Maggy Hunter Benson

Maggy Hunter Benson
Maggy Hunter Benson
Maggy Benson

Maggy Benson manages both distance learning and community partnerships in the Office of Education and Outreach at the National Museum of Natural History. She manages the implementation of the NMNH distance learning program, which pioneers new models for using digital media and technology to engage youth audiences who cannot access the Museum. As a partnership manager, Maggy oversees the building and maintenance of relationships with schools, school districts, professional associations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations locally and nationally. Prior to this position, she was the community manager and producer for the Webby Award-winning Smithsonian Ocean Portal.

Prior to her work at Smithsonian, Maggy was the coordinator of Coastal America’s Learning Center Network, implementing international ocean science activities and programs such as the International Student Summit on Oceans and Coasts and the International Ocean art Contest, in partnership with aquariums, federal agencies, and corporations.

Maggy enjoys spending her time cycling through Washington, DC and occasionally slipping away to the coast to swim, surf, and dive.

Collaborator Contributions

Sea Grapes: A Google Earth Tour

“Sea grapes” may sound like something Poseidon would snack on, and not a killer algae. Yet Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea poses a serious threat to marine life. Spread by the bilge water of boats, this fast-growing alga is quick to take root, squeezing out native species.

Dr. Stefan Huggenberger from the University of Cologne explains sound production in sperm whales in "Moby Dick's Boom Box: Nasal Complex of Sperm Whales," a presentation at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on Nov. 16, 2011.

What does a bioluminescent creature that lives more than two miles below the surface of the ocean and a glow stick have in common? More than you think. Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce their own light. Using a photographic technique called light painting, you can do a fun activity to engage students to learn about bioluminescence with art.  

Watch the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall come to life in this two minute time lapse video.

The Sant Ocean Hall is the National Museum of Natural History's largest exhibit, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean. The hall's combination of 674 marine specimens and models, high-definition video, and the newest technology allows visitors to explore the ocean's past, present, and future.

"Cold-Water Diving: Going to Extremes for Research" is a video produced by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) that shows the focus needed to do scientific work in cold water. The gear is bulkier and heavier, cold affects dexterity and capacity, and dives must be shorter yet still get the job done. Scientific divers work in winter, in the high latitudes, or in the Arctic or Antarctic.

"Inside the Open Ocean: Blue Water Diving" produced by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), describes a specialized diving technique that lets biologists study the ocean's most fragile beings--soft, transparent animals such as jellyfish that are crushed by traditional tools such as plankton nets.

"Shallow Water Diving: The Benefits of Being There" produced by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), spotlights researchers using scuba in shallow water. These scientists, working on coral reefs, fish ecology, and sea floor topography, require uninterrupted lengths of time or close work in small areas, which are impossible to do by free diving or snorkeling.

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef brings together mathematics, marine science, craft, and community activism in an effort to raise awareness about the threat to coral reefs worldwide. This discussion considers the impact of community projects on conservation efforts with:

How should you prepare for a hurricane? Students from Bay High School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi--who were participating in the Third Student Summit on the Ocean & Coasts--created this instructional video to help show the importance of storm preparation and evacuation techniques. The students presented the video at the Student Summit, held at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC on February 15, 2011.