Captain Charles Moore

In 1994 Captain Moore founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation. In 1995 he launched his aluminum hulled research vessel, Alguita, in Hobart, Tasmania. Since then he has logged over 75,000 miles of research voyages aboard. He helped develop chemical and bacterial monitoring methods for Surfrider Foundation's "Blue Water Task Force," and developed protocols with Southern California Coastal Water Research Project for monitoring marine and beach micro-plastics. He is the lead author of two scientific papers on plastic particulate pollution published in Marine Pollution Bulletin and is a world-renowned investigator in this field. His voyages to the Eastern Garbage Patch of the North Pacific Gyre have been featured in US News & World Report, Natural History, the CBS evening news with Dan Rather, The Osgood File, and on the July 13, 2003 edition of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

Dr. Lorena Rios

Dr. Lorena Rios, a visiting researcher at the University of the Pacific, is currently conducting research for the Algalita Marine Research Foundation on the types of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that are absorbed into and adsorbed onto plastic debris accumulating in our oceans. She wants to be able to identify several POPs in the plastics such as PBBs, Nonylphenols, Phthalates and PBDEs.These chemicals may have an affect on the hormones of the animals that are ingesting them. To understand these effects, Dr. Rios is studying estrogen receptors using computer models. Using the computer model and Quantum Chemical Theory will help her calculate the interaction between POPs and the make-up of the plastic. Figuring out these calculations will help explain the problem of pollutants in the plastic debris in our oceans, as it will determine if the pollut­ants are the problem or if plastic alone is causing the same effect.


      Dr. Joseph Pendleton Goodman

      Dr Goodman was born in Los Angeles, California. As a very experienced sailor, and ship's doctor he has an important job keeping both the crew and the boat safe during the voyage!

      The Documentary Film Crew

      Three members of the ship's research team are working on a documentary film project about the "Eastern Garbage Patch" for VBS TV.
      Meredith Danluck


      Meredith is directing and producing a documentary film about the Eastern Garbage Patch for VBS TV. She has recently worked on a documentary series about environmental contamination in different parts of North America called "Toxic" which is aired on VBS TV.

      Jake Burghardt

      Also a member of the VBS TV film crew, Jake is a videographer and editor. Of course, he will also be working as a deckhand and valuable member of the research team. His underwater videography will add a fascinating perspective on plastics in the open ocean.

      Thomas Morton


      Thomas, a magazine editor and on TV personality is the third member of the VBS TV crew. He is learning the ropes for his first open ocean voyage!

      New Crew Learn the Ropes During the Training Voyage