Photo above: Greg Marshall with his son and SoMAS Faculty and Staff in 2017.
From “Stony Brook to Award Honorary Degrees to Diverse Trio of Trailblazers” on Stony Brook News, April 29, 2019.
STONY BROOK, New York–April 29, 2019–-Stony Brook University will award an honorary degree to three trailblazers at its 2019 commencement ceremony: actor and polymath, Alan Alda; Me Too Movement founder Tarana Burke, and Crittercam inventor Greg Marshall (SBU ‘88 MS Marine Science), announced President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. The degrees will be conferred on Friday, May 24 at 11am at Stony Brook University’s 59th commencement ceremony at the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.
Greg Marshall is known all over the world as a leading animal conservationist, serving as a National Geographic Research Associate. Marshall earned his master’s degree in Marine Science from Stony Brook University in 1988. During the course of his career, Marshall inspired millions of people worldwide through his 1986 invention of the Crittercam. The Crittercam is a small, lightweight camera that is mounted directly on an animal in the wild. This non-invasive camera allows for humans to experience the world through the animal’s’ perspective. It provides access to the animal’s surrounding environment, such as temperature, light level, depth of the ocean, and direction in which the animal is heading. The Crittercam offers an exhilarating method of presenting nature, especially because it allows the viewers to walk alongside the animals. Most National Geographic television specials that feature a look through the inhabitants eyes use Marshall’s Crittercam invention. Marshall is a two time Emmy Award winner. He has developed, produced, or otherwise been closely involved in more than 70 National Geographic documentaries that include the observation of sea lions, sharks, bears, penguins, turtles, lions, monkeys, and more. Additional contributions include more than 60 short films airing on PBS. Marshall’s films are known to be visually engaging while communicating fundamental principles of biology and a strong conservation message.
“Greg Marshall literally changed the world with his Crittercam invention,” said President Stanley. “As a result, we have a much clearer understanding of our planet and the species we share it with, so we are incredibly proud to confer upon him a Doctor of Science. Greg is living proof of how a Stony Brook experience makes a real difference and that we should follow our dreams because no idea is too big or too small when it comes to entrepreneurial spirit.”
About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, is going beyond the expectations of what today’s public universities can accomplish. Since its founding in 1957, this young university has grown to become one of only four University Center campuses in the State University of New York (SUNY) system with over 26,000 students, more than 2,700 faculty members and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Our faculty have earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. The University offers students an elite education with an outstanding return on investment: U.S.News & World Report ranks Stony Brook among the top 40 public universities in the nation. Its membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places Stony Brook among the top 62 research institutions in North America. As part of the management team of Brookhaven National Laboratory, the University joins a prestigious group of universities that have a role in running federal R&D labs. Stony Brook University fuels Long island’s economic growth. Its impact on the Long island economy amounts to $7.38 billion in increased output. Our state, country and world demand ambitious ideas, imaginative solutions and exceptional leadership to forge a better future for all. The students, alumni, researchers and faculty of Stony Brook University are prepared to meet this challenge.
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