between NOAA OE, URI's Graduate School of Oceanography, and the Sea Research Foundation's Institute for Exploration (IFE). The focus of this wonderful collaboration has been the development and application of telepresence technology and its associated shore-based facilities for the purpose of ocean exploration and research, and public outreach and education. Through these collaborative efforts, and those of the OE EX Program Planning Team, of which Catalina is a member, NOAA is working to outfit its new dedicated ship of Exploration, the Okeanos Explorer, with the equipment, systems, and personnel to fully realize this vision of sharing the excitement of discovery and ocean science with students, teachers, scientists, and the general public on shore in real time. Catalina also continues to work as part of the OE outreach and education team, focusing on development of opportunities and programs for underrepresented and underserved populations.


Last Updated: 8/10/2012
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