Josh Stewart

Associate Director at Manta Trust

As a marine biologist and an underwater videographer, Josh has studied and filmed mantas around the world. For his degree in marine biology, Josh spent several years studying coral recruitment on historic shipwrecks in the Dominican Republic. It was during one of these projects that he saw his first manta ray, and was instantly taken by the beauty and grace of these amazing animals. As a Rolex Scholar, Josh spent a year travelling the world, working with leading filmmakers, biologists and conservationists to gain a current, real-world perspective on the most pressing marine conservation issues of our day. Despite working with other charismatic megafauna such as great white sharks, Josh was drawn to mantas once again after his time in the Maldives, and is now dedicated to understanding and protecting these amazing creatures. Josh has filmed for National Geographic and Animal Planet, as well as producing a number of independent documentaries and video shorts, one of which earned him the Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award in 2010. He is currently a PhD student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is being supported by a National Science Foundation Fellowship for his research on manta rays. (Photo: [Manta Trust](http://www.mantatrust.org/about-us/the-manta-team/#Josh\_Stewart "Photo"))