John Hunt has been a research toxicologist at the University of California (Santa Cruz and Davis) since 1987, and for over 20 years he co-directed the Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory at Granite Canyon on the Big Sur Coast. He has authored or co-authored 60 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and 44 agency reports on water pollution research. His work has focused on the watersheds around Monterey Bay and throughout California. John earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from UCSC with a dissertation on environmental monitoring. He has a master’s degree in marine science from the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and a bachelor's degree in geography from UC Berkeley. Spatial relationships among human activities and natural processes across complex landscapes remain his favorite topic. His most recent work has been in support of wetland restoration and other water resource management projects in the context of climate change.

 

John has been or is currently a member of approximately 30 advisory committees, including chairing the Santa Cruz County Commission on the Environment, the Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission, the Expert Review Panel for the Eastern San Joaquin Surface Water Monitoring Program, and the MBNMS Research Activity Panel.

 

Whenever he gets a chance John is on a river or in Monterey Bay rowing, surfing, paddling, diving, or (gasp) swimming. He’s been happily married to Teresa Clayton since 1985, and has two amazing children and a sparkling granddaughter.