Danielle Olson

Danielle’s love for the ocean began as a young girl in the tidal pools and beaches of New England. She proclaimed at the young age of three that she wanted to be a marine biologist. True to that goal she earned her undergraduate degree in biology and marine science from the College of William and Mary and recently completed a Master’s in Science Journalism and Communication from Stony Brook University. Danielle’s research experience includes work studying seagrass biodiversity, salt marsh chemistry, and tiny drifting sea creatures called zooplankton at institutions such as the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her most recent research position brought her to the bottom of the world for a six week expedition to Antarctica as a member of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER). Working aboard a 230 foot research vessel in the Antarctic allowed Danielle to witness first-hand the rapid changes occurring in that region due to climate change. Recently Danielle has shifted her focus from research to science communication and is the digital producer of the Ocean Portal. She hopes to share her love of the ocean and science with others around her. Danielle also enjoys diving, cooking, and hiking with her dog Shadow.