Calambokidis likes looking for answers

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, March 26, 2002

The journey that brought John Calambokidis to Olympia was perhaps as long and arduous as the migration of the gray whales he now studies.

Born in 1954 in Egypt to an American mother and Greek father, Calambokidis spent his early youth in Italy. His father died when he was about 7, and he moved with his mother to the United States when he was 10.

After graduating from high school, Calambokidis traveled by bicycle through Europe and Africa. While camped on a Greek island, he heard about The Evergreen State College from a traveler. The description captured his imagination.

When he returned to the States, he hitchhiked across the country to check out the college. He knew it was the right place for him. He was attracted by the interdisciplinary approach and the opportunity for independent study. In his second year, he launched into research.

He never looked back.

His research -- both individual and group projects -- included one of the earliest studies of the distribution of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls -- PCBs -- in Puget Sound. He still likes "looking for answers to questions that no one knows the answers to," he said.

Research on the effects of humans on marine mammals led Calambokidis and nine fellow Evergreen students to form Cascadia Research in 1979. The staff of 10 still includes most of the original members.

The nonprofit company conducts scientific research with an environmental perspective for government agencies and other nonprofit organizations. The researchers pick projects that provide needed information to conserve or protect, often involving endangered species.

But they are scientists first, he noted.

"We probably push the envelope," Calambokidis said. He often takes the small boats 50 to 60 miles off shore in the open ocean, and he may spend 14 to 16 hours on the water.

"If the weather is nice, you really want to take advantage of it," he said.

When swells reach eight feet or the wind is strong enough to raise whitecaps, it becomes hard to observe whales. But the small boats are maneuverable, cheap to operate and easy to haul on a trailer.

And after the field research is done, he analyzes data, writes reports and looks after the chores of operating a small business. Together the group publishes its research in books, papers and articles in scientific journals, Calambokidis said.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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