Shannon McCluskey

Name: Shannon McCluskey   
Country: USA
Occupation: Wildlife Ecologist
Specialty: Marine mammal foraging ecology, spatial analysis, aquatic habitat assessment.
Best part about my job: Everyday brings a new challenge. And you get to travel to the most extraordinary places and interact with the most inspiring people, while working towards improving our understanding of natural systems and our interactions within them.
Biggest challenges I face: Staying glued to a computer screen when I’d really rather be outside.
The most unusual or exciting thing that's happened to me while working in the field: Having a rogue wave capsize our research boat while surveying gray whales off the NW coast of Vancouver Island a mile from shore, being trapped in the cabin of the upside down vessel, and the adventures of making it to land, trekking besides wolves, bears, and cougars to finally make it to a lighthouse and call for a ride in the nearest Canadian Coast Guard helicopter.
Why I like being a member of the Duke Center for Marine Conservation and/or Project GloBAL:  The people and the mission. The team working on Project GloBAL is a diverse, driven, and talented group of people I am honored to work with. The mission is one of global cooperation toward a goal of applied conservation.
Professional Organization Memberships: Society for Marine Mammalogy, Ecological Society of America
When I’m not working on Project GloBAL I like to: Hike, dive, kayak, fly fish, garden, sail, travel…
Ten years from now, I hope I will be: Working with an interdisciplinary group of people committed to managing and protecting our natural resources for generations to come. While traveling the world!