Matt Rutherford is the first to complete a non-stop, single-handed, voyage around North and South America. Rutherford left Annapolis, MD, on June 2011 and traversed some of the most dangerous seas on Earth. During the first leg of his trek, Rutherford broke a record by solo sailing the smallest boat in history through the Northwest Passage. Once through this northern passage, Rutherford sailed around the entire state of Alaska, then south through the Pacific Ocean from North to South America to make his left-hand turn at storm-tossed Cape Horn and completing his record-breaking journey in 309 days after sailing 27,077 miles at sea.

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Once Matt returned from his circumnavigation, he immediately started working on starting a non-profit organization that would help scientists better understand the problems facing the oceans. Matt believes that no one person can do everything, but everyone can do something. By creating Ocean Research Project, Matt plans to educate people about marine issues and give back to the Earth’s oceans.

Since 2013, Nicole Trenholm has had the opportunity to develop ORP’s science and education programs from day one. She is ORP’s marine field scientist, doubling as an expedition leader and mariner on each expedition. Her professional background in supporting oceanographic data collection for charts and maintaining Chesapeake Bay’s Buoy System (CBIBS) under NOAA contracts gives Nicole diverse experience in managing ocean research activities onboard vessels. She holds a USCG Master Near Coastal  Captains License and sails her boat Selkie in the Chesapeake.

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After directing science at sea over 27,000 miles Nicole strives to continue to provide data that is integral to monitoring climate change, especially in polar environments. She is a graduate student pursuing a doctorate at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Systems – Horn Point Laboratory Fellow, is a field grant recipient of the Explorer’s Club, and sponsor of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Ocean Ecology Lab. As a flag-bearer of the Society of Women Geographers, Nicole intends to honor the women who coined the club expression, ” Women who know no boundaries”.