about us:
Dr. Rubin is the founder and director of the Pacific Manta Research Group, which conducts
field research in the Subtropical Pacific. Our efforts are dedicated to the assessment and the conservation of oceanic manta rays and other marine animals and their critical habitats. The
efforts also include establishment of educational programs about protection and conservation
of marine organisms aboard ships and in colleges and universities in México and the USA. Our recent work hss significantly contributed to The UNESCO
establishment of the Archipélago de Revillagigedo of México as a World Heritage Site.
He has been selected by the State of California, the United States Senate and Congress to
receive their awards for outstanding contributions to college and university teaching. He is the
recipient of the NISOD award for outstanding contributions to higher education and has been
honored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as “The California
College and University Professor of the Year”. He has worked as a project reviewer and
program developer for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and for the US Department of
Energy (DOE). He presently serves on the foundation boards and as a scientific advisor of
the Save Our Seas, Sea Watch, NOAA Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary Foundations, and
The international Manta Trust.
WHO WE ARE:
We have conducted field research on the Oceanic Manta Ray for over three decades in the Golfo de California, the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, and Bahía de Banderas in the subtropical Pacific of México. Our findings have been chronicled in several educational documentaries and viewed widely by international audiences. In addition, the results of our work have been presented to the broad scientific community and to the Government of México. These studies have contributed to efforts to expand and establish habitat and species protection for manta rays and other members of the larger pelagic community of marine animals, including sharks and whales. The outcomes were important in the decision by UNESCO to designate the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo as World Heritage Site in June 2016
We understand far less about the nature of marine habitats than about those on land.
We understand infinitely less about the world's oceans than we do about stellar space.
We understand that in the sea we learn the language of another world. One that may allow us to survive in this one.
- Dr. Robert Rubin