Dr. David E. Guggenheim has been a photographer since the age of 11 when his father, an exceptional amateur photographer, gave him a Konica rangefinder camera. Together, they created photographic art in their small home darkroom. At 19, he had his first professional job photographing the first-born babies of the year for a small newspaper just outside of Philadelphia. Photography became a constant companion throughout his career in ocean conservation. Today he is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, ocean explorer, submersible pilot, award-winning author and educator. He is Program Coordinator, Lecturer and Academic Advisor for the Master’s programs in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy and Energy, Policy and Climate at Johns Hopkins University – Advanced Academic Programs, where he authored and teaches the course, Ocean Stewardship and Sustainability. He also teaches Science Communication and Policy Engagement, Environmental Policymaking and Policy Analysis, and a field course in Cuba to explore coral reefs, forests, and agricultural areas, engaging with local scientists, farmers, students, and residents. He is the founder and president of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization Ocean Doctor, dedicated to advancing the conservation of the world’s oceans through scientific research, education, and community engagement. Guggenheim has a fervent commitment to environmental education and is halfway through a journey to all 50 states to educate K-12 students about the oceans, conservation and careers in science. Guggenheim has worked in Cuba for over 20 years, leading collaborative research and conservation efforts focused on coral reef ecosystems. His 2022 book, "The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba: Hopeful Stories from the Ocean Doctor," details his two decades of experiences in Cuba, working in collaboration with Cuban scientists to explore that country’s unique underwater ecosystems and to understand why the world has lost half of its coral reefs while they continue to thrive in Cuba. The book -- illustrated by his photographs -- won the gold medal for best nonfiction book on the environment by the Nonfiction Authors Association. As an ocean explorer, Guggenheim piloted the first manned submersible dive into the world’s two largest underwater canyons, both located in Alaska’s Bering Sea. He was inducted into the Explorers Club as a National Fellow in 2008. His 2013 documentary, "Disaster at Nightingale," details a disastrous oil spill in a remote island group in the South Atlantic that killed thousands of penguins. Guggenheim is an accomplished public speaker, frequently invited as a keynote speaker at major national and international conferences and events for nonprofit organizations, industry associations, schools and universities, and governmental organizations. Based on his wealth of public speaking experience, he authored the 2023 book "Public Speaking – From Competent to Captivating." He has testified before Congress and international governmental bodies, including the Scottish Parliament. He regularly appears on television and radio, having appeared on "60 Minutes," "Good Morning America," CNN, MSNBC, "PBS Newshour," and NPR, among others, and has been featured in a wide range of print media, including the New York Times. In addition to his conservation work, Guggenheim is an award-winning professional photographer. His work ranges from underwater wildlife to boudoir, fine art nude studio photography, fashion and portraiture, spanning the Antarctic, the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, Cuba, Alaska, Russia, the Middle East and beyond. Examples of his work are displayed at: https://davidguggenheim.com. Guggenheim previously served as Vice President at The Ocean Conservancy, President & CEO of The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Co-Chair of the Everglades Coalition, President of the Friends of Channel Islands National Park and Chairman of the Board of the Great Whale Conservancy. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia, a Master’s in Aquatic and Population Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s in Regional Science and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.