Dr. Andrew Trites

Dr. Andrew Trites is an Associate Professor and Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit in the Fisheries Centre at the University of British Columbia, and is the Research Director for the North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium. He has served as a member of the US Steller Sea Lion Recovery Team, the Canadian Killer Whale Recovery Team, a voting member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and co-chair of the Marine Mammal Specialist Group for COSEWIC.

Furthering the conservation and understanding of marine mammals, and resolving conflicts between people and marine mammals are central to Dr. Trites' research. His research involves captive studies, field studies and simulation models that range from single species to whole ecosystems.

Learn more on Dr. Trites' page at the Fisheries Centre website.

Mike deRoos, skeleton articulator

Mike deRoos is the master skeleton articulator on the project. A native of Vancouver, he has always been interested in biology, the ocean, and building things large and small. During his BSc (completed in part at UBC), he articulated his first marine mammal skeleton (a sea otter) as part of a field course at the Bamfield Marine Station. The project combined his interest in marine biology with construction experience gained working in the family contracting business. He proved a natural at this unconventional line of work, and started his own independent contracting business in 2004. Since 2000, Mike has articulated eleven marine mammal skeletons, including a 60' fin whale on display at the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Center, and a killer whale, minke whale, three pacific white-sided dolphins and two Steller sea lions on display in the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Labs (AERL) building at UBC. You can visit Mike's work in AERL, located just south of the Biological Sciences Building at Main Mall and University Boulevard, and adjacent to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum site.

Michiru Main, MSc, project management, assistant articulator

Michi has a background in marine ecology and conservation biology. Over the past several years, she has worked in education, marine interpretation, marine mammal research and wildlife policy. When not working, Michi spends her time outside, volunteering on local conservation initiatives, skiing, running and chasing after her one year old. Michi has been involved full-time in UBC's Skeleton Project since late 2007 and has been managing and working on the Blue Whale Project from its smelly beginnings.

Jesse McBeath, the fixer, assistant articulator

As Jesse says, “with a BA in English Literature, the next logical career move had to be skeleton articulation…” and so he first began helping Mike with UBC’s skeleton project. With an impressively diverse skill set (and a poor sense of smell), Jesse has been managing the Blue Whale Project’s degreasing operation and doing a little bit of everything down at the workshop since the skeleton first arrived in Victoria. When not at the workshop, Jesse (AKA the bone protector) can usually be found training in jujitsu.

George Hudson, welder, assistant articulator

George is a talented aircraft welder who has been convinced to temporarily leave his idyllic Pender Island shop to work on the Blue Whale Project. With several years of aircraft, industrial and artistic welding experience, George has worked on many larger-than-blue-whale sized objects but this is his first living (though now dead) subject.

Bob deRoos, vapour degreasing, assistant articulator

Bob is retired building contractor whose experienced tools, truck and his reputation for being able to fix anything have become indispensable to the project. When not working, Bob would rather be skiing, sailing or playing the guitar… but he can usually be found running after his thirty year old son looking for his missing tools.

David Hunwick, BA (Hons) PGCE, rib molding/casting and bone repair

David Hunwick has over 28 years of professional sculpting experience and is the proprietor of Studio 63, which specializes in mould making & casting. David is also on the teaching faculty at Victoria College of Art. David has taken on the complex job of molding and casting the ribs for the Blue Whale Project articulation in light weight fiberglass and helping out with bone repair. You can see David’s work at www.davidhunwick.com.
 

Elizabeth Thomson, BFA, bone repair

Elizabeth joined the Blue Whale Project to repair damaged bones in November 2009. She enjoys contributing to this massive project with dental tools, pieces of sandpaper and epoxy based resin. In her free time, Elizabeth can be found creating art and cycling in Victoria, rain or shine.

Leah Thorpe, bone repair

After volunteering with the wonderfully messy work of cleaning the bones last winter, Leah officially joined the Blue Whale team in December 2009 to work on bone repairs. Leah has a background in marine biology and when not working she can be found hiking, camping and pursuing her love of nature photography. Leah is also currently working towards her master’s degree in environmental education and communications.

Natalie Bowes, BSc, MA (candidate), public outreach and education coordinator

Natalie has worked in environmental education and conservation, specializing in marine topics and cetaceans. She has taught at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre and the "Bones Project" whale interpretive center, in Telegraph Cove. Also a licensed boat captain, she has worked as a guide and captain in the waters around Southern Vancouver Island, New Zealand, and Antarctica. Natalie is now a graduate student pursuing a degree in Environmental Education and Communication.

Joanne Thomson, MAdEd, repair disguiser

Joanne Thomson is a Visual Artist and has worked on UBC’s skeleton project for two other skeletons to carve missing bones and paint repairs to bones and manufactured bones so that they look like the real ones. Joanne has enjoyed being around the bones so much that she has started a series of paintings about the experience and the beauty of the bones. You can see small images of these large paintings and find out more about Joanne at www.joannethomson.com.

Frank Hadfield, skull reconstruction

Frank is the president of Palcoprep Inc. His work entails everything from fossil preparation to welding and fabrication of armatures for fossil mounts. When work ends, Frank enjoys time with his family, playing tennis and hockey. A frustrated drummer, he dreams of one day hitting the stage with his band.

Gilles Danis, BA, skull reconstruction

Self-described as an “accidental” paleontologist, Gilles has had an impressive career working as a technician for the Canadian Museum of Nature, senior technician for the Royal Alberta Museum and was among the founding staff at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller. Gilles has been working privately since 1989 specializing in the preparation, melding, casting and mounting of skeletons. Over the years, Mr. Danis has collected 56 dinosaur skeletons ranging from Dromaeosaurs to sauropods, and has mounted 347 skeletons, cast reproductions and originals.

Miya deRoos, bone inspection

Miya was kind of born into the business, having experienced her first dead whale in utero during the PEI recovery dig. Between naps, Miya can sometimes be seen down at the workshop checking out the bones and keeping the crew on their toes.

PEI December 2007
Sandra Keough, Conservation Officer, Tignish, PEI
Kendal Gallant, Northern Enterprises, excavator operator
University of Prince Edward Island Veterinary College:
    Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, Fiep de Bie, Darlene Jones, Dr. Scott McBurney, Soraya Sayi

The December 2007 team takes a minute to survey the giant whale vertebrae they have uncovered, while Kevin Mills films some documentary footage of Mike deRoos. From left to right: Soraya Sayi, Sandra Keough, Fiep de Bie, Kevin Mills (camera man), Mike deRoos (in pit with back to us), Darlene Jones (in blue), Scott McBurney, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Bob deRoos.

Discovery Channel
Mark Miller
Kevin Mills