David Gruber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Gruber
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| Born |
Paterson, New Jersey, US
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University (PhD) Columbia University (MS) Duke University (MEM) University of Rhode Island (BS) |
| Awards | Lagrange Prize |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine Biology |
| Institutions | Baruch College Harvard University American Museum of Natural History |
David Gruber is an American marine biologist. He teaches Biology and Environmental Sciences at Baruch College in New York City. He is also a National Geographic Explorer, which means he explores and studies the world for National Geographic.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Gruber was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He studied at several universities, earning different degrees. He got his first degree from the University of Rhode Island. Later, he earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. He also got a master's degree in environmental management from Duke University.
He completed his PhD in Biological Oceanography at Rutgers University. This means he studied the ocean and the living things in it. David Gruber has also been a special researcher at places like Harvard University.
Amazing Discoveries in the Ocean
David Gruber is famous for finding many new things in the ocean. In 2014, he and his team found over 180 new types of fluorescent fish. These fish glow in different colors! This discovery was even written about in The New York Times.
In 2015, he made another exciting discovery. He saw a Hawksbill sea turtle that was glowing in the Solomon Islands. This was the first time scientists had ever seen a marine reptile that could glow. National Geographic showed videos of this amazing find.
That same year, David Gruber gave a TED Talk about glowing sea creatures. Millions of people have watched his talk. In 2020, National Geographic called this discovery one of the "top 20 scientific discoveries of the decade."
Exploring with Special Cameras
In 2016, David Gruber and his team created a special "shark-eye" camera. This camera lets scientists see the ocean the way sharks do. This was also shown on the National Geographic website.
From 2017 to 2018, he spent time studying jellyfish at Harvard University. He looked at how they glow and how they are affected by climate change. He even helped create a TED-ed animation to teach others about jellyfish. In 2018, he talked about marine biology for National Geographic Kids' show "Best Job Ever."
In 2019, David Gruber's team found out why some sharks glow. They discovered special chemicals that make sharks fluorescent. This discovery was featured in many big publications like The New York Times and Science Magazine.
That same year, his team also found that flashlight fish swim together in groups at night. They use their bioluminescent organs to glow and see each other. This discovery suggests that even deep-sea fish might swim in schools.
Talking to Whales
David Gruber also leads a project called Project CETI. This project uses advanced machine learning to understand how Sperm Whales communicate. They are trying to learn the language of these giant whales!
Gentle Robots for Sea Creatures
Since 2015, David Gruber has worked with scientists at Harvard University to build special robots. These robots are very gentle. They help marine researchers study delicate sea creatures like jellyfish without hurting them.
They have created "Squishy Robot Fingers" and an "Origami Robot." These soft robots can carefully pick up and analyze sea animals. Their work was even shown in an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.
Awards and Honors
David Gruber has received several awards for his important work:
- In 2019, he won the Lagrange Prize from Italy.
- In 2014, he became an "Emerging Explorer" for the National Geographic Society.
- He is also a Fellow of the Explorers Club.
Art Collaborations
David Gruber has also worked with artists to share the beauty of the ocean.
- He collaborated with Joan Jonas on an art project called "Moving off the Land II."
- He also worked with Janaina Tschäpe on "Fictionary of Corals and Jellies."
Images for kids
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David Gruber, a marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer.
