Maggy Hunter Benson

Maggy Hunter Benson
Maggy Hunter Benson
Maggy Benson

Sailor, diver, and surfer Maggy Benson joined the Smithsonian Ocean Portal team in early 2011 as the site’s Community Manager, after four years as the coordinator of Coastal America’s Learning Center Network and Student Summit on the Ocean and Coasts program. At Coastal America, Maggy managed a network of 23 aquariums across North America, executing ocean education programs and engaging the public in ocean science and conservation. Maggy grew up on the water—the freshwater—at her family's lake house in northeast Pennsylvania—sailing, swimming, and fishing. During these years her roots as a naturalist formed and took hold. In college she became interested in marine ecology, studied biology at Northeastern University and served as a marine educator for the university’s Marine Science Center, which only strengthened her passion for all things ocean.

Maggy is a certified diver and recently joined the Ocean Portal team to continue communicating ocean science and conservation to the public, hoping to educate and inspire others to help protect as well as enjoy the marine world. She spends much of her free time sailing the Chesapeake Bay with her parents atop their well-traveled sailboat Steady, and she enjoys frequent visits to North Carolina's Outer Banks with her husband, Kris. Her newest endeavor is learning the art of surfing, taking the crash and swim approach.

 

Collaborator Contributions

Podcast: Sharon Katz Cooper on Building the Sant Ocean Hall

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds. Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

Podcast: Dr. Brian Huber on Building the Sant Ocean Hall

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds. Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

Photo of Dr. Michael Vecchione

Podcast: Dr. Michael Vecchione on Building the Sant Ocean Hall

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds. Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

Podcast: Elizabeth Munsteen on Building the Ocean Hall

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds. Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

OceanPortal - Audio Podcast: Jill Johnson

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds. Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

Podcast: Dr. Carole Baldwin on Building the Sant Ocean Hall

Building the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall--like any major exhibition--was a major undertaking. Over the course of five years, it required hundreds of people with a vast array of skills and backgrounds.  Many of these people worked on one aspect of the exhibit, such as the whale model, the fabrication, or the writing.

Screen capture of the Amazing Ocean mobile app introduction screen

Amazing Ocean Mobile App

Amazing Ocean is a new mobile app that brings all of the content you love from the Ocean Portal straight to your mobile device. The app allows you to explore photos, videos and rich ocean-themed content from Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Ocean Portal from the comfort of your own mobile device. Browse through the app's collection of photos and facts to learn about ocean animals, habitats, and current research. Chat with other ocean-lovers by engaging in the live discussion threads, focusing on ocean issues, news, and fun facts.

X-ray image of a longnose butterflyfish

X-Ray Image of a Longnose Butterflyfish

The clearly pictured spines, rays and snout make identifying this longnose butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris, straightforward in this X-ray image. Scientists in the Division of Fishes at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History use X-ray images, like the one shown, to study the complex bone structure and diversity of fish without having to dissect or damage

an x-ray image of several grooved razorfish

X-Ray Image of Grooved Razorfish

An X-ray image of grooved razorfish, Centriscus scutatus. Scientists in the Division of Fishes at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History use X-ray images, like the one shown, to study the complex bone structure and diversity of fish without having to dissect or damage the specimen.

X-ray image of a long-spined porcupine fish

X-Ray Image of a Long-Spined Porcupine Fish

The robust oval, spine covered body of a long-spined porcupine fish, Diodon holocanthus, is revealed in this X-ray image. Scientists in the Division of Fishes at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History use X-ray images, like the one shown, to study the complex bone structure and diversity of fish without having to dissect or damage the specimen.

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