About the host

PETER NEILL is founder and director of the World Ocean Observatory, a web-based place of exchange for information and educational services about the health of the ocean.

In 1972, he founded Leete’s Island Books (leetesislandbooks.com), a small publishing house specializing in literary reprints, the essay, photography, and profiles of indigenous healers and practitioners of complimentary medicine around the world.

Throughout his career, Mr. Neill has dedicated his expertise to organizations devoted to marine affairs, education, and culture. He is a frequent speaker at conferences around the world related to fresh water, ocean issues, fisheries, maritime museums, sustainability, policy, and education. He was President of the South Street Seaport Museum from 1985-2004; he is a past President of the Council of American Maritime Museums and the International Congress of Maritime Museums; he is a co-founder of The Sound School, New Haven, Connecticut and The Harbor School, in New York City, two innovative public high schools that use the marine environment as a context for teaching and learning.

His publications include novels (“3”, 2013; “A Time Piece”, 1970; “Mock Turtle Soup”, 1972; “Acoma”, 1978); non-fiction (“Maritime America”, 1988; “Great Maritime Museums of the World”, “1991; On a Painted Ocean”, 1998); and most recently “The Once and Future Ocean: Notes Toward a New Hydraulic Society” (Leetes Island Books, 2016); as well as numerous anthologies and articles on maritime history and art.

Peter is host of World Ocean Radio, a weekly broadcast of 5-minute audio episodes on ocean issues, and he is editor of World Ocean Journal, an annual magazine on ocean culture and solutions to today’s ocean issues.

Mr. Neill served as Trustee and President, Branford Land Trust, Branford, CT (1974-82); Trustee, The Nature Conservancy, CT Chapter (1978-82); Founding Chair (now Emeritus), High Mountain Institute, Leadville, CO (1995-2007); Chair, The Apprenticeshop, Rockland, ME (1988-2006); President, Pilobolus Dance Theater, Washington, CT (1995-2004); Trustee and Chair, Ocean Classroom Foundation, Boothbay Harbor, ME (2007- 2014); Trustee and Vice Chair, Programs, Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, ME (2006-2014); and Founding Trustee of Alison Chase Performance, (2008- 2014). He serves on the Planning Commission in Sedgwick, Maine and lives Downeast with his partner Mary, a visual artist.

Learn more about World Ocean Observatory here.
Learn more about Leete’s Island Books here.