Christine Hoekenga

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Christine Hoekenga, Ocean Portal Community Manager

Christine joined the NMNH Department of Education and Outreach in the Fall of 2009 after having served as a Museum Specialist in the Office of the Sant Chair for Marine Science. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in media studies and environmental science from Willamette University and a master’s degree in science communication from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Christine has experience working as an environmental journalist, a freelance science writer, and a conservation organizer and advocate for nonprofits. Despite growing up in land-locked Nevada, Christine is also an avid SCUBA diver with experience conducting marine research in the field and the lab.

Collaborator Contributions

Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Gloucester, MA, USA

Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, USA

“This humpback uses its lower jaw to strain fish off the water’s surface as sea birds snatch their own meals right out of the whale’s open mouth.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Bryce Flynn.

See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's Best Ocean Views photo contest.

a spotted dolphin swims through the ocean at night

Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Little Bahama Bank, The Bahamas

“At night, spotted dolphins move offshore into the Gulf Stream’s deep waters in search of squid.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Andrew Sallmon.

See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's Best Ocean Views photo contest.

The People's Reef

The People's Reef, a part of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, from above. The HCCR was created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring and is on exhibit at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History from October 16, 2010 to April 24, 2011.

Dr. Jeremy Jackson

Dr. Jeremy Jackson, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Students Work on Channel Island Map Project

Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary Map Project

Students participate in a map project for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Deep Water Octopus in the Gulf of Mexico

This brilliant red octopus (Benthoctopus sp.) was photographed at more than 8,800 feet (about 2,700 meters) in Alaminos Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico. See more photos of wild creatures encountered during the Census of Marine Life.

When we use fossil fuels to power our cars, homes, and businesses, we put heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Tracking Ocean Acidification

Fossil fuels that power our cars, homes, and businesses add carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. The ocean absorbs large portions of this CO2 and acts as a buffer against climate change. But, Dr. Francisco Chavez of Monterey Bay Research Institute points out that as the ocean absorbs more CO2, the water becomes more acidic--a change that could impact entire food webs.