States Visited
Number of Commonwealths, U.S. Territories (including District of Columbia) Visited
Miles Traveled
Speeches Given
Students Reached in Person
I need a ride to Idaho. I also need a ride to Wyoming, Texas, Illinois and many other states. Ocean Doctor’s 50-States Expedition is a journey of outreach, education, and discovery I began on my 50th birthday to bring at no charge speeches and multimedia education programs about the oceans to schools in all 50 U.S. states and 5 inhabited U.S. territories.
The expedition has reached nearly 22,000 students across nearly half the nation. In my work with the students I visit, I am sharing firsthand accounts and important lessons about the oceans and their conservation while also promoting renewed interest in science and science careers among the students visited. Finally, the expedition is collecting thousands of messages from the students to be delivered to leaders in Washington, DC at the conclusion of the journey.
There are so many more students that I still need to reach across the country. For this year’s World Oceans Day, please consider adopting a state and helping me reach the schools in the states I haven’t yet reached. Many of the students I visit have never even seen the ocean!
There are many levels of sponsorship, up to a VIP Full State Adopter where you can fully sponsor our activities in a state, select the school(s) at which I will speak, join me on stage and participate in private events with students and teachers. Thank you for your consideration of supporting this important Ocean Doctor project.
David E. Guggenheim, Ph.D. – President, Ocean Doctor
States highlighted in green have been visited; hover your cursor over a state on the map above to see the schools visited.
Adopt a State!
Help us finish this important journey. We’ve reached more than 21,000 students and nearly half of the U.S. states. Thousands more students need to hear about the oceans, their wonders and the perils they face. They also need inspiration to pursue careers in science. Please consider adopting a state for an Ocean Doctor visit.

Sponsorship Levels & Benefits
- A personal thank you from Ocean Doctor president, Dr. David E. Guggenheim
All prior benefits PLUS:
- Your name to appear on our web site (optional)
All prior benefits PLUS:
- Personal emails and snapshots from David during his journey to your sponsored state(s)
All prior benefits PLUS:
- Personalized notes from visited students from your sponsored state(s)
- A shout-out on personal media (optional)
All prior benefits PLUS:
- A Super-Snazzy Ocean Doctor 50 States Expedition T-Shirt
- An opportunity for David to deliver a personal message from you to the students (written, video, audio)
All prior benefits PLUS:
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The opportunity to choose the school(s) to be visited in the state(s) you sponsor
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An opportunity to join David on stage at his presentation in the state(s) you sponsor to help deliver an important message about the oceans
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An opportunity to join David, teachers and students at a private luncheon or dinner
- Your photo, bio and recognition as a State VIP State Full Adopter on our web site and social media (optional)
Testimonials
Our students thoroughly engaged with Dr. David Guggenheim. His presentation was captivating and his message of greatest importance. He brought science to the top of many student’s lists of what they would like to do in their future work. Our students from 1st -12th grades were truly touched and positively impressed with the importance of our oceans and we all learned a great deal more about this huge part of our world and what is happening in them. I highly recommend support of David’s program.

We’ve just completed an amazing two-day visit by Dr. Guggenheim! He spoke to elementary students; college students and faculty; and a large general audience (where he received a standing ovation). Our varied audiences totaled into the several hundreds.We were particularly taken with how well he relates to young people. We gathered a group of 150 6th-graders from our public school system for his presentation. He gave them an exciting program, finishing by teaching them how to “drive” his min-sub — brilliant!) — they all raised their hands when Dr. G asked if they wanted to become scientists! Every school district in the United States needs Dr. G to come speak and motivate their students to go into the hard sciences. Our Council and community members think that he was one of the best speakers they’ve heard, and they are quite particular, as we bring in national experts throughout the year — we have a very active speakers program.Dr. Guggenheim is extremely gracious and generous with his time. We truly enjoyed his short visit with us and can’t wait to bring him back! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like any more testimonial. I’ve been bringing in speakers for over 15 years and he is one of the best!
David engaged children – and adults – of all ages, communicating a message of passionate concern and involvement with the future of the oceans and the life it sustains. His visual presentation was witty, energetic, personal and instructive, all at the same time; and he introduced his audiences to new and real ways of looking at their own role(s) in marine preservation. His classroom presentations were relevant, focused and interactive. In all, David has made life-long friends at Friends Select School!
Dr. Guggenheim gave a wonderful PowerPoint presentation with very vivid pictures. Our boys and girls were very interested in all he had to teach them about the ocean, coral and sea animals.



