Earthwatch: Volunteering For Science

Tom Davis, Retired Founder/Principal Scientist at Silicon Graphics Earthwatch expeditions ( www.earthwatch.org ) provide a way for interested individuals to have an exciting vacation and at the same time help a scientist with his or her research in areas such as biology, sociology, geology, anthropology and archaeology. The expeditions are typically two weeks long and take place all over the world, including in the United States. No formal background in the project's scientific field is required, although volunteers with expertise can get more deeply involved in the projects. Accommodations vary from staying in a condominium in Hawaii to camping in the rain and mud in Ecuador. Tom Davis has participated in nine Earthwatch programs in Central and South America, all on projects related to biology. He will discuss some of the projects in which he has participated and the Earthwatch organization in general. He has no formal training in biology. Tom Davis is retired. He was a founder of and at retirement was a principal scientist at Silicon Graphics. He received his BS degree in mathematics from Caltech and a PhD in the same field from Stanford. He spent two years as a post-doc in the Stanford Electrical Engineering Department before joining Silicon Graphics. He now divides his time among various projects such as coaching bright middle and high school students in mathematics, doing photography, racing in triathlons, and attempting to stave off senility by learning foreign languages.