Dr. Gregory Stone

Marine Conservation Greg Stone

Globally celebrated marine scientist Dr. Greg Stone knew the sea was his future from the time he was a boy in Boston. 12,000 dives later, he has explored every ocean top-to-bottom, from tropical reefs to submarine mountains and frozen Antarctic seas. Thousands of hours of research investigation using SCUBA, underwater habitats, deep dives to 18,000 feet in research submarines and seafloor probes with robotic vehicles give him unparalleled knowledge of the ocean and its life.

With outstanding ability to communicate ocean science and natural history Greg Stone has published hundreds of scientific and popular articles, four books, documentaries for Discovery and National Geographic, a TEDTalk, Davos lecture, and numerous radio and television appearances.  His book ‘Ice Island: Expedition to Antarctica’s Largest Iceberg’ won the National Outdoor Book Award.

Greg targets his research and thought leadership toward finding ways for humans to use the oceans in sustainable ways. He is a key proponent for ocean preserves worldwide and architect, in partnership with the government of Kiribati, Conservation International and the New England Aquarium, of the world’s first large open-ocean protected area, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). PIPA, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects the pristine corals, reef fishes, sharks, manta rays, turtles, tuna stocks and ocean-dependent human communities in an area more than 400,000 square kilometers, approximately the size of California.

Greg Stone co-founded the Ocean Health Index, the first global open-science system for measuring how sustainably humans are using the ocean in every country and on the high seas. His most recent book, ‘Soul of the Sea in the Age of Algorithm’ (2017) proposes revolutionary tools and financial models for ocean management as a guide for sustaining human and ocean health into the future.

Honors to Greg Stone include National Geographic Hero, Explorers Club National Fellow, Peter Benchley Award for Ocean Solutions, John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, Pew Fellow for Marine Conservation, Boston Sea Rover’s Diver of the Year, Order of Kiribati Medal, the U.S National Science Foundation/Navy Antarctic Service Medal, and National Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences’s NOGI award, often called the ‘Oscar of the Ocean World.’

Greg currently serves as Chief Ocean Scientist for DeepGreen Resources, where he is responsible for finding sustainable ways to extract metal-rich nodules from the seafloor of the Clipperton Fracture Zone to provide minerals needed for the global transition to renewable energy.  He is also President of Ocean Renaissance. His past positions include EVP-Chief Ocean Scientist and Head of Global Marine Program for Conservation International; Senior Science Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Oceans; Oceans Council Chair for the World Economic Forum; Senior VP for New England Aquarium; and Underwater Research Scientist with top secret clearance for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

environmental sustainability coral reef

— JARED DIAMOND —

Anthropologist and author

“Greg Stone is the leading authority on the world's oceans, i.e. on most of the surface of our Planet Earth. He is also a great communicator, and a treasured friend.”

Ocean Conservationist Greg Stone

— JERRY SCHUBEL —

Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO

“I have known and worked with Greg for many years. He is one of our most effective ocean conservationists and science communicators.”

Marine Preservation Greg Stone

— WENDY TUCKER —

Honorary Trustee, Former Director of BUEI

“Greg has an in-depth knowledge of the ocean after spending many years on and in the ocean. Greg’s early research of marine mammals, brought him to Bermuda [...] Greg is chairman of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) International Advisory Board and his advice and assistance as a conservationist, scientist and explorer has been invaluable to BUEI. Greg now shares his wealth of knowledge, by giving insightful talks around the world.”