About

Mandy's passion for seaweeds began in 1990 when she started conducting research in Alaska and becoming a long-time resident of Juneau. Her research with the University of Alaska and NOAA over the years included studies on seaweeds, invertebrates, forage fish, contaminants in the nearshore, and coastal habitat mapping. Decades of research has taken her throughout much of Alaska's vast shoreline allowing her to develop a diverse knowledge of Alaskan seaweeds. A highlight of her career was discovering a new kelp in the Aleutian Islands, the Golden V kelp, Aureophycus aleuticus. Along the way she developed a joy for photography, so many of the images on this site are from her.

Sandra was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, and has studied seaweeds in Alaska for over 50 years. She has a MSc in marine biology and a PhD in botany from the University of British Columbia. She has authored or coauthored more than 80 scientific papers and half a dozen books on seaweeds and has described 28 previously unrecognized species of seaweeds, most of which are found only or primarily in Alaska. She has taught courses in the biology of seaweeds in Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington State and is an active member of regional, national, and international phycological societies.