Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Relevant Knowledge And Skills
Honors And Affiliations
Personal Information
Timeline
Generic

Nicholas Tolkien

Santa Barbara,CA

Summary

Seeking a Internship with the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to apply my interdisciplinary background in marine science, creative writing, and filmmaking. Aspiring to gain hands-on experience in research, public outreach, and conservation to support the well-being of humpback whales and their habitats.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Researcher

Independent Research
01.2022 - Current
  • Conducting archival, library, and field research in Iceland on orca whale marine health, captivity history, and reintroduction efforts
  • Utilizing acquired data to inform MFA thesis project and potential scientific articles
  • Collaborating with local conservation groups and researchers to gather first-hand insights

Filmmaker & Media Producer

Self-Directed Projects
01.2010 - 09.2020
  • Produced short documentaries and promotional videos highlighting ocean conservation themes
  • One film premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
  • Managed all stages of production, from storyboarding and filming to editing and final distribution
  • Worked with 4K video equipment, drone footage (if applicable), and photo editing software (Photoshop, Lightroom)

Education

Care & Conservation of Aquatic Animals Certificate -

University of Florida (Online) - in Progress
Gainesville, FL

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) - Creative Writing

Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
01.2026

Spring Marine Studies Program -

University of Washington – Friday Harbor Labs
Friday Harbor, WA
01.2025

Skills

  • Marine Science & Conservation
  • Cetacean biology
  • Marine mammal survey methods
  • NOAA research guidelines
  • Boat safety procedures
  • Field-based research
  • Marine health knowledge
  • ArcGIS, QGIS
  • R
  • Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite
  • Filmmaking & Videography
  • Web design
  • Photography, Photo editing
  • Storytelling
  • Team collaboration

Relevant Knowledge And Skills

Extensive knowledge of cetacean biology, bioacoustics, and marine mammal survey methods, Familiarity with NOAA research guidelines and boat safety procedures, Experience conducting field-based research on orcas, with a focus on marine health and historical context, ArcGIS, QGIS, R, Python, Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Background in filmmaking (film premiered at Santa Barbara International Film Festival), Videography, Web design, Photography (including photo editing tools), MFA in Creative Writing with a strong focus on science communication and storytelling, Skilled at producing engaging narratives for public outreach and educational purposes, Able to relocate starting 06/01/24, Strong writing, research, and communication abilities, Team-oriented, with experience working collaboratively in workshop and field settings

Honors And Affiliations

Community of Writers, 2022, Robert Hass, Sharon Olds, New York State Summer Writers Institute, 2023, 2024, Henri Cole, Rosanna Warren, Yale Summer School Creative Writing, 2023, Tin House Winter Writing Workshop, 2024, Key West Literary Seminar, 2025, Creative Writing & Marine Science Intersection: Leading or contributing to workshops that highlight the role of storytelling in marine conservation

Personal Information

Citizenship: Dual U.S./U.K.

Timeline

Researcher

Independent Research
01.2022 - Current

Filmmaker & Media Producer

Self-Directed Projects
01.2010 - 09.2020

Spring Marine Studies Program -

University of Washington – Friday Harbor Labs

Care & Conservation of Aquatic Animals Certificate -

University of Florida (Online) - in Progress

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) - Creative Writing

Queens University of Charlotte

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