ML Parker Media

01/30/2020

Loved watching this amazing TED talk by Hawaii oceanographer Angelicque White (which includes some cool footage I shot aboard the R/V Kilo Moana last summer!) Here's to producing excellent !

When the ocean changes, the planet changes -- and it all starts with microbes, says biological oceanographer Angelicque White. Backed by decades of data, White shares how scientists use these ancient microorganisms as a crucial barometer of ocean health -- and how we might rejuvenate them as marine....

01/20/2020

On my most recent trip to Southern California, I had the opportunity to visit NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (and see the Mars 2020 rover up close!) Needless to say, It. Was. Awesome.
To read more about this amazing facility, and the incredible humans who invest their brilliance into building robotics fit for outer space, check out my latest blog post:

They begin life as notions, as questions or hypotheses. In time they turn into elaborate sculptures of metal, epoxy and silicon. In sudden eruptions of fire and billowing smoke they are tossed up and out of the atmosphere, out into the cold void between worlds. Streaking like bullets across the imme

12/27/2019

Happy y'all! If you're curious about what goes into making science happen underwater, check out my latest blog post.
In it, I interview Chief Scientist Kate Gould about how her year of underwater field work in the Florida Keys is going (so far!) Kate discusses everything from teamwork and leadership to weather, checklists, and the joy that comes with packing up the car.

In February of 2019, Kate Gould traveled to the Florida Keys to construct underwater tables at four different offshore locations. Through a collaboration with the Coral Restoration Foundation , she obtained 64 fragments of Orbicella franksi (boulder star coral) and transplanted them to her tables.

12/10/2019

If you're looking for some feel-good vibes this morning, my latest newsletter is basically a quick highlights reel of all the happy things that happened this year 🌅 ☀️ 😎

Want to get on my email list? Shoot me a message (and don't worry - I only send these things out a few times a year)

“Now,” he grinned, starting the engine, “we are ready for the life again! We are the lucky fellows, isn’t it?” 

10/22/2019

One of the biggest lessons I've learned from expedition work is this: always be ready for the unexpected. This can take the form of simple actions, like packing extra supplies, or patiently waiting for the weather to improve. But sometimes the situation deteriorates so rapidly that you have to switch into survival mode.
The latter is what Jon and I experienced during our recent travels in Ecuador. Read the full story here:

“If we were up there right now, we’d be drinking tea in the refugio,” I say, staring at the bright, glaciated summit surrounded by stars. “And we’d start climbing in three hours.” It is a perfectly clear night. From our vantage point at The Secret Garden hostel , we can see the entirety ...

09/13/2019

😊😊😊

"Being an expedition photographer/videographer requires much more than knowing how to use a camera. You need to be able to say yes to some pretty crazy requests and be comfortable working in less-than-ideal circumstances...Grab your gear and hang tough - it's a wild (but very rewarding) ride." Marley Parker is currently sailing aboard Nautilus as a Video Engineer as we explore the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
Marley is a freelance photographer, videographer, and science writer, specializing in helping scientists and research institutions tell stories about their efforts to explore and conserve the wonders of our natural world. Earning a B.A. in Journalism from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marley is also a scuba diver, licensed drone pilot, and wilderness first responder, all skills that support her work in some of the most remote, bizarre, and beautiful places on the planet.
Check out Marley's path to Nautilus and her advice for entering the field in her profile: https://nautiluslive.org/people/marley-parker

09/02/2019

So honored to be featured by Women in Maritime today! Their mission to empower women working in male-dominated industries is very near and dear to my heart. Check it out 😁

08/26/2019

Greetings from the South Pacific! For the next three weeks, I'll be working on board the E/V Nautilus as a Video Engineer. As we sail to Howland and Baker Islands, and the Johnston Atoll, our talented team will be exploring seamounts, collecting high-resolution bathymetry (mapping the ocean floor) and filming all sorts of deep sea creatures. Follow Nautilus Live for regular updates!

📢 2019 Nautilus Expedition Launching May 10! 📢

From documenting deep sea coral reefs and hydrothermal vents, to searching for maritime history sites, this expedition will take E/V Nautilus across the Pacific Ocean. Join us LIVE for this 6-month expedition exploring the U.S. West Coast and, for the first time, west to the Central Pacific including American Samoa and U.S. Territorial Islands.

Major expedition sponsors for our 2019 Nautilus Expedition include NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Office of Naval Research, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Air Sea Heritage Foundation.

Stay tuned for more updates here and on NautilusLive.org!

07/22/2019

For the past few years, whenever someone has asked, "where is one place you haven't been that you want to go?" my response has consistently been "ALASKA!"
Even doing this short trip and seeing only a tiny fraction of the state, my suspicions were confirmed: love at first sight. I cannot wait to go back :)

07/21/2019

Since 1988, researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa have been collecting data from a time-series station in the northeast Pacific Ocean (33'N, 139'W). The Hawaii Ocean Time-Series program has facilitated thousands of hours of critical oceanographic research over the past three decades. This short video highlights just a few of the processes included in one of the most recent cruises.

Learn more at http://hahana.soest.hawaii.edu/hot/intro.html

06/02/2019

Just returned from another awesome week of field work in the Florida Keys! The coral tables we built back in February are looking pretty good for the most part, and we're excited to continue monitoring their progress over the next nine months.
It's incredibly fun and fulfilling to be a part of a research team like this one. Super grateful to our rad Chief Scientist for bringing me along to document everything :)