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Heather Tausig is the Director of Conservation for the New England Aquarium. In this role she oversees all programs and staff within the department, coordinates conservation messages in Aquarium exhibits, and serves as a liaison with federal, state, and local governmental and non-governmental agencies concerning ocean conservation issues. The primary program areas she oversees include the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative, World of Water Films, and Marine Conservation Action Fund. Heather is a principal investigator and senior manager of the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative�s cornerstone program ChoiceCatchTM an innovative market-based program that takes an innovative market-based approach to promoting sustainable fisheries by working directly with major seafood buyers. These large-volume buyers can influence the long-term sustainability of marine resources through their significant purchasing power. Over the past 10 years, she has also co-organized 8 large-scale and numerous small-scale fisheries forums and workshops. Heather is also a senior producer of the Aquarium�s World of Water (WOW) films, which provide viewers with both an educational and inspirational experience as they learn about aquatic conservation issues. WOW films are distributed to more than 400 aquariums, zoos and science centers in the United States and abroad, with an audience of approximately 15 million people annually. In 2003, the seventh award-winning film was released; In Hot Water is a film about global climate change and the oceans. In addition, Heather oversees the coordination of grant requests and serves on the board for the Marine Conservation Action Fund a unique re-granting program that aims to protect and promote ocean biodiversity by supporting small-scale, time-sensitive, community-based projects around the world. She is also the Aquarium�s representative to the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions (CERC), a diverse, nonpartisan coalition of environmental, health, and community groups and businesses which worked to minimize the local and global environmental footprint of the major 2004 national political conventions and now works to advance environmental best practices for Boston's tourism and convention industry. Heather serves on the Advisory Board of University of New Hampshire�s Large Pelagics Research Center, the Board of Directors for the Women�s Fisheries Network, New England Chapter and the Board of Managers of the Maria Mitchell Association, a science and history-based education, conservation, astronomy and natural science research institution. Heather received her master�s degree in International Relations and Energy and Environmental Studies from Boston University. | 