My name is Patrick Rice (pictured with a howler monkey) and I'm a marine biologist specializing in fisheries and aquaculture research. I started studying magnetoreception in pelagic animals (tuna, turtles, billfish and sharks) about 15 years ago. I have conducted research on yellowfin tuna in Panama since 2003 using earth strength magnetic fields as well as very strong permanent magnets. I began consulting for SharkDefense in February 2005 and have helped conduct magnetoreception research with several species of sharks in the Bahamas.

My name is Craig O'Connell (pictured with a lemon shark) and ever since I was a little kid, I have dreamed about working with sharks.  Prior to coming to SharkDefense, I attended Boston University, where I spent a semester abroad conducting studies at the Galapagos Islands that focused on the devastating effects of illegal shark harvest.  Following that project, I spent ten days at an Ecuadorian fish market and once again spent time analyzing illegal shark harvest.  My studies indicated that approximately 600,000 – 800,000 sharks per year are being illegally harvested from Ecuador alone. Shortly after Ecuador, I participated as a volunteer at the Bimini Biological Field Station.   

My name is Michael Herrmann (pictured with a tiger shark) and I have been researching the effects of permanent magnets on sharks since February 2005. I represented SharkDefense when it was awarded first place in the WWF Smartgear 2006 competition for my proposal to use these powerful magnets as shark repellents. I am an electrical engineer and have been a partner with SharkDefense since 2002.

My name is Eric Stroud and I'm a chemist studying chemical signals. I became interested in magnetoreception in sharks after talking to Patrick Rice on the phone in November 2004. I'm very interested in understanding how the chemical properties of our electropositive metals can be used to selectively repel sharks.

My name is George Mizzell and I own Engineered Concepts in Birmingham, Alabama. I am an electrical engineer and have always had a love for all kinds of magnets and the cool things they can do. I started doing some hands-on science classes as a volunteer at our local elementary schools. The magnets class was always the favorite. Over time, I grew this "hobby" into a full-time business. I have enjoyed meeting people all over the world and working with businesses in many fields to help develop various products. It has been great to work with many inventors and helping them to obtain exactly the right magnets so they can test their ideas and inventions.

SharkDefense extends its sincere thanks to George for supplying us with all of our magnets and helping us with our designs!!