Fabien Cousteau spoke to the Museum of Science President Tim Ritchie and Director of the Center for the Environment David Sittenfeld about what drives Cousteau's work, the museum's role on bringing people together to focus on solutions about a global and polarizing topic like climate change and the future of climate science.

Fabien Cousteau is an Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer, Environmental Advocate and Founder of Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center & Proteus Ocean Group. The first grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Fabien spent his early years aboard his famous grandfather’s ships, Calypso and Alcyone; and learning how to scuba dive on his fourth birthday. He is well known for his study of sharks and from 2000-2002, Fabien was an Explorer-at-Large for National Geographic and collaborated on a TV special aimed at changing public conceptions about sharks called, “Attack of the Mystery Shark,”. Then in 2003-2006, he produced the documentary, “Mind of a Demon,” that aired on CBS. With the help of a large crew, Fabien created a 14-foot, 1,200-pound, lifelike shark submarine called “Troy” that enabled him to immerse himself inside the shark world, providing viewers with a rare view of the mysterious and often misunderstood creatures. For the next four years (2006-2010), Fabien was part of a multi-hour series for PBS called, “Ocean Adventures” with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and sister, Céline. Inspired by his grandfather’s famous 1978 PBS series, “The Cousteau Odyssey”. In the following years, and as a member of multiple cause-driven and charitable boards Fabien has been working with local communities and children worldwide to help restore local water ecosystems. In June 2014, Fabien and his team of aquanauts embarked on Mission 31, the longest science expedition to take place at Aquarius, the world’s only underwater marine laboratory located in Florida. Fabien’s Mission 31 broke new ground in ocean exploration and honored the 50th anniversary of his grandfather’s original underwater living experiment (Conshelf Two) by going deeper, longer and further, while broadcasting each moment live on multiple channels exposing the world to the adventure, drama and mystique of what lies beneath. Early in 2016 he founded the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center (“OLC”) to fulfill his dream of creating a vehicle to make a positive change in the world. Currently he is working on multiple projects and dedicates much of his time to the exciting programs and initiatives of the OLC. He is routinely seen on network television, such as the Oprah Winfrey Show, Gayle King, and NBC’s Today Show as well as appearing on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, France 2, NPR, MSNBC and many more.

Tim Ritchie is the President of the Museum of Science. As the president of the Museum of Science, Tim Ritchie’s goal is to inspire and enable people to succeed in a world driven by science and technology. Since 2004, Ritchie has served as the president of science centers across the country including, McWane Science Center and the Tech Interactive, where he has followed his passion to serve his community with a vision to galvanize the public’s appreciation of the role science plays in our daily lives, and the opportunities it can create for us all. A lawyer by training, Ritchie has spent his career creating opportunities for people to maximize their potential through learning.

David Sittenfeld is the Director of the Center for the Environment. Dr. Sittenfeld has led a diverse portfolio of large-scale Museum initiatives addressing a range of socio-scientific topics, including water and energy policy, nuclear waste siting, climate adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, solar radiation management, synthetic biology, and planetary defense. He served as principal investigator for the NOAA-funded Citizen Science, Civics and Resilient Communities project and co-PI for the Science Center Public Forums project, which implemented community-based science-to-civics activities at 30 US science centers on extreme heat, drought, extreme precipitation, and sea level rise. He also led the Wicked Hot Boston and Wicked Hot Mystic projects, which identified heat- and air quality-related vulnerabilities in over 20 communities in and around Boston through community-engaged participatory science.

Among the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages millions of people each year to the wonders of science and technology through interactive exhibitions, digital programs, giant screen productions, and preK – 12 EiE® STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic experiences as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. Around the world, the Museum is known for digital experiences such as Mission: Mars on Roblox, and traveling exhibitions such as the Science Behind Pixar. Learn more at https://www.mos.org/