Mike Doherty brings passion to ocean education

Heidi Duncanson | Development and Communications Coordinator

Seacoast Science Center’s newest full-time staff member brings a depth of personal experiences and study that increases the caliber of our ocean education programs, in conjunction with today’s STEM standards. From SCUBA diving in Hawaii to hiking in Ecuador, Mike Doherty’s passion for nature and undergraduate education make him an excellent addition to our staff of naturalists.

Mike first came to the Center three years ago as an unpaid college intern, hoping to learn more about the ocean and marine animals as well as get an inside look at how our non-profit operations run. He was working toward his B.S. in Environmental Biology at Plymouth State University and his interest in marine science was sparked by a class in invertebrate zoology. Mike’s classroom experience, SCUBA certification and field research experiences made him an ideal candidate for working with school groups and visitors of all ages. When a part-time position became available, Mike started working at the front desk and conducting visitor programs at the touch tank and in our Gulf of Maine exhibit hall.

In October 2016, Mike brought on as a full-time staff member in the education department. He and other staff members have had extensive training in marine science and animal behavior, and attended education workshops to learn strategies for teaching in an informal science setting. Working with volunteer coordinator Laura Bahl, Mike will be helping teach touch tank classes for volunteers and meeting individually with each new volunteer on their first day of service.  He looks forward to being a mentor and helping people feel comfortable in working with the public and sharing all that Seacoast Science Center has to offer.

As the Center is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year, Mike supplied 25 fun facts about himself to help people get to know him better:

1. Mike’s favorite animal is the American lobster
2. Mike makes a delicious smoked salmon
3. Mike’s favorite movie is Big Trouble in Little China
4. Mike’s first job was at McDonald’s
5. Mike has traveled through Ecuador
6. Mike likes SCUBA diving
7. Mike’s first vehicle was a Chevrolet S10
8. Mike has been to Ireland
9. Mike can eat a total of 9 tacos on Taco Tuesday
10. Mike has a pet turtle named Lovey
11. Mike has eaten Guinea Pig
12. Mike has never broken a bone
13. Mike is 6’3”
14. Mike is a Capricorn
15. Mike had a Harry Potter themed birthday party when he was 11
16. Mike’s favorite SCUBA diving trip was in Hawaii, with manta rays
17. Mike is very, very good at foosball
18. Mike’s favorite color is green
19. Mike always wanted to be an Archeologist, just like Indiana Jones
20. Mike has jumped from the Southernmost point of the USA, into the ocean
21. Mike loves concert season at SSC
22. Mike’s first visit to the SSC was on a school field trip
23. Mike has camped at an elevation of almost 8,000 ft., on a volcano
24. Mike enjoys going to trivia- and winning it in Portsmouth
25. Mike is the same age as the Seacoast Science Center

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