ALICIA AMERSON
Alicia Amerson
Marine Biologist - Project Manager - Podcast Host
Wildlife Conservation Photojournalist
Wildlife Conservation Photojournalist
Podcast Host
From struggle to triumph, the Projects For Wildlife Podcast shares stories from wildlife conservation project leaders. Their stories will inspire you to take action! Listen. Download. Subscribe. Please leave us a review!
Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, Player FM, and iHeart Radio.
Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, Player FM, and iHeart Radio.
ResearchInterested in the connection points between humans and wildlife; and the challenge to preserve species and their habitat along side a growing human population and the exponential loss of habitat that is happening worldwide.
Some of the questions I ponder: Where will animals go when their habitat is no longer available due to climate change? How do we preserve space in areas that wildlife animals desire to live among the growing human population? When will humans decide the value of biodiversity is more important than our expanding population and work to balance the remaining habitat and resources to be available for all? How do we nurture our relationships with urban wildlife and coexist with them and each other? Researching ways to co-create a better world, intertwining kindness and compassion for others into the tapestry of life. |
PhotographyAspiring photographer and journalist.
All over the world, every place humans trek there is a deep rooted history connecting the loss of biodiversity to the presence of human. Through photography you can create images of the world you desire to live in. Lessons from wildlife are abound while taking photos, wildlife demonstrate acceptance of others and us in their space, and sometimes the have little tolerance to any disruption. When we take a moment to snap the shot we are immersed there in a moment with what all that we see. And from that point of view, I ask, is it not the job of the photographer to anthropomorphize what occurred at the scene, if not who else was there to document and share the experience. The job of a wildlife conservation photographer is to document the challenges and intimate moments of animals that are not seen by most and then share the story with the world. |
About Me
Hi, I am Alicia Amerson!
Welcome to my website.
I am a published marine biologist and certified PMP project manager. I earned a Master’s degree in Marine Conservation and Biodiversity from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a B.S. in biology from Eastern New Mexico University. In 2015 I completed an international research project to review whale-watching sustainability along the west coast of North America. I worked on diverse projects over the past 16 years from managing environmental remediation projects at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to launching and producing a wildlife conservation podcast. My professional experience includes developing strategic vision; communicating and leading diverse teams; fundraising and business development; monitoring scope, schedule, and budget; and building effective long-term global partnerships.
My focus is
1. to advance projects that benefit wildlife and their habitat,
2. to cultivate and develop partnerships, and
3. to share stories that advance conservation research and education programs.
Project management is a discipline that continues to help me achieve my research goals. Photography is my creative outlet. The future of wildlife conservation depends on the quality of project execution, stewardship of funds and resources, and the ability to communicate a shared vision. I believe that a successful wildlife conservation project is a shared mission supported by a community and promoted through stories.
Welcome to my website.
I am a published marine biologist and certified PMP project manager. I earned a Master’s degree in Marine Conservation and Biodiversity from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a B.S. in biology from Eastern New Mexico University. In 2015 I completed an international research project to review whale-watching sustainability along the west coast of North America. I worked on diverse projects over the past 16 years from managing environmental remediation projects at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to launching and producing a wildlife conservation podcast. My professional experience includes developing strategic vision; communicating and leading diverse teams; fundraising and business development; monitoring scope, schedule, and budget; and building effective long-term global partnerships.
My focus is
1. to advance projects that benefit wildlife and their habitat,
2. to cultivate and develop partnerships, and
3. to share stories that advance conservation research and education programs.
Project management is a discipline that continues to help me achieve my research goals. Photography is my creative outlet. The future of wildlife conservation depends on the quality of project execution, stewardship of funds and resources, and the ability to communicate a shared vision. I believe that a successful wildlife conservation project is a shared mission supported by a community and promoted through stories.
Please click to download my CV

alicia_amerson_cv.pdf | |
File Size: | 183 kb |
File Type: |
PUBLICATIONS/BOOK/ONLINE COURSES/ARTICLES
PRESENTATIONS/ PODCASTS/ WORKSHOPS
NEWS FEATURES
UAVDigest.com
KEJoyce.com blog
VOLUNTEER
- Is the new wave of drone photography harming wildlife? Travel For Wildlife (2018)
- Six-Word Lessons, 100 Lessons for drone pilots and outdoor enthusiasts to fly safely, ethically, and green around humans and wildlife Pacelli Press (2018)
- Evaluating the sustainability of the gray-whale-watching industry along the pacific coast of North America Journal of Sustainable Tourism (2018)
- Maternal body size and condition determine calf growth rates in southern right whales Marine Ecology Press Series(2018)
- Alimosphere Protecting Ocean Heritage. ENMU Green and Silver Alumni Magazine (2018)
- Accelerating Drone Innovation. American Women in Science. (2018)
- Four Tips for Integrating New Wildlife Protocols into a Successful Drone Project. ARAPS.UK (2018)
- STRIVE Plan. Drone flight planning for pilots and outdoor enthusiasts. Online Course (2018)
- Women Leaders in the Drone Industry: Be Authentic. Women In Technology International (2018)
- San Diego Marine Biologist Awarded for Creating International Drone Operational Protocols to Protect Wildlife. Women and Drones (2018)
- Her Love of the Ocean and Drones. Women and Drones (2018)
- Women and Drones and the Year Ahead. Women and Drones (2018)
- Community Spotlight: Alicia Amerson. DroneDeploy (2018)
- Whale watching in the age of drones, San Diego Union Tribune (2017)
PRESENTATIONS/ PODCASTS/ WORKSHOPS
- OCEANS 2020 - Collaboration for Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Monitoring Guidelines (2020)
- Marine Conservation Happy Hour Podcast Episode 111 and 112 (2019)
- Podcasting a new storytelling agent for wildlife conservation, The Wildlife Society conference, Reno, NV (2019)
- Projects For Wildlife Podcast host (2019)
- Fight for the La Jolla Seals video by Toby Gad (Amerson speaks as an expert in video) (2019)
- Ocean Pollution and San Diego Concerns - Point Loma Democratic Club (2019)
- Wildlife and Drones: Reduce Disturbance While Capturing Images - American Cetacean Society San Francisco Chapter (2019)
- Girls who Click workshop co-host Experience Wildlife (2019)
- Ethics and the Wildlife Photographer workshop co-host Experience Wildlife (2019)
- Selling Books at Events and Workshops. Get Published Podcast. (2018)
- San Diego Biotechnology Network. (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife - Central California Coastal Wildlife Disturbance Conference. Monterey Bay, California (2018) Women in the Drone Industry - Rio Hondo College Women Drone Conference. California (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife - Palomar College Earth Science Week. San Diego, CA (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife - Flight planning to reduce disturbance workshop. Brisbane, Australia (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife Disturbance Reduction Planning. World of Drones Brisbane, Australia (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife Conservation. University of San Diego, WOW STEM Program San Diego, CA (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife Disturbance Reduction Planning. DroneCon Palomar College, San Diego, CA (2018)
- Drones and Wildlife Disturbance. Mongabay Podcast. (2018)
- Drones for Conservation Research - Workshop. Monterey, CA (2018)
- How to build a flight plan to reduce wildlife disturbance, AUVSI XPONENTIAL Conference (2018)
- Sustainable gray whale-watching along the west coast of North America, Malaysia (IMCC 5, 2018)
- Best practices for drones and marine science, Podcast Interview (2017)
- Whales : Drones : Stewardship Seminar. Alimosphere. San Diego, Dana Point, and Monterey California (2017)
- How Scientists Use Drones To Benefit Marine Mammal Research. California Academy of Science (2017)
- Large Whale Entanglement - when a scientific approach joins a policy perspective. Society for Marine Mammalogy. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (2017)
- Drones for science communication. Society for Marine Mammalogy. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (2017)
- Women in Science speaker. Society for Marine Mammalogy. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (2017)
- Drones and Wildlife. Drone Radio Show Podcast (2017)
- Marine Mammal Policy and Science poster at the American Cetacean Society Conference. Monterey Bay, CA (2016) Through Their Eyes – a whale watching study. Presented at the American Cetacean Society San Diego Chapter (2015)
- Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference (2015)
- San Francisco, Moss Landing Marine Lab (2015)
- Loyola University (2015), and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2015)
- Pacific Coast Whale Watching Working Paper. International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee Conference. San Diego, CA (2015)
NEWS FEATURES
UAVDigest.com
KEJoyce.com blog
VOLUNTEER
- Aussie Rescue San Diego (2019 to current)
- Adoption photography, foster dogs, and rescue dogs from shelters
- Respect Wildlife Campaign (2017 to current)
- The Wildlife Society Biodiversity Working Group Board Member At-Large (2019 to current)
- Conference Abstract Reviewer
- Society for Marine Mammalogy: 2019
- Conservation Marketing (ConsMark): 2018
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Graduate Student Mentor 2017-2018
- Graduate Student Mentor 2015-2016
- IUCN - International Marine Mammal Protected Area Communication Intern 2018
- Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit Perth, Western Australia
- Assistant researcher flying drones over humpback whales 2015
- Assistant researcher flying drones over southern right whales 2016
- California Whale Rescue Whale Disentanglement Emergency Responder 2016
- Thank You Ocean Media Volunteer 2016
- NOAA Volunteer
- Necropsy Training 2015
- Marine Mammal Observer on the Collaborative Large Whale Survey 2015