New director of education position will add a keener experience for Waikiki Aquarium goers
WAIKIKI—The Waikiki Aquarium has named James B. Wood, Ph.D., as associate director and director of education. In this newly created position, Wood is responsible for overseeing the Waikiki Aquarium’s live exhibits, education, graphics, and information technology departments.
With over 10 years in the field, Wood is an experienced marine science educator and researcher on octopuses and other cephalopods. Prior to joining the Waikiki Aquarium, he served as director of education at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Wood also previously served as assistant research scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), where he provided mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students and instructed courses in marine invertebrate zoology, independent research, and scientific photography.
In addition, Wood also served as adjunct professor at Duke University and acted as an education and outreach liaison for the Census of Marine Life. A published academic writer, Wood’s peer-reviewed articles appeared in Marine Biology, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, and Fisheries Research.
Additionally, Wood co-authored the book Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate published in 2010 and has co-authored a book chapter in Caribbean Marine Biodiversity: The Known and the Unknown. He has also been a featured scientist on a number of Discovery Channel specials regarding cephalopods, including “Squid Invasions” and “Tentacles.” He earned a bachelor’s degree of science in zoology from the University of Florida and a doctorate of philosophy in biology from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia. Wood is also an Eagle Scout and underwater photographer.
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