On five separate dates the 84 foot sailing schooner, Dariabar (a recently constructed state of the art vessel), will leave Santa Barbara for 8 days of scientific studies, seminars and on-board lectures. On each occasion there are six berths available for anyone interested in being actively involved in cutting edge research and discussion concerning these animals.
Sophisticated real-time acoustic monitoring equipment on board will allow the tracking of the blue whales in a manner beyond previous capabilities.
Along with our resident scientists will be two guest staff who will offer a series of seminars addressing the philosophical and spiritual relevance of these animals to our scientific understanding.
Elisabet Sahtouris, Ph.D., is a geobiologist, author, futurist and international lecturer who did her post-doctoral work at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. She also taught at MIT and the University of Massachusetts. Elisabet lived in Greece for thirteen years while researching material for her book GAIA: the Human Journey from Chaos to Cosmos. In her book she traces Earth's evolution as a self-creating living entity, drawing parallels between human socio-economic history and the evolution of cells and multicellular organisms. She is a founding member of the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network, working with indigenous scientists and active in promoting the integration of indigenous and Western sciences in solving our ecological, social and spiritual crisis.
Dr. Sahtouris will be offering her insights during expeditions from July 8 - 15, July 22 - 29, August 19 - 26 and Sept. 2 - 9.
Thomas Pinkson, Ph.D., is a transpersonal psychologist in Mill Valley, California. He is a consultant with the Center for Attitudinal Healing as well as a consultant for executives seeking Full Circle High Performance. He has been leading Wilderness Quests for Vision, retreats, and pilgrimages to places of power around the world for two decades. He also completed an eleven year apprenticeship with Huichol shamans in Mexico, and is now considered a "Mara 'akame" - a shaman. Tom has worked with shamans in the Peruvian Amazon and the Andes Mountains, in Bali and with Native American Elders throughout the United States. He is founder of Wakan, Inc., a community based on shamanistic practices and has authored three books: A Quest for Vision, Do They Celebrate Christmas in Heaven?, and Flowers of Wiricuta. Tom's integration of shamanic ways and attitudinal healing enable people to find their heart path and the power to walk it to completion through the acts of their daily lives.
Dr. Pinkson will be offering a unique experience for those who are interested in examining the relationship between our species and the great whales. Dr. Pinkson brings a special combination of scientific and esoteric work to his presentation. A significant amount of time during this excursion will take place on one of the beautiful islands in this area.
Dr. Pinkson's seminars will take place from Aug. 6th through the 13th.
While these seminars take place there will be active engagement in the research activities on board, island investigations (archaeological and anthropological), scuba diving and interesting dialogues. Quarters are small but clean, the food gourmet, the company stimulating and the experience extraordinary. Participants' contribution to the scientific work will be $2500 per person. This includes all expenses for 7 nights and 8 days, excluding non-sea travel to and from Santa Barbara Harbor.
To reserve your berth for this once in a lifetime experience, call Urmas Kaldveer at (707) 462-5671 or Glen Bowden at (510) 836-4806.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1995