Robert Scott Thayer is passionate about manatees, weather, and the oceans. He is the author of the award-winning Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational series. Robert is also a recording artist who writes and sings in the pop, jazz, and children’s genres. Thayer has won several International Music Awards including those from Billboard. Robert’s music is available on iTunes. “Kobee’s Song” was produced by Grammy award winner Jim Cravero. Thayer received a degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. He is a member of the Author’s Guild, SCBWI, and BMI. Learn more at kobeemanatee.com.

Dr. Tracy Fanara is an engineer and research scientist with a BS, ME, and PhD from the University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Engineering. Tracy is the Coastal Modeling Manager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), developing systems in pursuit of a Unified Earth Systems model to answer big questions (for example biodiversity, climate change impacts and hurricane tracking). Tracy spends time outside of work on communicating science (TV, podcasts, classroom visits and public speaking) and was featured in Marvel’s Unstoppable Wasp which led to her co-produced comic series, Seekers of Science. You may have seen her on Mythbusters the Search and can see her on The Weather Channel as an expert guest on AMHQ and on the show Weird Earth, on CBS Mission Unstoppable as an expert, or Science Channel’s What on Earth.