Thursday, March 22, 2007
Crittercam creator to present Vectren RISC Showcase keynote address
 Greg Marshall’s “big idea” came upon him as he snorkeled among the coral reefs of Belize. He was struck by the sight of a remora fish attached to the side of a shark. The remora uses the shark for transportation and protection, and feeds on materials dropped by its host.Imagining the unique perspective the remora must have from its “piggy-back” position, Marshall conceived of creating a remote camera to mimic its behavior. If it were small and light enough, the imaging system could be attached in a similar fashion, and record the behavior of sea creatures in ways that a hand-held camera never could. Thus began the development of the Crittercam. In 1991, Marshall joined National Geographic Television and established the Special Projects Unit, where he pioneered Crittercam technology. The camera attaches benignly to an animal and documents life from its perspective, recording video, hydrophonic audio, depth, temperature, light level, and velocity. In addition to collecting critical research data for science, Crittercam also provides images that capture audiences’ imagination. The first breakthrough images were broadcast to the world on National Geographic Explorer in 1993. Since then, Marshall has expanded use of this research tool to more than 30 other marine species, including great white sharks, sperm whales, emperor penguins, walruses, seals, sea turtles, and killer whales. With the success of his ongoing marine research program, Marshall and his team have now launched a Terrestrial Crittercam effort to help unveil the hidden lives of lions, tigers, and bears. A marine biologist, inventor, filmmaker, producer, and cinematographer, Marshall will present the keynote address for the 2007 Vectren RISC Showcase at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in Carter Hall in the University Center. It is free and open to the public. Marshall holds an undergraduate degree in international relations from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in marine environmental science from SUNY Stony Brook. He began his career as a freelance photojournalist and cameraman. He then served as director of a marine research program for three years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). While in that position he produced a film about fisheries and habitat in Belize that encouraged the U.S. government to appropriate millions of dollars for conservation of that country’s unique marine ecosystem. It was during the making of that film that Marshall was inspired by the remora. Marshall is a two-time Emmy Award winner for Cinematography and Sound, and is producing a 13-part scientific adventure series, “Crittercam Chronicles,” for the National Geographic Channel. Crittercam technology also was featured in the blockbuster film “March of the Penguins.” The Vectren RISC Showcase will be held Thursday and Friday, April 12-13, in the University Center. The Showcase provides an arena for undergraduates to present, demonstrate, or display their academic works to fellow students, faculty members, and the public. For more information, go to the Vectren RISC Showcase Web page or contact Dr. Jim Durbin, program chair and associate professor of geology, at 812/465-1208. |
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