Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols spent his youth exploring oceans and forests, resulting in a fascination for genetics, animal migration, human culture and conservation.  These are the areas he studied during his undergraduate years at DePauw University, graduate studies at Duke University and University of Arizona, academic research as a Fulbright Fellow, and as a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences.  
In 1998 he founded Grupo Tortuguero, an international grassroots movement dedicated to restoring Pacific sea turtles and to sustainable management of ocean fisheries.  In 1999 he co-founded and for five years directed WiLDCOAST, an international conservation team dedicated to the protection of coastal wilderness.  Currently, J. works with several universities and organizations to advance ocean protection, and is also spearheading the Ocean Revolution, a program that inspires, involves and mentors the next generation of ocean conservation leaders.